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Tight Squeeze Review by Siobhan Long, irish Times
DMB ****
It’s tempting to imagine that the excitement propelling this deliriously eclectic compendium might bear some kinship to the finest recordings of the great Sligo fiddler Michael Coleman back in the 1920s and 1930s. Mayo accordionist David Munnelly has been the driving force behind what could be called the E Street Band of traditional music. Mixing a raft of newly composed tunes by Munnelly and mandolinist/ fiddler/ tenor banjo player Paul Kelly with borrowings from Karine Polwart, John Martyn and La Bottine Souriante, Tight Squeeze captures the electricity of live performance with a gamey eye and mischievous ear. Munnelly thrives on rhythmic peculiarities that cross over into jazz-tinged celebrations with surprising ease. An apt companion piece for a band renowned for its spellbinding live sets.
Tight Squeeze Review. Bill ,Margeson Irish American News, Ireland Online
The David Munnelly Band is out with a brand new album, Tight Squeeze. This marks the fourth outing for the group featuring Dave Munnelly on button box, Paul Kelly on fiddle and mandolin, Kieran Munnelly on flute and percussion and Shauna Mullin doing the vocals. The band usually travels with Ferghal Scahill on guitar and fiddle, and/or the superb Ryan Molloy on piano, who also did the arrangements for this album. Making an appearance on the album are four cuts of tunes including brass arranged by Molloy.
There are 13 selections on the album, including five songs. The band has been touring as a unit for some time now, so the resultant sound is tight and highly polished. It also, simultaneously, loses none of the immediate urgency and abandon on the faster tunes, for which the band is so famous. The David Munnelly Band has been touring extensively in America for five years, despite the current dollar/Euro imbalance. David remains closely committed to the American market, but has also had appearances at several major festivals in Europe to add to the scene. An extraordinarily popular concert and festival band, the group is aided by the addition of Shauna Mullin on vocals. The Donegal native showcases a deep, resonant and lovely alto on her numbers, which range from the traditional Lochaber No More to the more modern What Are You Waiting For? by Scotland’s Karine Polwart.
Munnelly has built a massive following in the States, operating from the Belmullet, Mayo headquarters. This album will surely enhance the group’s reputation as one of the premier acts in the music. There are few Awards the band has not won, including several for Tight Squeeze, already in the hopper. A band to be watched, and a band not to be missed. They have played another blinder!
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