Oisin - Bealoideas (1979) @128Kbps

Oisin was indeed the name of the band--not to be mistaken with that of the Scottish group Ossian.

Their first LP, Oisin, came out in 1976. Members of the band then were Geraldine McGowan (vocals, bodhran, recorder), Tom McDonagh (bouzouki), Mick Davis (fiddle, vocals), Brian McDonagh (mandolin), and Seamus McGowan (guitar vocals). Mick Davis was not exactly a hot fiddle player, so the instrumentals left a bit to be desired, even with Paul Brady supplying guitar backup on one track. However, one track of reels, "The Maple Leaf" and "The Man of Aran," both composed by whistle player/piper Darach de Brun (he also played on that one track), remains a classic. And the opening mandolin/bouzouki duet on "Doherty's Jig" (aka "The Swedish Jig") was much copied. But the strength of the band was definitely the songs, for Geraldine's beautiful voice and Seamus's earthy singing as well as for the string-dominated arrangements. Not that they would sound like anything terribly special now, as they relied on very much the same ideas and textures first explored by Planxty, only not quite as well executed--but at the time it still made an impact.

There were two more albums coming out in close succession, "Bealoideas" in 1979 and "Over the Moor to Maggie" in 1980, the latter with Gerry Phelan (flute, whistle) having joined the band and with Paddy Glackin and Mick O'Brien playing on one track each. Those first three albums have been re-released on CD by Ossian.

Track Listing:
01.Peata Beag Do Mhaithair
02.The Star Of Munster
03.The Cow Ate The Piper
04.The Gold Ring
05.The Bonny Irish Maid
06.The Rambaling Soldier
07.The Irish Girl
08.The Orphan And Tobins Favourite
09.Fear An Bhata
10.The Providence, Cooley's, The Moibhin

Quality: 128 Kbps
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