The all-acoustic, traditional-style Celtic quintet
Shantalla's self-titled debut album displays a band supremely confident in their instrumental skill, deftly arranging string and wind instruments for maximum effect. But just as importantly, they perform with a great deal of energy, delivering impassioned readings of their largely traditional Irish repertoire (including, on this disc, more than a few medleys). The results are successful and seem to indicate more good things to come. ~ Steve Huey