This week's trad CDs reviewed

CILLIAN VALLELY & KEVIN CRAWFORD

On Common Ground BallyO Records★★★★

It's interesting to listen to musicians who emerge from the shadows – or cossetted arms – of their band. Lúnasa members Cillian Vallely (pipes and low whistle) and Kevin Crawford (flute, low whistle and bodhrán) bring their trademark attention-to-detail to their duo debut, On Common Ground. With fellow Lúnasa player Paul Meehan lending guitar lines (along with Donal Clancy), inevitable echoes of their alma mater colour this beautiful collection. Crawford contributes a fine-boned pair of slow reels, Days Around Lahinchand The Man From Moyasta, in which he and Vallely trade low whistle licks with the intuition of twins. Ten original tunes are oxygenated in a collection that thrives on the exquisite musicianship of the two players. www.ballyopromotions.ie

Download tracks: The Birds, Jim Ward's