How to Tune a Fish

Album Review

Beoga's music is some of the friendliest to come out of Ireland and their fifth album continues the tradition they've established. It seduces with its easy, merry charm, but does add a few strange things from left field in order not to be completely straightforward, such as the touch of clavinet funk that spices up the second half of "Minute 5." They're all solid instrumentalists who work well together, and when they employ twin accordions it gives and excellent, sprightly attack to the jovial sound. Niamh Dunne is a singer of excellent emotion, whether laying down some country goodness on Rick Danko's "Home Cookin'" or giving a rising ache to "Our Captain Calls All Hands" or "Woman of No Place." In contrast to many Irish bands, Beoga write most of their own material, and excellent it is, too, with "Ballymacaldrick" and "Back in the Lab" as real standouts. Even if it's nothing groundbreaking, there's an abundance of open-hearted joy here, both for the players and the listeners.