Patrick Street
Compendium – The Best of Patrick Street
Green Linnet GLCD 1207; 65 minutes; 2000
Distilling the
essence of Patrick Street into one album would deter most compilers, but that’s
the task the band’s Ged Foley faced with Compendium: The Best of Patrick
Street (Green Linnet GLCD 1207). Patrick Street have always combined a
subtle blend of musical diversity and tradition, while its members’ histories
saw the band acquire ‘supergroup’ status on the release of their self-titled
debut album in 1986. This rich pedigree
lies in the Sligo-inspired fiddle of Kevin Burke (renowned for his work with
The Bothy Band and Micheál Ó Domhnaill), the Sliabh Luachra polkas and slides
of Jackie Daly (De Dannan and Buttons and Bows) and the voice of Andy Irvine,
pioneer of the bouzouki with Planxty. Original member Arty McGlynn has been at
the forefront of Irish guitar players for thirty years, while the current
incumbent, Ged Foley (ex-House Band) is also a notable exponent of his native
Northumbrian smallpipes. 
Compendium captures Patrick Street’s prowess on a
stunning set of reels catalysed by virtuoso fiddle on Jenny Picking Cockles,
and Daly’s vibrant accordion on The Newmarket Polkas, one of two previously
unissued tracks. Irvine’s songs, whether traditional or self-penned, are well
represented here by his paean to horseracing, Stewball and the Monaghan Grey
Mare, with its Balkan-inspired backing, though a mawkish arrangement of Willie
Taylor dissipates the vitality of this avenger’s ballad.
Patrick Street’s ‘signature
tune’ and most noteworthy addition to the Irish canon, The Penguin Cafe
Orchestra’s Music for a New Found Harmonium, is here too, albeit in a
somewhat lacklustre live version.. Nevertheless, this is still a comprehensive introduction
to the band’s back catalogue and Ged has almost managed to distil the pure
drop!
This review by Geoff Wallis
was originally written for Songlines magazine – www.songlines.co.uk.
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