Goitse

they are bound for success - Irland Journal, Germany

They play with an easy assurance that should cause those fretting about the future of Irish trad to rest more easily at night. - Hotpress

This collection of original and traditional music is seamless flawless and powerful, full of humor and energy that the members of Goitse are famous for. - Jack Baker - Irish American News

The second album from young Irish quintet Goitse deserves its title: the cute hairy caterpillar has become a beautiful butterfly. Scintillating, graceful, soaring music from fiddle, banjo, accordion, bodhrán and guitar, with three charming vocal tracks from Áine McGeeney including a duet with guest David Curley, Transformed is an impressive album by anyone’s standards, and a great second outing for this exciting new band. McGeeney’s fiddle is at the heart of most things here, and ranges convincingly from stateside shownmanship to down-to-earth Donegal reels. With four of her own compositions in this selection, a pair of thoughtful slip-jigs and a couple of striking tunes on the title track, Áine certainly plays a central role in the instrumentals – but she’s not alone. James Harvey’s banjo is a force to be reckoned with from start to finish, whether duetting or vamping. It also combines perfectly with Tadhg Ó Meachair’s piano box, for instance on the driving Road to Malvern and Jimmy Keane’s Charleston.

Conal O’Kane’s guitars are a crucial part of the rhythmic power and creativity of Goitse. They come to the fore on the front-porch classic Chicken & Dumplings, and on the delightful Swedish air A och O. The other vital ingredient of the Goitse beat is the bodhrán of Colm Phelan, a man with a solo CD under his belt and a history of disaster below the belt. This is commemorated by the Burst Togs Set, marrying Tadhg’s rumbustuous polka Ardaigh with the stunning reel Lost Time by currently popular composer and fiddler Jeremy Kittel. Conal’s Philadelphia provenance is similarly celebrated with the Cheesesteak Reels which end this CD. It’s worth noting that while nothing on Transformed is jarringly modern, none of the tunes here are traditional and every composer is acknowledged – with the exception of two songs.Erin on the Rhine and One Day for Recreation are both firmly trad arr, both delivered in Áine’s light clear soprano, and both excellent: the closest comparison I can think of is Fiona Kelleher’s contribution to North Cregg’s third album Summer at my Feet. The other vocal number here, Finbar Magee’s My Belfast Love, has a more contemporary feel with piano and guitar backing – but no glockenspiel – and David Curley’s rich gentle tones complement Áine’s voice superbly. In Goitse’s no-messing style, the high-cholesterol final set of reels kicks straight in and leaves a lingering taste in the mouth long after the last morsel of music has died away. Definitely a 2012 Top Ten album! - FolkWorld - Alex Monaghan