Riveting music that reaffirms and enlarges the international stature of the traditional band recognized as Ireland’s best. Never complacent, Altan experiments with harmony and choral singing on such stirring songs in Irish as "Dónal Agus Mórag," led by Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh’s extraordinarily expressive voice. This album stamps Altan as a band whose vocal blend can fully match the mastery of their fiery instrumental playing. Ciaran Tourish joins, and the three fiddlers have never sounded tighter or more tenacious, while Frankie Kennedy again shows why he is among Ireland’s most accomplished flutists. The rhythm section of Mark Kelly on guitar and Ciaran Curran on bouzouki and bouzouki-guitar is second to none, weaving through the more delicate tunes and helping to propel the uptempo ones. Hothouse Flowers’ Liam O Maonlai sits in on one song; joining in elsewhere are such stellar talents as Tommy Hayes, Donal Lunny, world champion Irish stepdancer Frieda Gray, and Dáithí Sproule. Exceeding expectations, Harvest Storm is another stunning achievement from a brilliant band.