Iona's Traditional Twist on Carols

...NAMED AFTER the spices in Wassail, the hot ale traditionally drunk in Britain during winter holidays, Iona's "Nutmeg & Ginger" collects "music of the winter season" from the seven Celtic "nations" recognized by the Celtic League: Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Brittany, Cornwall, the Isle of Man and Galicia. That sounds exotic, but it's just a cover for what "Nutmeg & Ginger" really is: an album of medleys of Christmas carols...

...This Northern Virginia trio's music is not as banal as the seasonal Muzak that will soon pervade the local malls. The arrangements are elegant and spare -- guitar, mandolin and flute predominate -- and the three-part harmonies are pretty and precise. These qualities make such tunes as " 'Ma Grun War 'N Gelynen" (that's Cornish) and "Cwrw Da" (Welsh for "good beer") a treat. Still, some of the melodies (if not the lyrics) are overly familiar. In short, this is an album for those interested in a traditional variation on Yuletide tradition, but not for those who hope never to hear another "fa-la-la-la" so long as they live...