by Rick AndersonIn the tradition of Mouth Music, the Afro Celt Sound System, and, to some degree, Capercaillie, Kila blends Celtic folk music with Afro-European rhythms; the band has achieved huge success in Ireland, where this album achieved gold record status. And it's pretty easy to see why: the combination of Irish melodies and Afrobeat rhythms is a winning one, and Kila's approach is unique enough for the band to stand out in an increasingly crowded field. They're far more traditional in orientation than Mouth Music ever were; the electric guitars and exotic percussion are there to serve the tunes, not the other way around, and their sound is much more down to earth than that of the famously slick Capercaillie. Singer Ronan O'Snodaigh has a truly unique voice, and he uses it to good effect on the lovely "Bi Ann" and the title track; there are also lots of great instrumentals, mostly taken at mid-tempo with fretless electric bass and African percussion percolating along underneath. If you're looking for something a bit different in traditional Irish music, this band is for you.