Harvest Storm is an album of such energetic joy and ethereal beauty that one listen will convert even the most reluctant listener into an Irish music fan for life. Traditional jigs bounce with a manic energy, reels swirl in dervish celebration, and ballads simply swoon. The instruments-bouzouki, fiddles, flutes, accordions, guitar, and even a didgeridoo on one track-shake with Gaelic pride and centuries of commitment. Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh's voice sounds like it's conjured from the mist. Altan has always been a first class group, performing traditional Irish music as if they created it themselves. This album is their opus.