Two Of Three

I was so taken with Transatlantic Sessions 3, Volume One that I decided to indulge myself with the other volume called, not unexpectedly, Tranatlantic Sessions 3 Volume Two. The "three" refers to this being the third tv series of Transatlantic Sessions and so far the most recent. It does seem as if the series has come to a natural end which is a shame but if it has finished it went out on a high with the strongest series of the three. This actual disc is more of the same from Volume One with the same performers and house band but that is more of a recommendation than a criticism. Each track has merits, standouts include Sharon Shannon's Neck Belly Reels for instrumental exuberance, the country gospel of Iris Dement's He Reached Down and the pure folk of Cara Dillon's P Is For Paddy. The absolute standouts for me though are Tim O'Briens's masterful bluegrass on Look Down That Lonesome Road, Darrell Scott's powerful You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive and the contrastingly good time singalong of Paul Brady's session closer Rainbow. Catch them all on Youtube !