Celtic MP3s Music Magazine
Any Given Element by The Killdares

Catherine L. Tully | February 19, 2006

Achieving a good balance when trying for solid Celtic rock can be a tough thing to do. Unless you happen to be The Killdares.

Any Given Element, the latest CD effort by this band hits hard with the opening track, "September", which was my absolute favorite. The fiddle is ALIVE in this track and it sings to you, crying out loud for attention.

The seemingly tough blend between guitar, and fiddle or bagpipes is effortless for them. It flows. Of course, having a competition piper (Matt Willis) and Grand Master Fiddler Champion (Roberta Rast) certainly doesn't hurt. As a matter-of-fact, all the musicians involved in this effort seem to have their specialty down rather well.

The cherry on top is lead singer Tim Smith's voice, which works well, lending the alternative feel to the songs without being too common. I must admit to preferring the hard-thumping tunes to the slower ones (with the exception of the last track, "Light on Paper" which was beautiful), but it really is a matter of taste. The fact is, the Celtic and the rock meld, rather than being schizophrenic or sounding confused as some Celtic rock can come off.

Edgy would be a good way to describe their sound. Even the rock portion is not too traditional, which adds interest musically and gives a freshness to their sound. Although they have been described as Celtic-pop, they seem more in the alternative ballpark, as they are not too pat in their style or approach to musical arrangement. (And its always nice to have a surprise or two!) Great Celtic rock.

Buy the Album: Any Given Element