by Chris NicksonA true live recording (no studio overdubs or "enhancements") taken from their show at Celtic Connections 2002 finds Capercaillie sounding better and stronger than on their studio releases. Karen Matheson is one of Scotland's best young singers, although much of the band's work has seen her light hidden under a bush, to an extent. Here she shines, particularly on the glorious ballad "Iain Ghlinn Cuaich," where a sparse arrangement puts her firmly front and center. While there's a good selection of familiar material, including a highly rearranged "Coisich a Ruin," there's also some new work, just to show they're still moving ahead. As always, Michael McGoldrick proves to be a wizard on flute, whistle, and uillean pipes, but the rest of the band are a match for him, and the interplay between musicians breathes with an easy confidence. They've been around for 18 years, a long, long time, and on the evidence of this, it's been worth waiting so long to release their first live set. Excellent stuff.