Cloudy Day Navigation

Very much an Irish folk band but hardly a traditional one, Grada is equally comfortable performing original neo-folk compositions, covers of songs by Suzanne Vega and Sonny Condell, and tunes from Britney alongside the traditional Celtic tunes (and traditional-sounding original tunes) which one might expect of them. In fact, the majority of the tunes presented on Cloudy Day Navigation are originals, and most are excellent — though the "Maria Letizia's" reel set bogs down a bit at the beginning and then truly unravels on the second tune, and "Red Civic" plods along a bit ponderously, everything else is exceptionally lovely. The group's swinging rendition of the Susan McKeown song "River" is one of the album's high points, as is the lovely "Twenty-One Foot Man," a beautiful reel that showcases some spectacular paired (or overdubbed) low whistles. The quiet and pensive "Natural Progression," a modern composition by Declan Folan, is another treat. Producer Trevor Hutchinson (of Lúnasa) gives the band a warm but clear sonic environment in which to work, and the accompanying DVD shows Grada playing brilliantly at the Temple Bar Music Center in Dublin. Highly recommended.