Search - Providence :: Fig for a Kiss

While so many Irish bands content themselves with the label "Celtic" and try to prove how fast they can play, Providence aims for the heart of a tune or song. In many ways, they're a throwback to the Bothy Band and Planxty, as well as the heyday of the Irish folk revival, but their retro style is also thoroughly refreshing. The accordion, whistle, and fiddle interweave beautifully on pieces such as "The Providence Reel/Roscommon Reel/Fred Finn's," creating a tapestry that highlights the nuances and delights of the melodies rather than focusing attention on the individual musicians. Singer Joan McDermott brings a luminous quality to songs like the majestic "The Jolly Young Ploughboy" and the lovely "Se Fath Mo Bhuartha" while the instrumentalists offer full but unobtrusive backing. To crown it all, they close with a live track, "Music in the Glen/Sean Sa Cheo"--recorded, ironically, in Scotland--that shows how their studio flair translates perfectly to the stage. Sometimes you really can move ahead by looking to the past. --Chris Nickson