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DAMIEN O'REILLY – Dúchas.

_{Philippe Cousin}

The young label Raelach Records founded by the concertina player Jack Talty in 2011 does not produce many albums but the quality is always there: Tony McMahon, Noel Hill or Fidil. New musician to release an album on this label, Damien O'Reilly who gives us Dúchas.

Damien is a native of Corofin, a well-known town in North Clare, and he went to school with his two brothers who gave him a taste for music at a very early age. He started playing the accordion at the age of 9 with Conor McCarthy.

While growing up, he listened to a lot of music, (his record collection is apparently impressive), and was influenced by the great accordionists and musicians from the 20's to the present day. Let's just mention the Flanagan brothers, M. Coleman, J. Morrison, P. Killoran, F. Gavin, T. Peoples, M. Molloy and many others.

Over the years he has been a member of the Kilfenora Céilí Band or the band Cruinniú, which he founded in 2006. Damien currently teaches music in his hometown and although his playing is very much influenced by the style of his home county, he nevertheless explores the music of other parts of Ireland.

Composed of instrumental music played on the accordion, Dúchas is an album with an extremely varied repertoire, combining the characteristic reels of Co. Clare with jigs, barndances, flings or marches and even a suite of set dances that Damien is happy to play for his parents, dancers emeritus.

Amongst all the pieces, the standard Napoleon Crossing the Rhine and An Ciarraíoch Mallaithe, an accordion adaptation of a song by Kerryman Seamus Begley, stand out.

Alongside Damien his brother Padraic on piano, John Blake on guitar and Caoimhín Ó Fearghail on bouzouki. In addition to his accordion, he plays very well the melodeon with a very different sound, but only on two tracks.

Alongside Damien his brother Padraic on piano, John Blake on guitar and Caoimhín Ó Fearghail on bouzouki. In addition to his accordion, he plays very well the melodeon with with a very different sound, but only on two tracks.

The album bears its name particularly well since Dúchas means heritage, patrimony but also instinct, terms that can be felt throughout Damien's album whose music reflects the vivacity and energy and above all the experience he has acquired over the years.

Raelach Records RR016 – www.raelachrecords.com