The Sunday Tribune 8 October 2000
traditional fintanvalley
ArtLife
THE ROUGH DEAL STRING BAND
The rough deal string band

Terrific, buzzing music from a busy, lively band which apologises for nothing. What a relief to hear real people playing such as 'Cotton Eyed Joe'. It both sets the album's tone for harmonies and breaking counterpoint, and starts a roll that is effortlessly held through 18 tracks of song standards and instrumentals that exercise nicely-far-back voice and individual talent. Among it all, Raleigh and Spencer suggest ancient ballad connections, yielding stories of modern history in the process, and accompaniments of moving, mesmeric, sawing, swing fiddle. Tim Rogers is the fiddler and vocalist, Ben Keogh on guitar and song, and the evergreen Bill Whelan a solid banjo base to this superbly joyful album.