Mehercule, what an album I have chanced upon! The title 'Piping Hot' is only a very meek intimation of what awaits you. As a gentle note to my co-reviewer Joe above: if the music had you only 'tapping your feet', you must be living under heavy sedation, poor guy. When the first notes of 'Itchy fingers' blasted out of the speakers, they jerked my out of my easy-chair, hurled me towards the ceiling and had me bouncing off the walls. This is really Bach meeting the bagpipes: the music grabs you by the balls and hurls you thru spaces you never dreamed existed. The mastery of the pipes shown here is simply breathtaking. But there is more to it, beautiful vocals by Ilana and Patty bring you celtic spirits with their original songs, and there is even a new take on a trad like 'The Leaving of Liverpool'. In short - a must-have. Go buy it!
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Here again is Mac Talla Mo'r-glorious method in madness. In the last review I called them eminently rational. They are an illustration of the maxim"If we guide by the light of reason we must let our minds be bold."  Mac Talla Mo'r's music, where Tich Richardson and Turlough O'Carolan run head on into Xavier Cugat and Dave Brubeck is certainly an illustration of this. Wild and it all makes sense.
Right from the start with "Itchy Fingers" Mac Talla Mo'r catches you up in their spell. And there is the fast paced angry "NINA" about an era where Irish(and Native Americans or anyone who was "unchurched" by the forces of cultural mediocrity) could fight for this country but not participate in it's freedoms. 
I particularly like "Claveness" which is a clear and excellent melding of MTM's pipe rock with Afro-Cuban jazz. Another tour de force where MTM piper brothers Levon and Jesse Ofgang go all out, with sister Ilana's piano and Nadav drums giving it grounding, is "House Destroyers." "The Devlin Within"(a play on Mac Talla Mo'r's mater familias' maiden name) is an ode to domestic chaos with another funny twist on Cuban Irish Scots American legacies. Another wild mix of 20th century musical idioms is "Dee Dee Diddly Bop."
For a fine change of pace here is the soft "Leaving of Liverpool." where Ilana proves herself another kind of poet.
For strict  trad the piper brothers acquit themselves well indeed with "Mason's Apron."
Two favorites of mine are at the end. The "Man From Skye" which right up front good "hard" music in any genre. Of course I am prejudiced-some of my folks are from Skye. And the last cut "Hellbound Train" which finishes this CD pulls out all the stops for one wild ride.
Mac Talla Mo'r with their melding of musics are right on the money, both in their delivery and  vision. They will lead you into new worlds while keeping their focus. AK Celtic Beat Magazine
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This band Rocks!!! When I listen to Piping Hot I can't stop tapping my foot. Really driving CD. Most highly recommended.
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This CD is truly something different! You can't pin the music down to simple Celtic, but that is part of the beauty of it, there is really a fusion of styles here, and it flows. You'll hear a big band, almost stage musical style in some songs, while others echo jazz, blues or rock, but always with that Celtic flavor. A variety of spices for the stew!

You'll hear both Scottish and Irish influence as well, and sometimes the songs are even fairly traditional in sound. If you like the bagpipes, this CD is a MUST, as they are used frequently, and quite well in the musical arrangements. Much of the music can really be described as quite danceable, and not necessarily in the traditional sense, but more mainstream.

For those who like Celtic music but are looking for something to challenge their ear, this CD is the perfect choice. People who like jazz will most likely enjoy this CD, as the rhythms are more complex than is typical in most Celtic music. The fusion of many different styles give Piping Hot a flavor all its own, and one that can be appreciated by a variety of listeners.
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