The Columbia Gypsy
Cucanandy
Contented Minds
Milky Way (2001)
http://www.cucanandy.com
Contented Minds, like North Carolina-based Cucanandy's first album He Didn't Dance is a gathering of music from various Celtic traditions..."Ireland, Nova Scotia, Scotland," and America. Despite this sampling, it is really an American Irish album. Aside from the accent and perhaps style of singer Stephanie Johnston, it is expedited very skillfully in the way that has been carried over and down and then enlivened with a bit of freedom and innovation. The style and instruments are not so much different than what you would hear coming out of Ireland today and Cucanandy rates to my hearing with some of the more solid bands from the Emerald Isle.
The songs are fun, and sometimes very familiar, not uncommon in Irish music. I liked "Maid On the Shore," yet another Stan Rogers maritime remembrance, laced with jazzy Irish fiddle. I'm always impressed with Gaelic, even if sung with what must seem "American" and "Tha Mi Sgith Dhen Fhòghair Seo" (I Am Tired Of this Exile), a song actually written by a Scotsman in 18th century Carolina, is mellow and light. The tune "The Hunt For Wild Flora," written by Cucanandy fiddler Jason Cade, is peppy with a few interesting dark moments.
Traditional Irish music enthusiasts will love this album, as a bonus netted with some wonderful foot percussion by Malke Rosenfeld and accompanied perhaps by the forward facing acoustic bass of "guest" Robbie Link. The uniform competence and style, however, is a double edged sword, floating Contented Minds as another oyster cracker in the potato soup of amazingly excellent Irish music, with few real distinctions. There are no especially distinctive instrumental tracks, no killer solos, no wild moments of abandon; there's no immediate spot to find a handhold on Contented Minds. Cucanandy is a band to be enjoyed most by people with an appreciation of subtleties.
The Columbia Gypsy