Various Artists
Album: Masters Of Their Craft
Label: Tara
Tracks: 18
Website: http://www.taramusic.com

Whilst you can argue the toss about the title, there are female vocalists and female lead bands on this compilation. it's very difficult if not impossible to argue against the thrust of its intent. "Masters Of Their Craft" is an album that brings together a collection of Celtic musicians that not only influenced the sounds of their fellow musicians at the time, but that of the subsequent generations, the link that bound them together, the record label Tara.

There have always been exciting Irish bands and singers. I'm fortunate to have grown up at a time when it's been possible to have easy access to these musicians, but it hasn't always been so. There was a time when it was difficult for Irish musicians to get heard outside of Ireland and if they wanted that to happen, they had to migrate to other shores. Even if they did so they were generally part of a local scene, that you had to be in the know about. The music was still considered 'minority' and it found difficulty getting airplay.

Tara was a major catalyst in changing that. It was a label that fought hard to open up other markets for its acts and when your acts include the likes of Christy Moore, Clannad, Stockton's Wing, Planxty and Rita Connolly, amongst others, you have the quality to behind you to allow you to walk the walk and walk they did.

Tara were a label that were able to back their artists and get them heard. In fact they were so successful that ultimately many of those acts ended up signing to the majors and it does make you think where Tara might be today had it been able to hold onto all on the roster.

Well leaving the speculation to one side, what is a fact is the sheer quality of those acts. The most disappointing things about this compilation is that it is only 18 tracks. It's a wonderful compilation and a great introduction to the scene at the time, if you're just starting to explore the genre. Hopefully this is the start of an exploration of the Tara vaults and that rarer or previously unreleased tracks will follow.

Neil King