Our first introduction to Moira's amazing voice and her all-woman band Voco was their surprising and dramatic win at the recent '07 Harmony Sweeps Finals in San Rafael, CA, which was the first time in many years that an all-female group took top honors. They also won for Best Original Song, with "Stand in that River," and got a huge ovation for the original "I Live in California" (unfortunately not included in this collection). "Rua" is a lightly accompanied, wonderful collection of traditional folk songs, including "Stand," which was "written to join the tradition." Some favorites are the touching Vermont folk song "House that Jack Built," the Irish song and reel "Hawk & Crow/Monaghan Twig," the deeply-felt song against the idea of Eye for an Eye, "A Man was Born," (we believe to be a group original, but the liner notes are sparse), "Charlie Piggot's/Sporting Pitchfork," a hornpipe and jig accompanied by the "flying feet of Moira's friend, Maire Clerkin." The much-loved Irish carol "Queen Jane," another original, "Grey Shore," a "love-across-the-waters song inspired by all the extraordinary old ones," northern song "Maid of Culmore," "Darkest Midnight," a Wexford carol with new text, and "Parting Glass" a lovely old parting song given some new "Inuit and North African-inspired sounds." An amazing collection by Moira and her group, rising stars who we were privileged to hear at their stunning Finals win!