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BRENDAN MULHOLLAND, CONOR LAMB, DEIRDRE GALWAY - Music In The Glen

BRENDAN MULHOLLAND, CONOR LAMB, DEIRDRE GALWAY - Music In The Glen
Private Label BCD01

There’s always a lot going on in the traditional music scene in Ulster, and here is a new grouping that will immediately show how vibrant and fresh that scene is. Here we have the combined talents of Brendan Mulholland, flute, low whistle; Conor Lamb, uilleann pipes, whistles; and Deirdre Galway, guitar. In addition, guesting are Christine Galway, piano; Neil Martin, cello; Dónal O’Connor, keyboard; Fintan Mulholland, snare drum; and Dermot Moynagh, bodhrán.

The trio’s homelands are the counties of Antrim and Down, and this is strongly, but not exclusively, reflected both in their styles of playing and their selection of tunes. There are new compositions as well as older ones, but no matter the provenance, the unifying strand here is the tightness of playing, the understanding between each other and the technical precision. There’s also loads of passion, empathy and respect going on here, too. It can be difficult sometimes for whistles or even guitars to get themselves heard in the presence of uilleann pipes at full blast, but top marks to Dónal O’Connor’s mixing and engineering, which ensures every note is as lovingly reproduced as it was produced in the first place.

There’s a fine selection of driving sets which never sacrifice subtlety for pace, and moody and languid interpretation in the likes of the Lament For Limerick, which all combine together beautifully to produce an album which is surprisingly their first after some 20 years of collaboration.

A superb first release which augurs well for the future.

www.musicitg.com

Gordon Ptter


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This album was reviewed in Issue 123 of The Living Tradition magazine.