Saturday, November 1, 2008

"As I Roved Out" review from The Irish Gazette

We just found out that our CD, "As I Roved Out" was reviewed by Jim Tarbox in the October issue of The Irish Gazette, read for yourselves:
The Langer’s Ball
“As I Roved Out”
Own Label
"My luck – and yours-continues to hold out, as the Twin Cities continues to boast a vital base of Irish musicians who continue to percolate just under the radar. Add this relatively new duet to that invaluable resource now. Formed just a year ago, Langer’s Ball is really just a duet – Michael Sturm on guitar, mando, and vocals and Hannah Rediske on piano accordion and the penny whistle. But you’ll likely be fooled when you hear this album – released in July – as in fact the pair plays a full lineup of instruments that will have you wondering if there isn’t really an entire band working behind them. Opening with Steve Earle’s “Galway Girl,” the duo sets off on an assured set of both traditional and more contemporary songs that is a treasure from beginning to end. “Raglan Road” especially features Sturm’s appealing baritone on Patrick Kavanaugh’s poem set to the pipe band favorite “Dawning of the Day”; the title tune – yet another lament on frustrated passions features singer Jennifer Ordalen – Shows off the pair’s assured instrumental prowess; and their version of “Star of the County Down” might now be my favorite – they offer just exactly the right amount of urgent longing, and Sturm sounds like he just might really have a chance to win the winsome Rosie. And their take on Eric Bogle’s “And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda,” a newly timely anti-war song, strikes the perfect ironic tone of hero worship, warrior bravado and chagrin. They’re playing all over the region this fall – The Dubliner, Paddy’s, Kips, Charlie’s – try to catch them while you can still get a seat close to the stage.