The Kane Sisters

3 reviews 2004: The Irish Times, Galway Advertiser, Hot Press Magazine
- download review (PDF 99KB)

'The Well Tempered Bow' Album Review

Published in Earle Hitchner's "Ceol" column in the IRISH ECHO newspaper on January 15, 2003, in New York City. (The Well-Tempered Bow is no.2 in the top trad albums in the IRISH ECHO 15/01/03).
" Charting their own course after three years in Sharon Shannon's Woodchoppers band, these sisters from Letterfrack, Galway, came up with an assured, beautifully realized recording. The siblings focus on the composing talent of Paddy Fahy, a fellow Galway musician from Kilconnell, through expert renditions of his richly melodic tunes, unnamed as is his wont. Also on the album are compositions by Ed Reavy (his "In Memory of Coleman" reel follows James Hill's "The Bee's Wing" hornpipe in a standout Kanes' medley), Paddy O'Brien, and Brendan Mulvihill, plus three by Liz Kane herself. The sisters perform them with consummate grace and soulfulness, qualities that carry over to their tender treatments of "The Valley of Knockanure" waltz and the "Küsnacht" air, to which Jesse Smith adds viola. Aptly titled, "The Well-Tempered Bow" is fine-honed unison fiddling by two musicians who know how to draw out the heat and light within a melody. There's no superficial flashiness substituting for a more difficult-to-achieve understanding of what makes a tune tick. This duo debut has real depth and heft, with superb accompaniment from guitarist and pianist John Blake, a member of the band Téada. Conway, Kanes Head Up Best Traditional Albums of 2002."

Madfortrad.com November 22nd 2001, TG4 Traditional Music Awards 2001
".... featuring the the playing of sisters LIz and Yvonne Kane. The packed venue was treated to an hour of sweet, steady but lively East-Galway style fiddling...Most metres and tune types were played but it was during the slower tunes that the intense musical understanding between the siblings was most apparent. The two fiddlers' music was so complimentary in melody, dynamic and rhythm that it was obvious that they were drawing from the same well of inspiration...”

The Clare Champion April 2002
" ...From North Connemara, they have been impressing audiences for a number of years now with their distinctive style of fiddle playing...”

Folkroots May 2002 - Ita Kelly
“Liz and Yvonne Kane are like two peas in a pod...Imagine this empathy translating into music...”

Hot Press November 2000 - Siobhán Long
“…while 'Fire in their Bellies' (with Liz and Yvonne Kane) is ensemble playing at its best and most naked."