Erin’s Guild are an Irish Trio from the Boston Area of Massachusetts. Broken Man is their second release.
The immediate impression I got from this album is that it is a 100% trad album, a Celtic record through and through. Erin’s Guild sticks to pure Irish music, playing such familiar tunes as The Auld Triangle, and The Rising of the Moon, without taking any detours through Rock or Punk. While some might say that the band doesn’t break any new ground with the album, I find it rather refreshing to listen to a group that sticks to the folk formula without feeling the need to bring in outside influences. In addition with the trad tunes, the band plays a handful of originals: Distant Shore, Broken Man, Jackson’s Song, Eyes of Clover, and When All Is Over, which all keep in the traditional mold, but that don’t sound stale or derivative.
The instrumentation utilizes acoustic guitar, banjo, harmonica, bodhran, and concertina, and the production of the album, something that can make or break the overall effect, lets the instruments and vocals breath without overcrowding the mix. I like the inclusion of the skillfully played harmonica, the Bob Dylan fan that I am, I love seeing the mouth harp used in Irish music. Another highlight is the acapella rendition of ‘The Auld Triangle.’
A solid album in the traditional Irish Folk vein. Definitely worth picking up.
ARTIST: Erin’s Guild
ALBUM: Broken Man
Jack Baruzzini is a Web Developer and musician, and has a love of Celtic music both traditional and new. In addition to writing for Celtic Music Magazine He is also an aspiring Science Fiction author whose writings can be found at sirjackalope.com.