Posted by Chris Range, 7/22/01 at 12:51:33 PM.
After 7 years on the road Clandestine have at long last given us the very best part of themselves, a live recording. Music From Home was recorded at the best of all possible venues for the Houston Texas foursome, their hometown roost at McGonigel's Mucky Duck in April of this year. The CD is a roundabout of the very best and most often requested tunes from the troupe's past. Things really get to rolling about a quarter of the way into the recording with the Breton Tunes.
Stemming from their experiences at the Festival Intercelticque de Lorient, Clandestine regale us with a little history lesson in music from the Celtic regions of France. Extending from provinces such as Finistere and Cotes de Nord in Upper Brittany to the Loire Atlantique in Lower Brittany - the music of Bretaigne including the Gevottes, Laride and Ridee have become standards in Clandestine's canon. That they have taken the lead in presenting this important and exciting music to American audiences speaks well of the band and of how fortunate we are to be aficianados of such a rich musical heritage. At nearly 4 minutes the Breton Tunes really set us up for the ride continued in Telford Jigs.
Both Sides the Tweed by now enjoys permanent assurance in the Celtic community hymnal, but no one and I do mean no one does a better job of it than Clandestine. Jen and Emily present flawless vocalizations for 'Tweed which I feel deserves equal credit as Cannonball - but I darest say that in front of an angry crowd. Cannonball (now that we've mentioned it) couldn't help but be here, but there are things about it which get glossed over from time to time. It is a unique arrangement of two early standards and Clandestine deserve full credit for creating a signature song with it. Babylon rounds up the Clandestine penchant for making beautiful music out of almost anything - including nursery rhymes.
Bugs in the Beer is an ebullient fiddle tune, penned by Gregory and which stands well in its own right. It is also a humorous excersize in Pavlovian response or possibly proof of Clandestine's preturnatural psychic abilities since the first 3 notes or so sends everyone into a frenzy. If the band ever changes the set list I'll warrant that people will be confused enough to get pulled over on the way home.
Music From Home delivers precisely what it should. It is a documentary of the classic Clandestine live performance. You can count on this recording to replenish your heart with all the quirkiness, fun and great music that have come to define Clandestine.
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