CD REVIEWS FOR MARCH 2007
By CATHOLINE BUTLER
OISIN McAULEY
Far From The Hills Of Donegal
On his debut solo album Far From The Hills Of Donegal, Oisinn McAuley embraces the opportunity to express musical ideas in a manner that reflect his highly individual and progressive style of fiddle playing. Many will recognize McAuley as a member of the well-known traditional Irish group Danú.
This collection of songs covers everything from the music of Donegal, to Sligo, Brittany and Quebec. McAuley infuses his traditional musical style with jazz, bluegrass and classical.
Oissin grew up in a quiet, rural part of Western Ireland, speaking Irish as his primary language and honing his craft in the wide-ranging and experimental style of famed fiddle player John Doherty.
"You'll hear a lot of John Doherty on this record, both his music and his style," says McAuley. "He mixes up and changes things a lot, so in a way it was easier for me to mix up different types of tunes." And Oissin has learned well, and gone on to compose and mix up his music in his own unique style.
McAuley has been involved with music from an early age, starting with the fiddle when he was nine and living in Carrick County, Donegal. His grandfather played the fiddle and he would often give bed and board to fiddlers, just to hear the tunes in the house. Fiddle tunes that are very special to Oissin are the Scottish and Irish tunes that he has picked up along the way in his career.
McAuley particularly enjoyed recording this CD. He said, "There's no doubt that part of me comes through," he says, "and it was a great for me to get my ideas down the way I wanted to. It was very freeing for me."
If you like beautiful, pure traditional fiddle music...Oisin McAuley is sure to please. Far From The Hils Of Donegal is recorded on the Compass label. For more information, visit: www.compassrecords.com.
NIALL VALLELY, PAUL MEEHAN and CAOIMHIN VALLELY
Buille
One of Celtic music's great concertina players, Niall Vallely has established himself as one of the most original and distinctive voices in Irish music. On Buille, Niall is accompanied by his brother Caoimhin on piano. Paul Meehan (Lunasa) on bouuzouki and Brian Morrissey on bodhran. Between them they have created a bright and swinging sound, with almost all the tune sets written by Niall.
Niall learned the concertina at the age of seven, taught by his parents Brian and Eithne Vallely, founders of the Armagh Pipers' Club, and over the years has developed a unique approach to playing the instrument.
Niall was featured on the highly acclaimed BBC/RTE television series A River of Sound. In 1990 he formed Nomos, who went on to become internationally recognized as one of the most important Irish bands of recent times. Niall also tours the United States frequently as a member of the Karan Casey Trio.
Buille is released on the Compass label. For more information: www.compassrecords.com.
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