Reviews of "Cuckanandy" 
Not to be confused with the Irish band of the same name, these Danes stir up some surprisingly traditional Irish sounds, despite their country of origin. Punctuated by the deft interplay of fiddle and tin whistle, this collection of reels, jigs, airs, and songs begs for clapping, stamping, and full-on dancing.
Cuckanandy features a lively style of Celtic music, ranging from "Raggle-Taggle Gypsy," which sets your foot tapping from the first note, to McColl's "Dirty Old Town," a slow song with a little beat. They have gone all over the "Celtic map," taking influences for the songs from all over the world. The band itself consists of John Pilkington, who sings so deep and beautifully that you are lulled by his voice; Louise Vangsgaard, who plays an incredible fiddle, so lively that you have to get up and dance; Klaus Vester, who plays the flute and the bones; and Svend Kjeldsen, who plays the Bodhran with such spice and pep that it gives a earthy tone to the music; almost as if the music is a musk that begins to smoke around you, taking you to another time, another place. What I find so incredible about this album is the fact that you can tell the band had fun. Pure, simple, unadulterated fun! Almost every song is accompanied by a reel to cap it off, my favorite being "Virginia Reel," which is played with such spice that it is a piece of magic. The songs vary in style, but the reels and an earthy tone tie them together. This isn't a band to seek out if you're looking for fresh, innovative new interpretations of traditional Irish dance music. Rather, Moving Cloud excels at playing the tunes within the tradition. However, you can tell they've had more fun on this album, taking it where the music wants to go, where the music needs to go. It's an absolutely incredible album from a very talented band!
Jetzt spinnen die Dänen auch schon. Da haben sie nun selbst so wunderbare Volksmusik, aber nein! Sobald irgendwo auf der Welt eine Herde Iren auftaucht, die nichts besseres zu tun haben, als alle Stämme dieser Welt mit dem Virus ihrer Musik zu infizieren, fallen sogar die coolen Dänen drauf rein. Plötzlich verwandeln sich anständige Aarhuser Bürgerinnen und Bürger in einen Haufen bodhránklöppelnder, in höchsten Tönen flötender, bouzoukizupfender, groovig fiedelnder und engelsgleich singender Iren. Ja, man glaubt wirklich, Iren im Ohr zu haben, wenn man diese Herde so hört, aber eigentlich ist es völlig egal, was man glaubt, weil, die sind einfach gut! Sie haben Ideen (ich denke nur an die naheliegende, aber dennoch überraschende Verbindung von "The Rocky Road to Dublin" und "The Butterfly"), ein geschicktes Arrangierhändchen (wahrscheinlich viele) und Groove. Und dabei hat man doch viele der Stücke schon mehr als einmal gehört, aber der unkonventionelle Gesangsstil von John Pilkington - aha! Ausländer! Und dann auch noch Engländer! - lässt das alles verblüffend neu klingen. Nur den ollen Gassenhauer von der dreckigen alten Stadt hätten sie wegen mir gut ausfallen lassen können (auch wenn diese Swingjazzversion schon sehr außergewöhnlich ist). Aber da Svend Kjeldsen an anderer Stelle so verschmitzte Percussionteile spielt, tun wir einfach, als hätten wir's überhaupt nicht bemerkt.
Meget kan man sige om Moving Cloud, men de de dælme ikke bange af sig. Jeg mener, indspille Dirty Old Town, Rocky Road to Dublin og Bonnie Ship the Diamond,
det er jo næsten at bede om øretæver. Men de får dem ikke, ikke herfra ihvertfald, for de slipper faktisk flot fra det.
Og ikke bare fra disse velkendte sange som John Pilkington synger både afspændt og med en frasering der er rytmisk intens på en ikke
helt gængs måde, men faktisk fra det hele.
Ikke for at tage noget fra nogen men jeg kunne have en mistanke om, at livfuldheden og spændstigheden i sammenspillet har noget at gøre
med den nerve og det "helt-oppe-på-tæerne" nærvær, der er i Svend Kjeldsens bodhran-spil.
Og så lytter han til de andre.
Også Louises Vangsgaards violin ligger, ikke mindst i modspillet til Pilkingtons sang, helt flot: rytmisk livlig, lige til kanten af det frække,
og vældig lydhørt i sammenspillet med Klavs Vesters fløjte og tinwhistle.
Adskillige af stykkerne (også udover de ovennævnte sange) er ganske velkendte, men som de spilles her får de en friskhed, der er aldeles medrivende.
Det er da vist (endnu) en eksportvare, vi godt kan være bekendt.
Århus based Moving Cloud has released a cd of songs and tunes called Cuckanandy. Seven out of twelve tracks are songs or songs combined with a tune and that's a little over the top for my liking. That's a highly personal and subjective statement and it's no secret that many do not share my point of view. There's nothing wrong with the instrumental tracks, which are some of the best I have heard on a Danish cd in many years. Louise Vangsgaard (fiddle) and Klavs Vester (flute) are both superb musicians I have known for years and heard in many sessions and it's delightful to hear them playing up to their best on this cd. When they are let loose you don't find it much better. They are solidly backed by John Pilkington (guitar, bouzouki) and of course Mr. Bodhrán himself - Svend Kjeldsen. I don't know if it's because veteran producer Donal Lunny has had a hand in it, but the sound on the cd is absolutely perfect. Every little detail is crystal clear and that goes for the songs as well as for the instrumentals. It's hard to believe that Moving Cloud is a Danish band. They are playing as well as, if not better than many of the "genuine" Irish bands today.