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ÉAMONN O’RIORDAN & TONY O’CONNELL - Rooska Hill

ÉAMONN O’RIORDAN & TONY O’CONNELL - Rooska Hill
Gael Linn CEFCD207

Rooska Hill is the highest point in West Limerick, which is an area noted for its traditional music. Both Éamonn and Tony have family hailing from there and so have drawn on that heritage in their own playing. Éamonn plays a C# / G# concertina, and Tony an Eb flute, which gives a fine, light range to the tunes and allows for some great interplay in the melody line.

The guest musicians are Arty McGlynn, guitar; Brian Mooney, bouzouki; and Gearóid Ó Duinnín, guitar, and together they play music which is bright and lively, played with feeling and drive, always true to itself and always very tight. The overall impression, however, is of a very dextrous lightness of touch coupled with a sureness of playing, which makes the most out of the great selection of sets assembled here. All you need to create a real session feel is to close your eyes and have some of your preferred choice of stout to hand!

All of the tunes are traditional, with a brief reference note about their origins contained in the box. Full marks to Tony’s recording skills as well, as every note played by each of the musicians is crisp and clear, allowing you to follow any individual’s contribution to the mix. If that sounds like too much work, don’t worry about it, it’s not obligatory – just sit back and listen to one of the best examples of this sort of music I’ve heard for quite some time.

Gordon Potter


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This album was reviewed in Issue 113 of The Living Tradition magazine.