While the field of Irish/American folk bands is large, there are few, if any, who have stayed as relevant and vibrant as Solas have in the last decade.  The makeup of the group has changed slightly over the years, but the new members have fitted in seamlessly and there’s a definite Solas ‘sound’ that mixes traditional and contemporary songs with instrumental pieces in a similar way to The Duhks.

‘The Turning Tide’ sees them mix traditional with some inspired contemporary covers, where Josh Ritter’s ‘Girl in the War’ rubs shoulders with Richard Thompson’s ‘The Ditching Boy’, and Karine Polwart’s ‘Sorry’. 
It’s this eclecticism that keeps Solas at the forefront of this style of music, and while for traditionalists this leaning towards modern folk styles may be a step too much, for almost everyone else it makes the disc more accessible and relevant.  They still have their roots deep in traditional music, but are expanding the horizons of the genre and bringing in new fans.

The five piece are genuinely superb musicians, with multi-instrumentalist and band leader Seamus Egan at the forefront, and vocalist Mairead Phelan providing fantastic vocals throughout.
‘The Turning Tide’ is a perfect contemporary folk album, it feels vibrant and fresh with modern songs, but musically has is rich in the tradition – an excellent disc.

1 Hugo's Big Reel 
2 Poor Ditching Boy
3 The Crows of Killimer/Box Reel #2/Boys pf Malin/The Opera House
4 Girl in the War
5 A Waltz For Mairead
6 The Ghost of Tom Joad
7 A Sailor's Life 
8 Grady Fernando Comes To Town
9 Sadhbh Ní Bhruineallaigh
10 Trip to Kareol
11 Sorry
12 A Tune For Roan

£12.99