Track Listing: 1. Reels: The Windmill, Larry's Favourite, The Commodore 2. Song: Craigie Hill 3. Jigs: The Wishing Well, Condon's Frolics, The Lisagun 4. Hornpipes: Flaherty's Favourite, All 65 Pounds of It 5. Song: Cad É Sin Don Té Sin 6. Barndance: By Heck 7. Reels: The Templehouse, Andy McGann's 8. Song: The Banks of the Lee 9. Reels: Ril Gan Ainm, Humours of Westport 10. Hornpipes: Gort Na Mona, The New Century 11. Reels: The Jolly Beggar Man, Mayor Harrison's Fedora 12. Song: Beeswing 13. Jigs & Reel: The Humours of Ballyloughlan, Whelan's Jig, The Gravel Walks Click on underlined titles to hear MP3 sound bites

We are delighted to announce our release of this fine debut CD.

Caladh Nua
Happy Days
CN001
Caladh Nua are,
EOIN O'MEACHAIR: (BANJO,MANDOLIN,WHISTLES AND VOCALS)
PADDY TUTTY: (FIDDLE)
LISA BUTLER: (LEAD VOCALS & FIDDLE)
DEREK MORRISSEY: (BUTTON ACCORDION)
COLM O'CAOIMH: (GUITAR,BOUZOUKI & LEAD VOCALS)

Caladh is an old Irish word meaning "Harbour" or "Shelter place". Caladh Nua means a "New Harbour" or "New Shelter place". Caladh Nua could also refer to a new comfortable place where music and song sets a warm lovely atmosphere. With all this in mind, this is "Caladh Nua", the traditional Irish band. This very unique band was founded in early 2009. Like many of the great Irish traditional bands Caladh Nua simply formed as a result of great musicians crossing paths, realising a special connection and then wanting to share it with the world audience. The ensemble comprises of five qualified musicians from three beautiful regions in Ireland, counties Carlow, Waterford and Kilkenny. The tasteful musical arrangements of Caladh Nua include traditional Irish dance music, traditional songs alongside some more recently composed pieces. Caladh Nua has a perfect balance between innovation and preservation of Irelands wonderful music and song tradition, the bands special repertoire and energy is guaranteed to capture an audience of any generation

See the band in performance on Utube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18AxC0PdL1Q

Press Reviews

Net Rhythms.com
Caladh is an old Irish word meaning "harbour" or "place of shelter"; thus the band name signifies a state whereby they've found a new comfortable place to showcase their musical talents in a warm and convivial atmosphere. And that turns out an apt description of the genially energetic music on offer from this fairly new young five-piece band who hail variously from Counties Waterford, Carlow and Kilkenny.

Although there's no shortage of musicianship, the band members don't force the issue, preferring instead to concentrate on letting the music speak for itself. Theirs is an easygoing style, as demonstrated on this collection that readily intersperses tune-sets and songs in sensibly varied and clean, uncluttered arrangements that let the individual musicians have their say without fear of being drowned out or interrupted mid-flow. And yet, considering that the lineup sports two fiddlers (Paddy Tutty and Lisa Butler), the overall texture isn't always as rich as you might expect – but this isn't ever a problem when the playing is so deliciously pointed and the arrangements kept so simple. The lineup's completed by Eoin O'Meachir (banjo, whistle, mandolin), Derek Morrissey (button accordion) and Colm O'Caoimh (guitar, bouzouki), who together provide a fortuitous balance of timbres that's impeccably judged, with melody line and harmony support well proportioned at all times.

The opening set of reels is a good illustration of the band's flair for balance between sensitivity of internal dynamics and outright energy, although there are instances on later sets where one feels that a little more capital might have been made out of the tunes (for example The Jolly Beggarman, which flits by in just under three minutes) and that a touch more loosening-up might have helped in dispelling the hint of "by rote" that just occasionally creeps into the rhythm of the ensemble. Interestingly though, one of the most appealing of the instrumental tracks is a swinging ragtime-cum-vaudeville-flavoured piece By Heck (which originates from the playing of the Flanagan Brothers, who emigrated to America in the early 1900s).

The rest of the tune-sets contain a nice mixture of jigs, reels and hornpipes and barndances, and the chosen pace is well managed but never too frantic even in the concluding head-of-steam stages of a set. Colm gives us a delightful solo performance too, the Gort Na Mona set (comprising a jig and a hornpipe): light and lyrical guitar picking at its finest (and, like his rendition of The Humours Of Ballyloughlin on the disc's final medley, inspired by the duetting of Paul Brady and Arty McGlynn). As far as the songs are concerned, Lisa takes the vocals for three out of the four, and she has a pleasing, warm, generous tone with a good sense of line without resorting to over-use of ornamentation; I particularly enjoyed her rendition of Cad É Sin Don Té Sin, a Donegal song dealing with the issue of personal freedom and individuality, although her treatment of Banks Of The Lee is a little too much on one level to rise above the standard. The fourth of the songs is the odd-one-out in two respects: it's the only contemporary composition - Richard Thompson's Beeswing - and it's sung (albeit rather attractively too) by Colm, but it ends a little abruptly and in the end doesn't add anything to the song's already massive discography.

Overall, then, Happy Days is a pretty impressive debut, for these musicians are undeniably talented and have already learnt some key lessons in the successful presentation of Irish traditional music. And even though I'm left with a feeling of being ever so slightly shortchanged, it proves an enjoyable listen. David Kidman October 2010

www.LiveIreland.com
Caladh Nua is another young group out with a stunner, Happy Days. What a quintet! Fab songs meet wonderful, wonderful tunes—played to the last note. Think Carlow, Kilkenny and Waterford. Think brilliant. We have listened and listened and listened, and we still are. We are also late to this dance with this group, but we ain’t leavin’. We’re here now as long-haul fans and we can only hope these musicians stay together for still more magic. And more. And…..Caladh Nua!!! Spectacular beginning. Bill Margeson

The Living Tradition Aug/Sept 10
An impressive debut offering from new Carlow/Waterford/Kilkenny band Caladh Nua. The musicianship on this recording is very good, with simple but effective arrangements which do not clutter the overall mix, allowing the tunes and songs to shine through. The opening set of reels, starting with The Windmill on button box and fiddle with steady guitar backing, builds gently to lead the listener into two further reels; Larry’s Favourite, played energetically on banjo and flatpicked guitar, and from there to the Commodore reel where the whole band lift the set to a rousing peak. An excellent showcase for the band to demonstrate their considerable ability.

The song Craigie Hills follows, beautifully sung by Lisa Butler whose voice is rich, warm and nicely ornamented. The song is set in a very simple arrangement, mainly just mandolin, bouzouki and guitar, with the rest of the band joining for the instrumental break only. There are three other songs on the recording. Lisa sings Cad É Sin Don Té Sin which has overtones of some early Clannad vocal arrangements, and she also performs a splendid, atmospheric version of The Banks of the Lee with nicely subtle accompaniment. The Richard Thompson song Beeswing is well enough sung by Colm O’Caoimh but it does not have the impact of the others and feels a bit out of place in the overall setting of this album.

The remainder of the recording is reserved for tunes. Apart from sets of jigs and reels, the band have included some barndances and hornpipes with a number of pieces from the Flanagan Brothers repertoire giving a music hall swing to many of the pieces. The tunes are all nicely paced with nobody rushing to get to the finish line first!

At least four of the thirteen tracks showcase the talents of the individual musicians - Eoin O'Meachair (Banjo, Mandolin, Whistles and Vocals), Paddy Tutty (Fiddle), Lisa Butler (Fiddle and Vocals), Derek Morrisey (Button Accordion) and Colm O’Caoimh (Bouzouki, Guitar and Vocals). All very good players but these tracks are individual performances (mostly with guitar accompaniment) rather than band arrangements.

Colm O’Caoimh comes up with some outstanding guitar work across the album – whether providing sympathetic accompaniment to the songs and tunes or in pieces like The Gortnamona Set (solo guitar throughout) where he displays lightness and subtlety in his fingerpicking style. The Gravel Walks Set starts with the Humours of Ballyloughlin played on guitar with button accordion chord accompaniment – Colm’s flatpicking of the tunes is superb with more triplets than an IVF clinic!

My only general criticism, which is evident in many of the pieces, is that the rhythm is often a little stilted giving a “metronomic” feel to some of the songs and tunes (possibly due to recording to a click track??). Overall, however, this is a very enjoyable album - the standard of playing of all the band is first class, and the arrangements refreshingly simple and uncomplicated. Perhaps for their next album they will relax in the studio, let rip and get the tunes firing on all cylinders. I look forward to hearing it. Jim Byrne


The Chicago Irish American News.
Caladh Nua is another young group out with a stunner, Happy Days. What a quintet! Fab songs meet wonderful, wonderful tunes-played to the last note. Think Carlow, Kilkenny and Waterford. Think brilliant. We have listened and listened and listened, and we still are. We are also late to this dance with this group, but we ain't leavin'. We're here now as long-haul fans and we can only hope these musicians stay together for still more magic. And more. And…..Caldh Nua!!! Spectacular beginning. Bill Margeson

IRISH MUSIC MAGAZINE
"Solid traditional music with plenty of flair and lots of musical imagination”