Sometimes, we all need a bit of a palate cleanse. When you're a fan of Irish traditional music, one of the best ways to soothe a troubled mind -- a brain oversaturated with music good and bad -- is Dervish.

Dervish, from County Sligo, was once in near-constant rotation for me. They are, without a doubt, one of the best musical gifts that Ireland has given to the world. I don't listen to the band as much as I used, largely because of other demands on my time, but every now and then I need to steep in excellence for a spell. This time, my spell of choice was At the End of the Day, a 2007 release.

The album begins with "Touching Cloth," a lively set of reels that instantly reminds listeners why Dervish is one of the tradition's finest instrumental bands. The second track, "Ar Erin ni Neosfainn ce Hi/(For Ireland) I Won't Tell Her Name," a lovely air that reintroduces the unparalleled voice of Sligo singer Cathy Jordan.

The superlatives used so far in this review should give you a pretty good idea how much admiration I have for this band. At the End of the Day, while not their all-time best recording, is exceptional enough to satisfy the most discerning of critics.

Besides Jordan, who also plays bodhran and bones, Dervish is Shane McAleer on fiddle, Liam Kelly on flute, whistles and backing vocals, Shane Mitchell on accordion, Michael Holmes on bouzouki and Brian McDonagh on mandola, bassola, mandolin and guitar.

The album provides listeners with 15 tracks, any of which could be singled out for praise. Instrumental tracks include "Jim Coleman's Set" (mazurka and reels), "Packie Duignan's" (jigs), "Drag Her Round the Road" (reels), "The Trip to Sligo" (reels) and "The Killavill Set" (jigs). There's also "Josefin's Waltz," which spotlights the Swedish quartet Vasen, consisting of Olov Johansson on nykelharpa, Mikael Marin on viola, Roger Tallroth on 12-string guitar and Andreas Farrarie on percussion.

Songs on this album include "An Spailpin Fanach/The Itinerant Laborer," "Lone Shanakyle," "Peata Beag/Little Pet," "Sile ne Ghadhra/Sheila Nee Iyer" and "I Courted a Wee Girl." After a 30-second delay, the song "Eileen McMahon" closes the album with a haunting lament sung a cappella in a parish church in County Wicklow that gives her voice an ethereal tone.

Tracks are arranged so tune sets and songs alternate, so the sound and style is in constant rotation.

Jordan, who has fronted the band since 1991, also performs as a solo artist and with the band The Unwanted. But she and the boys of Dervish remain without question my favorite Irish band. Although the band's most recent album is 2019's The Great Irish Songbook, they are still touring (as far as I know). Do yourself a favor and, if possible, see Dervish in concert ... but, lacking that opportunity, their recordings are a brilliant snapshot of a living tradition. At the End of the Day will without question sate a hunger for fine music.