For their third record, Celtic royalty
Patrick Street have brought in some heavyweights. Adding to the already impressive roster of
Andy Irvine, Arty McGlynn,
Jackie Daly, and
Kevin Burke, the quartet have employed the talents of fiddler James Kelly, piper
Declan Masterson, keyboardist and Riverdance creator
Bill Whelan, and most importantly, guitarist and songwriter Gerry O'Beirne. O'Beirne, whose two self-penned tunes for
3 Irish Times 3 are among the group's finest recordings, are a breath of fresh air amidst the somewhat stale trappings of traditional Irish music. "In the Land of the Patagarang," his wondrous character sketch of an Irish felon's forced immigration to Australia is both chilling and gorgeous, showcasing his unique voice and 12-string guitar prowess while providing the band with one of their most creative arrangements. "Strokestown" is a warm, bittersweet ode to small town life in County Roscommon, Ireland, and O'Beirne effectively describes his lovelorn predicament as being "down, living in a four street town."
Andy Irvine provides a lighthearted rendering of "Humours of the King of Ballyhooley," and offers the listener a portrait of a dying political veteran in the powerful "Forgotten Hero." The real gem on
3 Irish Times 3 is a fantastic cover of the
Penguin Cafe Orchestra's "Music for a Found Harmonium" -- a rollicking reel that has since found new life in movie trailers and television commercials -- that serves as a powerhouse opener for what many call
Patrick Street's finest record. ~ James Christopher Monger