Search - Martin Hayes & Dennis Cahill :: The Lonesome Touch

Perfectly wonderful

P. Lozar | Santa Fe, NM USA | 02/11/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I bought this CD by mistake a couple of years ago, listened to it once, thought "Oh, well, it's not what I was looking for," and put it aside. Recently I came across it again and decided to give it another hearing, and it rapidly vaulted into the position of Favorite CD. Hayes is (of course) a superb fiddler -- I also own and like "Under the Moon." But Cahill's subtle guitar accompaniment contributes immensely to bringing out the character of each tune, and I think the combination is magical. I'm especially fond of the tunes that embody the "lonesome touch" (e.g., "The Old Bush/The Reel with the Burl" -- the latter is a West of Ireland variant of the popular "Drowsy Maggie," my favorite Irish tune), but the whole album is solid. (Hayes tends to tap his toes and move as he's playing, and some of this comes through on the recording, but I don't find it obtrusive; it's what you'd hear in any County Clare pub. As for the "tape hiss" that another reviewer complained about, I don't hear it -- could it be HIS stereo?)"

A fiddler at the top of his art

P. Lozar | 11/06/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I bought his albums (Lonesome Touch was the best) after hearing him in West Virginia one night when he and his partner arrived 2 hours late for a performance (lost on the Interstate) -- everyone who stayed felt amply rewarded by his magical playing. He lives and breathes with the instrument and the listener is honored to be able to taste the music that results."

A must have disc of irish fiddling

P. Lozar | 12/16/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Beautiful, very soulful fiddling from Martin Hayes. Really amazing guitar backup from Dennis Cahill is what really made the disc shine for me. Cahill's inventiveness and harmonizations really fill out these tunes, and give a very full sound to the duo. Great stuff."