From the Celtic enclave of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, where folks go to speak and study Gaelic, singer Mary Jane Lamond and fiddler Wendy MacIsaac have produced Seinn. Individually, they’re leaders of their generation of Cape Breton Gaelic musicians, and their joining forces as a duo was an inspired move; Seinn is one of the best new Celtic albums I’ve heard in years. Lamond’s singing has only gained in power and character since I first heard her in 1996, and MacIsaac’s fiddling is crisp and commanding. The material includes lots of traditional Gaelic songs and fiddle tunes, plus compositions by MacIsaac and other contemporary tunesmiths, all in bright, modern, mostly acoustic arrangements. Add to this guest musicians from the top of the folk and Celtic scenes in Canada, Ireland and Scotland, including Ashley MacIsaac (piano), Corinna Hewatt (harp), and Seph Peters (guitar and banjo), as well as vocals from Moya Brennan, Tríona and Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, and Catherine-Ann MacPhee, and this album is irresistible to anyone who’s ever danced or grooved to Celtic music.