PRECIOUSLY few Irish bands can compare in both virtuosity and versatility with Solas, a quintet of truly dazzling individual talents. Multiple All-lreland champion Samus Egan plays no fewer than eight instruments, John Williams is a gifted button accordionist and the only American ever to win the coveted All-lreland sen-ior concertina title, Winifred Horan weaves deft classical touches with an earthypassion in her fiddling, Karan Casey possesses a crystalline voice that can soarlike no other, and John Doyle provides faultless guitar rhythms throughout. Butthe sum of Solas is far greater than their impressive parts, combining to producea marvelously spirited and textured sound rich in imagination, innovation, andtradition. They are the most exciting Irish band to emerge in many years - asthis stunning debut album attests. - Earle Hitchner, Irish Echo April 1996 Tracks: 1 Side A NÍL Na LÁ 2 The Flowing Bowl 3 Máire Breathnach's #1 4 The Doon 5 The Mason's Men 6 The Newry Highwayman 7 The White Petticoat 8 Stan Chapmans 9 The Miller's Maggot 10 I Wonder What's Keeping My True 11 Love Tonight 12 The Yellow Tinker 13 Cranking Out 14 Master Crowley's #2 15 Side B Dougie MacDonalds 16 Máirebreathnach's #2 17 The Antrim Rose 18 Atlantic Waves 19 Toss the Feathers 20 Johnny's Gone for a Soldier 21 Gan Ainm 22 The Humours of Whiskey 23 Leslie's March 24 Lament for Frankie 25 Timmy Cliffords 26 The Return Home 27 O'Ot Be Est Da Vong 28 John Joe Caseys