Our Review
Nollaig is all about masterful Irish folksinging and storytelling, not necessarily in that order. Carroll Brown and Harry O'Donoghue combine to make these eclectic selections spring to life. The unexpected is part of the pleasure here. Oh sure, you will recognize a few familiar holiday chestnuts. Most of the tracks, however, are unique surprises, and that was what these seasoned performers envisioned.
Song selection is key. Each track tells a particular story, and the holiday connection can be a bit attenuated. That's OK, though, because the strength is in the stories, and these universal tales enjoy better replayability throughout the year. The music is gentle, upbeat, sweetly endearing, and folksy in the most comfortable way.
O'Donoghue and Brown both sing on the album, and the liner notes don't confess who sings what. One "vocalist" is the more chatty, often speaking narratives in lieu of genuine song, and this storyteller is likely O'Donoghue. The other fellow--Brown, I presume--has a raspy voice that's rich with gravel. Together, the two complement each other nicely.
Christmas Island? Really? Not the sort of holiday number that I would expect from two Irish fellas, and just as I was writing this, the O'Donoghue/Brown duo broke into a dialogue about the (in)appropriateness of having the song on the album. Ireland is an island, after all. And that's the sort of eccentric fun that one should expect on Nollaig, complete with kazoo. The rugged, yet fragile, In the Bleak Midwinter was a sweet surprise, the subtle harmonies on The Saviour He is Born are downright inspirational, and the instrumental excellence on Silin's Waltz (for Cherrie)/It came upon a Midnight Clear had me tapping my toes.
Nollaig is a strange and wonderful amalgam of Irish narrative, high-spirited fun, and nostalgic introspection. I imagine that both Harry O'Donoghue and Carroll Brown are fantastic entertainers on stage; I wish I could pull up a front row seat. Irish-philes who favor a friendly brew on a cold winter night will easily toast this fine offering; others who sheepishly aspire to enjoy the luck o' the Irish should give this one a listen!
--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2009)
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