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PAUL McGLINCHEY The Boys Of The Town

PAUL McGLINCHEY The Boys Of The Town
Private Label PMG002

Tyrone fluter Paul McGlinchey's second CD is doubly welcome. Firstly, it's even better than his debut release Unearthed from a few years back. Paul has obviously been playing a great deal since then, and his tone and technique show the benefit, making him now one of Ulster's finest on the flute. Secondly, he's chosen a splendid set of tunes to record: kicking off with the great Shetland reel Oot Be Est da Vong and the ever popular Maids of Mount Cisco, Paul continues with The Maid in the Meadow and Scatter the Mud before the spine-tingling slow air Cape Clear. His playing is rhythmic, clean and powerful, and simply a joy to listen to. Mike McGoldrick's Full Set and Vincent Broderick's Flagstone of Memories, Tommy Peoples' composition Black Pat's and the classic Thrush in the Storm - there's no shortage of big reels as Paul pumps out fourteen tracks of fine fluting. He's backed by fellow Tyrone man Arty McGlynn on guitar, with Seamus O'Kane on the old frame drum and Ryan O'Donnell on traditional Irish bouzouki.
 
You don't often hear a redowa these days. I can't tell you the difference between a redowa, a mazurka and a waltz, but The Barnacle is a nice one in any case. Paul also manages to squeeze in a second slow air, the gentle Taimse im' Chodhladh. A pair of Northern marches by Arty's uncle, a couple of well-known and well-played hornpipes, and a whole rake of jigs bring us to the final big set of reels: The Pigeon on the Gate, The Green Mountain and The Galway Rambler, none of them unusual but all strongly delivered here, with a touch of that Ulster rushing style. Plenty of energy, plenty of soul, and some very fine accompaniment make Paul McGlinchey's music well worth hearing. You can get a taste at www.flutemcglinchey.com of course.

Alex Monaghan

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This album was reviewed in Issue 91 of The Living Tradition magazine.