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The Blue Idol
 
 
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The Blue Idol

~ Altan
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
Price: £9.98 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
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Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk. Gift-wrap available.

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24 new from £7.97 9 used from £3.99
Buy the MP3 album for £7.99 at the Amazon MP3 Downloads store.

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Frequently Bought Together

The Blue Idol + Another Sky + Runaway Sunday
Price For All Three: £22.94

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  • This item: The Blue Idol ~ Altan

    In stock.
    Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk.
    This item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions

  • Another Sky ~ Altan

    In stock.
    Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk.
    This item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions

  • Runaway Sunday ~ Altan

    In stock.
    Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk.
    This item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions

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Product details

  • Audio CD (6 May 2002)
  • Number of Discs: 1
  • Label: Venture
  • ASIN: B00005Y372
  • Other Editions: MP3 Download
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 119,133 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Listen to Samples and Buy MP3s

Songs from this album are available to purchase as MP3s. Click on "Buy MP3" or view the MP3 Album.

Samples
Song Title Time Price
Listen  1. Daily Growing 4:52£0.69
Listen  2. Uncle Rat 2:18£0.69
Listen  3. Roaring Water 3:15£0.69
Listen  4. The Pretty Young Girl 4:39£0.69
Listen  5. The Blue Idol (Medley) 3:05£0.69
Listen  6. The Trip to Cullenstown (Medley) 3:52£0.69
Listen  7. Cuach Mo Lon Dubh Buí 3:02£0.69
Listen  8. Mother's Delight (Medley) 4:22£0.69
Listen  9. The Low Highlands (Medley) 3:39£0.69
Listen10. The Sea-Apprentice Boy 3:50£0.69
Listen11. Sláinte Theilinn (A Health To Teelin) 3:59£0.69
Listen12. An Cailín Deas Óg 4:40£0.69
Listen13. Gweebarra Bridge (Medley) 3:45£0.69

Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review

On Blue Idol, Irish music superstars Altan have come up with an elegant solution to the problem of how to play music that satisfies both the traditional purist and the fan who wants a more contemporary edge to the music. When they play instrumental sets of dance tunes, they never stray far from their Donegal roots, and when they sing songs they stretch the boundaries by performing with guest artists like Paul Brady and Dolly Parton and adding unexpected instruments like didgeridoo and saxophone. On songs like "Daily Growing" and "Uncle Rat", which feature the exquisite voice of Mairéd Ní Mhaonaigh, the band creates a mood of jazzy medievalism that shows hints of Pentangle's early recordings. And when they hunker down for a set of jigs or reels, they play with the sort of passionate abandon you only hear at the finest sessions. The contemporary and traditional strains of music on Blue Idol are like two streams that join together to form a river that flows further and with more power than either could alone. --Michael Simmons

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Customer Reviews

3 Reviews
5 star:
 (2)
4 star:    (0)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.3 out of 5 stars (3 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Altan's best CD so far., 3 Jul 2002
The tunes are so highly energetic and so brilliantly 'swinging' I just can't resist: I'm playing them over and over again. The songs don't sound so sad as on the last albums, there is less snyth and pop and more acoustic music. If you like their other albums old and new, and/or if you like Dervish, you will surely want to give this cd a try. For me simply the best they've done so far. Amazing.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The Blue Idol - Altan, 18 Nov 2003
By Manon (Wales) - See all my reviews
My first taste of Altan, but one that makes me hanker for a second helping. It's certainly foot-tapping stuff evoking memories of traditional dancing lessons at school. The jigs and reels are lively and up-beat and there are clear, precise melodies throughout the songs; my favourite being "Daily Growing". If you like Tri Yann and old Clannad, I'm sure you'll enjoy "The Blue Idol" and play it over and over again, as I do.
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8 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Good but not great, 3 May 2002
By A Customer
As a fan of Altan for a number of years I have to say I am a little disappointed with this long awaited album. I find it neither very rootsy nor a development from their last album. There are a number of good instrumental sets but the songs are generally not up to scratch eg Uncle Rat. They are joined by Dolly Parton and Paul Brady but neither add much to the collection. One song is also included twice - in English and Gaelic and the overall impression is a lack of good ideas. Far, far better is "Another Sky". If you are a die hard fan you'll buy it anyway, if not any of their last 3 albums are superior. Sorry lads.
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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

The Blue Idol
48% buy the item featured on this page:
The Blue Idol 4.3 out of 5 stars (3)
£9.98
Blackwater
18% buy
Blackwater 5.0 out of 5 stars (1)
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Runaway Sunday
15% buy
Runaway Sunday 4.0 out of 5 stars (1)
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Altan
£11.98
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