LOUISE MULCAHY - Tuning The Road
Cló Iar-Chonnacht CICD196
The Mulcahy name is well known among traditional music enthusiasts for being stalwarts of the tradition and ensuring its continuance for many generations to come. Tuning The Road is Louise’s debut solo album, having previously recorded with father Mick and sister Michelle. Throughout the 14 tracks, this excellent multi-instrumentalist demonstrates her strong musical ability on each of her three instruments, uilleann pipes, flute and tin whistle.
Each track stands out for the careful consideration taken in choosing tunes to match the particular instrument. There are two absolutely beautiful slow airs played with the heart and feeling that is necessary of such a tune but must be expected from a musician of this calibre. There is a broad mix of tunes across the album, including a composition from Louise’s sister Michelle. I especially enjoyed listening to the set of slides beginning with If I Had A Wife and the opening reel set which includes The Road To Old Decency.
Louise is accompanied by sister Michelle on harp and piano, and also by Colm Murphy on bodhrán. Their accompaniment is simply excellent and truly enhances Louise’s beautiful music. This album is not only for followers of whistle, flute or pipes, but it is one that should be marked down as a reference point for demonstrating to the listener an honest sense of the Irish musical tradition.
Emmet O’Halloran
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this CD online from The Listening Post The Listening Post is the CD mailorder service of The Living Tradition magazine. This album was reviewed in Issue 103 of The Living Tradition magazine. |