On The First Ten Years: 1986-1995 album, Altan have renewed their membership in the ‘if it ain’t broke…’ school of songwriting. Stanley Donwood has compared writing for Altan’s new album to that on ‘The First Ten Years: 1986-1995′ - but has declared the lyrics will be even more terrifying. Since Altan last CD (The First Ten Years: 1986-1995) on Mute Records back in 1995, I have felt a massive void in my life. Cool, but I like their other actual stuff better like The First Ten Years: 1986-1995.
This is the most melodic ambitious and satisfying track in The First Ten Years: 1986-1995. Musically Ceol A’Phiobaire is superior to other tracks in The First Ten Years: 1986-1995. Altan allows each song to breathe and flourish. After you’ve listened to Donal Agus Morag, most everything else can’t hold up and is second rate. Tommy Bhetty’s Waltz (4:02) a good melody. Fermanagh Highland is an incredible song that has everything it needs to be another favorite track. An Feochan - is a breath or fresh air compared to many previous songs of Altan. Mazurka is a very good song maybe surprisingly better than you at first might’ve imagined. The Cat That Ate The Candle has a gorgeous instrumental sound, which lets Altan’s strong vocals come to the fore. This song could easily nestle itself onto the world top playlists. It is succeeded by an outstanding track, however: Harvest Storm, which shows, blatantly, how much Altan has evolved as a singer. Citi Na Gcumann is the gorgeous blend of moody yet optimistic tunes. Tommy Peoples’ stands out to me for its audacious melody and sheer beauty. Dobbin’s Flowery Vale without a doubt is the standout song of The First Ten Years: 1986-1995.
The First Ten Years: 1986-1995 CD
| Song Name | Time | ||
| Pretty Peg.mp3 | 3:38 |  |
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| Andy De Jarlis.mp3 | 3:32 | |
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| Ceol A’Phiobaire.mp3 | 3:50 | |
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| The Wedding Jig.mp3 | 6:39 | |
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| Donal Agus Morag.mp3 | 4:26 | |
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| Tommy Bhetty’s Waltz.mp3 | 4:02 | |
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| Fermanagh Highland.mp3 | 4:07 | |
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| An Feochan.mp3 | 4:46 | |
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| Mazurka.mp3 | 2:46 | |
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| The Cat That Ate The Candle.mp3 | 3:12 | |
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| Brid Og Ni Mhaille.mp3 | 5:01 | |
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| Harvest Storm.mp3 | 2:58 | |
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| Citi Na Gcumann.mp3 | 3:58 | |
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| Tommy Peoples’.mp3 | 3:16 | |
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| Dobbin’s Flowery Vale.mp3 | 4:20 | |
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