by Dave SlegerThis is the 1992 debut from Ireland's Kila. Largely acoustic, this album consists of several original compositions performed in the traditional vein with a few exceptions bearing a more contemporary style, most notably "B'fhéidir." Acoustic guitar, electric bass and percussion provide the rhythm for Kila's music while fiddle, tin whistles and uilleann pipes generally carry the melodies. The most interesting piece on this album is the title track that combines Arcangelo Corelli's 17th century piece "La Folia" with the traditional-Irish "Mulhaires Reel" and Kila wind player Colm O Snodaigh's "Handel's Fantasy." That melding of classical and Irish music may well have influenced accordionist Sharon Shannon who's 1997 album Each Little Thing included a similar sounding arrangement for "Bonnie Mulligan"." Mostly instrumental, this album doesn't possess the exotic percussive and rhythmic influences of later albums, however, they flirt with that eventual identifying trend with the ambitious three part "Four Ages of Man."