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Our Review

Nollaig is all about masterful Irish folksinging and storytelling, not necessarily in that order. Carroll Brown and Harry O'Donoghue combine to make these eclectic selections spring to life. The unexpected is part of the pleasure here. Oh sure, you will recognize a few familiar holiday chestnuts. Most of the tracks, however, are unique surprises, and that was what these seasoned performers envisioned.

Song selection is key. Each track tells a particular story, and the holiday connection can be a bit attenuated. That's OK, though, because the strength is in the stories, and these universal tales enjoy better replayability throughout the year. The music is gentle, upbeat, sweetly endearing, and folksy in the most comfortable way.

O'Donoghue and Brown both sing on the album, and the liner notes don't confess who sings what. One "vocalist" is the more chatty, often speaking narratives in lieu of genuine song, and this storyteller is likely O'Donoghue. The other fellow--Brown, I presume--has a raspy voice that's rich with gravel. Together, the two complement each other nicely.

Christmas Island? Really? Not the sort of holiday number that I would expect from two Irish fellas, and just as I was writing this, the O'Donoghue/Brown duo broke into a dialogue about the (in)appropriateness of having the song on the album. Ireland is an island, after all. And that's the sort of eccentric fun that one should expect on Nollaig, complete with kazoo. The rugged, yet fragile, In the Bleak Midwinter was a sweet surprise, the subtle harmonies on The Saviour He is Born are downright inspirational, and the instrumental excellence on Silin's Waltz (for Cherrie)/It came upon a Midnight Clear had me tapping my toes.

Nollaig is a strange and wonderful amalgam of Irish narrative, high-spirited fun, and nostalgic introspection. I imagine that both Harry O'Donoghue and Carroll Brown are fantastic entertainers on stage; I wish I could pull up a front row seat. Irish-philes who favor a friendly brew on a cold winter night will easily toast this fine offering; others who sheepishly aspire to enjoy the luck o' the Irish should give this one a listen!

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2009)

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From the liner notes:

Carroll Brown: vocals, acoustic and nylon string guitars
Harry O'Donoghue: vocals, acoustic guitar, bodhran
Gabriel Donahue: accordians, banjo, whistle, flute, mandolin, keyboards
Skip Graham: piano, acoustic guitar, steel drums, bowed bass, keyboards
Phil Hadaway: bass guitar
Johnnie Kennedy: trombone
Arragements: Carroll Brown, Harry O'Donoghue, Phil Hadaway, and Gabriel Donahue

When Carroll Brown and I sat down to discuss the idea of recording our second Christmas album, we decided immediately that we wanted this recording to be not only eclectic but to reflect our own personalities in the choice and arragnements of the material. Many songs that one might assume would fit nicely on a Christmas project didn't make the list because they were simply too obvious. We finally settled on fourteen pieces, each of which we believed would add its own flavour to the album.

From the Website:

About Harry O'Donoghue:
With nearly 30 years in the music business, Harry O'Donoghue has become a master folksinger, storyteller and songwriter.

His comfortable easygoing manner has become a trademark. On stage with acoustic guitar, bodhran and his gentle voice, Harry weaves and interconnects a pattern filled with history and culture, his songs telling the story of Ireland past and present. Add with that his quick wit, engaging humour and ability to draw an audience into his show and the result is a wonderfully enjoyable and memorable experience.

Born and raised in Droghega on the banks of the River Boyne, just three miles inland from the Irish Sea, Harry began his musical career when he was twenty, performing at Folk Masses and for the Irish Wheelchair Association, among others. In 1979 he was a founding member of the group Terra Nova and by the mid-eighties they were touring the U.S. and signed to Polydor Records. When the group performed their last concert in 1987 Harry embarked on what would become a hugely successful solo career.

Harry O'Donoghue & Carroll Brown

Nollaig

Artist link

Track List