OLIVER LOUGHLIN & DAMIAN O'BRIEN
The Factory Turn
COPP008
OLIVER LOUGHLIN & DAMIAN O'BRIEN
The Factory Turn
COPP008
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We
are delighted to announce the release of this fine title
The Factory Turn
COPP 008
OLIVER LOUGHLIN & DAMIAN O'BRIEN
with Artie McGlynn, Kevin Brehony & James Blennerhasset
The Irish Democrat: "No frills, just plain
musical genius. An absolute delight". David Granville
Voted 2nd best trad release of 2007 by top US
music critic, Earle Hitchener, Wall Street Journal.
(2) "THE FACTORY TURN" by Damian O'Brien and Oliver Loughlin
"As
uncommon as uilleann pipes-concertina duet albums are in Irish traditional music,
fiddle-button accordion duet albums are very common. Seamus Connolly and Paddy
O'Brien, Sean Maguire and Joe Burke, Kevin Burke and Jackie Daly: these combinations
suggest the zenith of what bow and box together can produce. From Drumkeerin
in North Leitrim, fiddler Damian O'Brien and button accordionist Oliver Loughlin
have performed together since age 12, and their mutual comfort and tightness
are amply displayed here. Of the 32 tunes on the CD, 28 are reels or jigs, played
by the duo with beautifully balanced style, swing, and sizzle. Their ornamentation
is imaginative without melodic drift, the transitions are smooth without being
slick,
and the passion and joy in their joint performance match their control. "The
Factory Turn" nipped at the heels of "Reed Only" for the top
spot in this top 10 list"
Performing together
since age 12, Drumkeerin's Damian O'Brien and Oliver Loughlin were encouraged
by two masters, Damian's button accordion playing father, Michael and the late
fiddler, Seamus Horan.
For the past 15 years they have been playing in Cryan's pub in Carrick on Shannon
every week, and for the past 10 years they have been members of the Inisfree
Ceili Band. This their first duet release has met with tremendous critical acclaim.
"In releasing this CD, they have announced themselves to the world of traditional music in an impressive fashion. Music like this is a testament to their love of and respect for the no-nonsense vibrant and stimulating tune playing", Gerry Quinn, The Examiner
"Fiddle and piano-box tunes from two young Leitrim musicians, and very good it is….If it's straight-ahead session music you're after, then this is your man", Alex Monaghan, Folk World.
Also votes of support
from Ireland's finest musicians…
"Damian O'Brien and Oliver Loughlin are master
musicians in the Irish tradition. They both grew up in a county which is renowned
for it's rich musical heritage. This album illustrates their deep knowledge,
understanding, and respect for that music. Damian's fiddle playing demonstrates
his technique, clarity, and sweetness, while Oliver shows his absolute mastery
of the Piano Accordion. This is an album that is sure to give hours of enjoyment
to everybody who likes to hear Irish Traditional music played in an excellent
manner by musicians who love what they are doing. There is a sense of vibrancy
and excitement about this album. Make sure you take it with you, you won't regret
it.
Damian and Oliver are joined by Arty Mc Glynn and Kevin Brehony, two outstanding
musicians who are very much sought after for their imaginative and subtle accompaniment".
Martin Connolly, Kincora Accordions
Copperplate is
very proud to have this title on our roster and to help it achieve its full
potential will be supporting this release with a full-scale promotional mail
out to media and retail. Contact Copperplate for all your PR needs. The lads
are generally available for interviews; please contact us to arrange a mutually
convenient time. Please copy us on any reviews/features/airplay. Feedback always
welcome.
Press Reviews
The Irish Democrat
FOR THEIR first recorded offering as a duet, Leitrim musicians Damian O'Brien
(fiddle) and Oliver Loughlin (piano accordion) have succeeded in conjuring up
the sort of uplifting mix of quality musicianship, clarity of tone and sheer
exhilaration that will delight lovers of traditional Irish music everywhere.
Accompanied on various tracks by Artie McGlynn (guitar), Kevin Brehony (piano)
and James Blennerhasset (double bass), the result is a no-nonsense set of tunes
- reels, jigs, hornpipes, set dances and waltzes - reflecting both their own
background and the wealth and breadth of Ireland's traditional musical heritage.
Altogether, it's the sort of quality you might expect from two young musicians
who are steeped in Ireland's rich musical tradition and who have been playing
and performing together since they were barely out of short trousers.
Despite their
relative youth, O'Brien and Loughlin have plenty of experience under their belt.
For the past fifteen years the pair have performed weekly in Cryan's pub in
Carrick-on-Shannon and have been members of the renowned Inisfree Ceili Band
for a decade.
The Factory
Turn is as fine an example as you're likely to get of less meaning more. No
frills, just plain musical genius. An absolute delight. David
Granville
www.LiveIreland.com
Last is a lovely album distributed from Copperplate in London, probably the
best in the world at finding and marketing this kind of thing. It is The Factory
Town by Damian O'Brien and Oliver Loughlin. These two Leitrim musicians (Damian
on fiddle and Oliver on piano accordion) have produced a lovely all-instrumental
outing of taste and precision. These lads can play. A minor bone of contention---like
so many other albums today, the album notes are being over produced, resulting
in their being almost impossible to read. And, that is a shame, in that we want
to easily know more about these tunes and musicians. They are joined by some
lovely side musicians, including the legend, Arty McGlynn on guitar. As we said,
this is a lovely album, even if it breaks no new ground---and is not mant to.
Rating: 3 Harps Bill Margeson
The Examiner
The fiddle/piano
accordion duo of Damien O'Brien and Oliver Loughlin hail from Co Leitrim and
on their debut. The Factory Turn, the young pair feature, for the most part,
a strong collection of tunes from that deep-well of tradition that is their
native county-Jigs, reels, hornpipes, a set dance and a waltz are played with
a sturdy assuredness which displays the duo's splendid drive, flow and energy.
Rhythmically, producer Arts' McGlynn s guitar and piano player Kevin Brehony
keep the tempo in a fluid and mid-paced direction which enhances the core of
the tunes and that of the playing by the main protagonists.
The title track, The Factory Turn, a reel composed by Leitrim fiddler Joe Liddy
— a respected musician and composer on the Dublin scene in the first half
of the last century — is cleverly coupled with Kitty Gone A Milking and
the Paddy O'Brien tune The Smiling Lady to construct an endearing selection
of technique and visceral power. _
In releasing this CD, O'Brien and Loughlin have announced themselves to the
world of traditional music in an impressive fashion. Music like this is a testament
to their love of and respect for no-nonsense vibrant and stimulating tune playing.Gerry
Quinn
Folk World
Fiddle and piano-box
tunes from two young Leitrim musicians, and very good it is: that's really all
you need to know. Okay, I'll add some details. The majority of the tunes here
are classics of the Irish tradition, with the rest coming mainly from Paddy
O'Brien. Local composer Joe Liddy penned a couple, including the title tune
and the charming hornpipe Lough Gill played here in a "flat" style.
There are several uncommon tunes here: The Maid in the Cherry Tree, The Locomotive
and The Princess Royal, none of which you're likely to hear in a session. It's
pretty much reels and jigs, with the odd hornpipe or set dance. The only oddity
is Tony Ellis' Cherry Blossom Waltz, a lovely wee tune well suited to the box.
Oliver's box and Damian's fiddle work together extremely well, with subtle accompaniment
from Arty McGlynn and Kevin Brehony, and a touch of Blennerhassett bass. Another
nice touch is the inclusion of two Wheels of the World, one reel and one jig,
just enough for a bicycle.
Tunes by Finbar and Richie Dwyer, Finbar McGreevy, John Brady, Sean Ryan and
Paddy Fahey add an extra dimension to this fine recording. The Berehaven Reel
and The 9th of July are particularly pleasing. On a more traditional note, there
are outstanding renditions of Seamus Connolly's Jig and Kitty Gone A-Milking.
The opening romp through The Musical Priest is jaw-dropping, and the final set
powers into a climax on The Crooked Road to Dublin. If I have a criticism, it's
the unrelenting full-on attack: another change of pace or two wouldn't go amiss,
but if it's straight-ahead session music you're after, then this is your man.
Email damianandoliver@gmail.com or get lucky at your local retailer. Alex
Monaghan
The Irish Echo
19.12.07
Drumkeerin duo impress
Damian O'Brien and Oliver Loughlin sparkle on new album
The industial image (interlinking cogs) of the front cover for
fiddler Damian O'Brien and piano accordionist Oliver Loughiin's "The Factory
Torn" CD this year is cannily connected to the superb music they play on
it. Likenesses of the fiddle and the piano accordion were added to two of those
cogs to ensure the metaphoric message couldn't be missed.But
even without those images, no one could miss how tightly Loughlin's box and
O'Brien's fiddle are in sync, each turning with the other, creating an energy,
lift, arid handcrafted precision rivaling any recording released in 2007
Mv first
encounter with the music of these two instrumentalists dates bade to 1997 when
the North Cormacht quartet Siona, comprising Leitrim's O'Brien and Loughlin
and Sligo's June McCormack on flute and Kevin Brehony on keyboards, released
their album "Launching the Boat." I ended my laudatory review of it
this way: "What'a find this East Sligo-North Leitrim foursome is for anyone
who loves Irish traditional dance music played "as it should be."
June McCormack later joined her husband, Monaghan harper Michael Rooney, to
form Draiocht, the finest flute-harp duo in Irish traditional music today. (In
the interest of disclosure, I wrote the essay for their 2006 CD, "Land's
End.")
Performing together since age 12, Drumkeerin's Damien O'Brien and Oliver Loughlin
were encouraged by two elder masters, Damien's button accordion-playing father,
Michael and the late fiddler Seamus Horan. They brought me youngsters along
to various gigs, and for a time both Damian and Oliverwere also tutored or mentorod
by fiddler Paddy Ryan. Others contributing to their musical development included
Michael Shanley, Catherine Fox and Bernard Flaherty, author of the 1990 book
"Trip to Sligo."'
For the past 15 years Damian O'Brien and Oliver Loughlin have played once a
week at Cryan's Pub in Carrick on Shannon, and for the past 10 years they have
been members of the Innisfree Ceili Band. Its current lineup is a juggernaut
of talent: Loughlin on piano accordion, O'Brien, Cormac Mac Diarmada, and Teada's
Oisin Mac Diarmada on fiddles, David Sheridan. Maire Nic Dhiannada, and Teada's
Damien Stenson on flutes, Paul Finn on button box, Darraigh Kelly on drums,
and Charles O'Connor on piano. Not trying to diminish the achievement of Cork's
Allow Ceili Band, the 2007 All-Ireland senior champion, I am still scratching
my head over how the Inisfree Ccili Band only finished second at this vear's
Fleadh Cheoi na hEire-ann in Tullamore.
Fiddler Damien O'Brien and piano accordionist Oliver Loughlin open their new
CD with the reels "The Musical Priest/Can Amm/ Paddy Party's," and
initially they play without any acoompaniment. This is a matter of fact statement
of how comfortable and confident the two are musically, unfolding the melody
with all synapses firing. When Arty McGlynn's guitar and former Siona bandmale
Kevin Brehony's piano come in. the sound grows fuller, not fatter. There's an
alluring leanness to the rich music they perform, and the arrangement is in
unswerving service to each tune. I was hopelessly hooked just a few notes into
the first track, and that doesn't happen to me as often as I would like. This
is something special.
Of the 32 tunes performed on "The Factory Turn," 28 are reels or jigs,
so uptempo dance music is the hearty bill of fare here. But the utter brilliance
of the fiddle-box playing easily overshadows any desire for greater variety
in types of tunes or for more shifts in texture. Besides, every cut ort this
CD is a keeper.
The reel medleys of "The Maid in the Cherry Tree / The Scolding Wife H",
"The Wheels of the World / Rakish Paddy/Miss McDonald's," and "The
Nervous Man/The Bubbling Wine/The Crooked Road to Dublin" are all standouts,
in them the ornamentation is highly imaginative without melodic drift, the transitions
are effected smoothly, and the passion for joint playing matches the control.
The' jig medleys of "Pat McKenna's/The Second Victory." "The
Gallowglass/ Come Into the Town My Fair Lady/The Ninth of July," and "Knocknagow/The
Wheels of the World/Seamus Connolly's" rival those reel medleys for creative
self-expression within an unshakable framework of complementary playing. This
is music for the head, heart and feet all together.
To anyone speculating how far the influence of button accordionist Joe Derrane's
style of playing hornpipes has spread, listen to the descending runs
of triplets performed by Oliver Loughlin on piano accordion during the second
hum-pipe in "Lough Gill/The Locomotive." Directly or indirectly, slowly
but inexorably, Denane's distinctive technique seems to be inspiring more and
more accordionists.
Another detectable trend coining out of Ireland is a new, trad-style re-embracing
of American tunes, whether popular or obscure. So far in 2007, Beoga has covered
Steely Dan's "Dirtv Work" and Sidney Clare, Sam H. Slept, and Bee
Palmer's 1930 ditty "Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone,"
Grada and Dervish have each recorded Suzanne Vega's "The Queen and the
Soldier," Dervish has reinterpreted Bob Stone's "Gypsies, Tramps and
Thieves," a No. 1 hit in 1971 for Cher, and Frartkie Gavin with Hibernian
Rhapsody has reprised Stephen Foster's 1854 ballad "Hard Times Come Again
No More."
Damian O'Brien and Oliver Loughlin maintain this musical trend with "The
Cherry Blossom Walt/," composed by Tony Ellis, a North Carolinian transplanted
to Ohio, where his reputation grew for composing tunes dipped in bluegrass and
old timey strains. Guitar and bouzouki player Zan McLeod calls Ellis the "Backwoods
Bach", and its easy to hear why after listening to O'Brien and Loughin's
rendition of Ellis's waltz, which is further distinguished by Kevin Brehony's
delicate piano work at the beginning and closing of the tune and by James Bit-finer
hassett's subtle double-boss playing.
The remaining non-reel, non-jig on the album is " The Princess Royal set
dance, performed at a leisurely stroll right through the fiddle-guitar bridge
into the reel "Acre's Gate" that eventually quickens in tempo. It
is me second of two tracks on which Blennerhassett plays bass.
Self-issued by Damian O'Brien & Oliver Loughlin, The Factory is both bliss
for the ears and boost for the soul. It is also a shoo-in for me Irish Echo's!
list of the top 10 traditional albums of 2007. Earle
Hitchner
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