Song of the Irish Whistle 1
Eileen Ivers is one of the guest musicians on this, the solo album from the tin whistle virtuoso of the all-female Irish American folk band Cherish the Ladies. Like Ivers, Madden is a Senior All-Ireland champion on her instrument and has modernized traditional tunes by adding synthesizers (courtesy of producer and new-age star Brian Keane) and electric bass. On this all-instrumental album, Madden doesn't pursue Ivers' improvisational flights but rather an atmospheric lushness of sound. At times, the recording threatens to lapse into mood music, but the sturdiness of the traditional tunes and the piercing purity of Madden's tone prevent that. Instead the pop touches merely provide an inviting setting for the lyrical whistle lines.--Geoffrey Himes