***1/2 De Dannan

HIBERNIAN RHAPSODY

(Shanachie)

Lots of bands have identity crises, but De Dannan can't even get their name right. This group from the village of An Spidéal (west of Galway) started off life 22 years ago as Dé Danann (Gaelic for "Of the goddess Danu"), but somewhere between 1983's Song for Ireland and 1987's Ballroom it became De Dannan (which isn't Gaelic for anything). The graphic on their previous release, 1991's 1/2 Set in Harlem, even turned them into De Dannann. Maybe that's what happens when you change vocalists on almost every album (alumnae include Dolores Keane, Maura O'Connell, and Mary Black). Whatever, they now enjoy two Websites, one for each spelling. And Shanachie's packaging here is a mess, with no notes or lyrics, just titles, and those not all correct (the Gaelic song should read "Ar Éirinn Ní Neosainn Cé Hí"). Meanwhile Jackie Small gets thanked for Gaelic lyrics that don't appear on the album. Oh yes, and my review copy mistracked repeatedly.

Fortunately these guys can still play. The album title nods to Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody, and indeed the accordion-and-whistle-heavy title track is De Dannan's arrangement of Freddie Mercury (they've already done Bach, klezmer, Dylan, and Lennon -- on 1/2 Set in Harlem there's even a Mayo-meets-Motown "Operator"). New vocalist Tommy Flemming gets seven of the 15 tracks to show off on, and he's a keeper, from the hearty ballad "Captain Jack" to that Gaelic number, a spéir-bhean (fairy woman) story more affecting here than in the English-language version on Dervish's At the End of the Day. He's so good, he actually makes "Danny Boy" listenable. Only Frankie Gavin and Alec Finn remain from the original line-up, yet De Dannan roll on; like Clannad they seem to get more Irish as they age. What's in a name?

-- Jeffrey Gantz

(De Dannan play the Somerville Theatre this Saturday, February 15.)