The World Music Network's second installment in its excellent Rough Guide to Irish Music series is another high-quality overview of Celtic music both traditional and contemporary that eclipses many of the genre's numerous other anthologies. With a roster that forgoes the emerging industry's more fusion-oriented material in favor of young and older talent with muses that burn bright with forward-thinking -- but ultimately reverent -- renderings of traditional songs and dances, it's an excellent introduction for the curious and a solid collection for the already converted. Highlights include the whistle-heavy trio Flook, the Manhattan-based Celtic folk of the Prodigals and the blistering harmonica and fiddle duo Paul Moran and Fergal Scahill. ~ James Christopher Monger Performers include: Frankie Gavin, Flook, Dervish, Seamus Begley & Jim Murray, Paul Brady, Seamus Creagh & Aidan Coffey, Cran, Paddy, Keenan & Tommy O'sullivan, Lunasa, Paul Mcgrattan, Mary Mcpartlan, Matt Molloy, Paul Moran & Fergal Scahill, Lasairfhiona Ni Chonaola, Maighread Ni Dhomhnaill & Triona Ni Dhomhnaill & Donal Lunny, North Cregg, Gerry O'connor, Ciaran O Maonaigh & Dermot Mclaughlin, The Prodigals, Helen Roche and Seamus Quinn & Gary Hastings.Dirty Linen (p.84) - "[I]t's a collection that offers snapshots from the evolving tradition of Irish trad, so to speak, rather than traditional music played in the old style. There's passion and skill enough, as well as a good variety of music."