Name: The Kelleher's Sessions
Artist: Liam Flanagan & Claire O'Loughlin
Year of Publication: 2020 (recorded in 2018)
Source: https://liamflanaganclaireoloughlin.bandcamp.com/album/the-kellehers-sessions
Description: A short first album from fiddle duet Liam Flanagan & Claire O'Loughlin, with accompaniment from Caomhín Ó Fearghaill
In Detail: The first track is a nice set of rarely heard jigs - the only set of jigs on the album. Very little to pick out negative about it; it's competently played and subtly accompanied
The second track is a nice listenable set of reels, starting with Larry's Favourite. A straightforward simple set, sparsely ornamented.
The third track is a plaintive set of mazurkas. Again, played in unison with tasteful accompaniment. It clocks in at 2:20, the shortest track on the album
The fourth track is a nice set of bardances, played at a quite sedate pace. Paddy Byrnes is a particularly lyrical piece, and this is probably one of the more adventurous tracks in terms of use of counterpoint melodies, which are intermittent.
The fifth track starts off with a dramatic drone introduction to Old Maids of Galway that echoes earlier recordings by Liz Carroll and defunct Scottish band Gria, and goes into a pair of matched reels.
What's Good: There's very little fuss with this album. It's two musicians who have a clear idea of their abilities and limitations, and that leads to a short and very tidy, uncontroversial album effort that's very easy to listen to and enjoy. One comes away from the album hoping to end up in a session with them, such is their obvious fluidity and metronomic rhythm.
A word also for guitarist Caomhín Ó Fearghaill, who is flawless throughout. I suspect it is harder to find traditional music albums he's not on these days such is his prolificity.
What's Bad: Very little to note that is obviously bad. This is a competent, listenable album on the whole. If anything, it's too short, and I wonder were they a little over-cautious in picking sets for this - I suspect we didn't hear the full range of their abilities here and that there's potentially more to come from these two. Also, I would love to see them be a little bit more adventurous and to hear a wider selection of tunes. That's for the next album hopefully.
Rating: 8/10
Have an album you want reviewed? Please email [email protected]
Artist: Liam Flanagan & Claire O'Loughlin
Year of Publication: 2020 (recorded in 2018)
Source: https://liamflanaganclaireoloughlin.bandcamp.com/album/the-kellehers-sessions
Description: A short first album from fiddle duet Liam Flanagan & Claire O'Loughlin, with accompaniment from Caomhín Ó Fearghaill
In Detail: The first track is a nice set of rarely heard jigs - the only set of jigs on the album. Very little to pick out negative about it; it's competently played and subtly accompanied
The second track is a nice listenable set of reels, starting with Larry's Favourite. A straightforward simple set, sparsely ornamented.
The third track is a plaintive set of mazurkas. Again, played in unison with tasteful accompaniment. It clocks in at 2:20, the shortest track on the album
The fourth track is a nice set of bardances, played at a quite sedate pace. Paddy Byrnes is a particularly lyrical piece, and this is probably one of the more adventurous tracks in terms of use of counterpoint melodies, which are intermittent.
The fifth track starts off with a dramatic drone introduction to Old Maids of Galway that echoes earlier recordings by Liz Carroll and defunct Scottish band Gria, and goes into a pair of matched reels.
What's Good: There's very little fuss with this album. It's two musicians who have a clear idea of their abilities and limitations, and that leads to a short and very tidy, uncontroversial album effort that's very easy to listen to and enjoy. One comes away from the album hoping to end up in a session with them, such is their obvious fluidity and metronomic rhythm.
A word also for guitarist Caomhín Ó Fearghaill, who is flawless throughout. I suspect it is harder to find traditional music albums he's not on these days such is his prolificity.
What's Bad: Very little to note that is obviously bad. This is a competent, listenable album on the whole. If anything, it's too short, and I wonder were they a little over-cautious in picking sets for this - I suspect we didn't hear the full range of their abilities here and that there's potentially more to come from these two. Also, I would love to see them be a little bit more adventurous and to hear a wider selection of tunes. That's for the next album hopefully.
Rating: 8/10
Have an album you want reviewed? Please email [email protected]