by Catherine L. Tully

Artist: The Tea Merchants
Album: "One Lump Or Two"
Year produced: 2007

Way back when, I reviewed the Tea Merchants self-titled CD and my one complaint was that there weren't enough tracks. Well, with their latest 12-track effort, "One Lump Or Two," I am proud to say that the fine gentlemen from Austin have remedied that. And--these guys have succeeded in putting out another great album as well.

Don't miss track 4--"Led Zeppelin Polkas." Yes, you heard it right--if you didn't know that you could do Zeppelin Celtic-style, you do now! These guys really seem to enjoy throwing the unexpected at their listeners--which definitely is a good thing, not a bad one--and polkas are quickly becoming their chosen method of delivery for the unusual! There is plenty of the traditional fare to enjoy here too, and you'll find reels and a hornpipe are also present to satisfy the appetite.

The light-heartedness of the band's approach may have you thinking that they can't play, but if that is an assumption you have made, you are quite mistaken. This CD, just released (March '07) by the recent World Music winners of the Austin Music Awards, is sounding quite professional and was cut in a recording studio, which really shows. As on their debut CD, the 3 members of this band crank out great sound. Nary a complaint from me this time around--just good music--and plenty of it!

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Catherine L. Tully is a freelance writer and photographer who specializes in the arts. She has written for American Style and Classical Singer, among others and reviews music for Marc Gunn's Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. You can reach her through her photography website at www.moonbeamdigital.com.

Labels: cd_review_2007

Posted by Marc Gunn, Thursday, March 15, 2007.
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