The Irish Experience: Green Energy

By Keith Hannaleck

The Irish Experience fits the bill on their recent release Green Energy. The band is a trio consisting of Joe Bowbeer (electric fiddle), Tom Hotchkin (upright bass), and Tom May (electric guitar).

As one can imagine they get a wee bit ‘o’ help along the way and on Green Energy, which is absolutely a fitting title for their CD. There are quite a few guests that are featured including Julian Adamaitis (synthesizer), Tor Dietrichson (cajón, congas, bongos, tabla, and tambourine), Karim Koumbassa (djembe, dunun), Darren Loucas (harmonica) and Lynn Post (clogging).

I have always had a kinship to the decidedly Celtic flavored music, bands with that influence like Jethro Tull for instance, have the ability to set me into a dream like state of mind and take me away into another life or story. The Irish Experience made me happy, and put more of permanent spell on me, one that lasted the entire listen then continued to linger, beckoning me to return.

Their music is full of Celtic, rock, blues, and country, a mighty flavorful combination, all instrumental mind you, that would please the most incorrigible listener. If you have a look at all the instruments being used it paints the picture very well of what a special treat your ears are in for. What it all simmers down to is a tasty Irish stew that can be classified as World-Celtic-Rock.

The use of the fiddle makes this music sound like a hoedown in the streets on St. Patrick’s Day and surely if there wasn’t one going on this CD has the ability to incite one. I found this to be an irresistibly toe tapping and joyous listen from start to finish.

Green Energy is 14 tracks of high energy instrumental fusion that has its own genre to stake a claim to, which in and of itself is quite an accomplishment with all the different things we mere mortals have to choose from these days. There is not a dinger in the lot here or should I say this ain’t no bag ‘o’ swhag, well lets forget the Irish slang for now and just throw this CD on and a have a party!

Reviewed - March 16, 2009

** 5/5 Stars

Tracks:

  • The Wicket Jig
  • Mooncoin
  • Brendan McGlinchey's
  • Far Away/Tenpenny Bit/Porcupine Bit
  • Dinny Delaney's Slide
  • Within a Mile of Dublin
  • John Brown's Dream
  • Indian Point
  • Paddy Fahey's
  • Scatter the Mud
  • Bunch of Keys
  • Calliope House/Sligo Creek/Cooley's Reel
  • Maids of Mitchelstown/Falls of Richmond
  • The Fiddler's Lament

Purchase this CD

About the Author:

Keith Hannaleck, known as “MuzikMan” is a Journalist specializing in independent and major music reviews and the promotion of artists via the various media outlets flourishing online. He has worked closely with artists, management, publicity directors, and webmasters to provide some of the best and far-reaching coverage an artist could have. Focusing primarily on the internet as a medium for his work, Keith has been a pioneer in the industry changing the way a reviewer with his various talents are used by many artists, PR folks, and labels. He has provided strong and valuable work to labels, artists, and publicity people, writing reviews, press releases, and biographies and much more over the years, giving the people he works with the maximum amount of exposure through several top-notch websites that post his content on their sites.

© Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck - www.muzikreviews.com.