Appalachian Celtic Consort: Press

ACC's nice ensemble playing would be fun to experience live, along with 200 dancing feet, where they could really let loose.”

Nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains of West Virginia one will find more than just gorgeous peaks, lush valleys, and trickling streams. One will also find gorgeous music played by the Appalachian Celtic Consort. Whether it is a fun, rollicking song, a lively dance tune or a slow waltz, any lover of Celtic music will feel at home listening to their 2002 album Drop o’ the Pure.

Drop o’ the Pure is a wonderful, mostly instrumental album that seeks to capture the essence of an Irish ceili. Using a wide array of instruments, the concertina, hammered dulcimer, guitar, penny whistle, bagpipes, flute, bohdran, and mandolin, these musicians artfully assemble these pieces together into unique, enjoyable arrangements. Two of my favorite tracks on the album are “Cruel Mother/Farewell to Milltown/Butcher’s March” and “O’Keefe’s Polka/Shepard’s Lamb/Johnny O’Leary.” “Cruel Mother” alone tells a sad and frightening story but adding to it the reel “Farewell to Milltown” and “Butcher’s March” clearly intensifies how haunting the story can be. On the other hand, we see a bit of contrast in “O’Keefe’s Polka/Shepard’s Lamb/Johnny O’Leary,” a series of fun, lively polkas with a double jig at the end. Even their original song “Farewell to Becky,” a soft, slow tune beautifully showcases their musicianship.