FIACHRA O'REGAN

Fiachra has been greatly influenced by the style of southern Connemara and by the practice of sean-nós (lament) and his current style still reflects this. In the early 2010s, Fiachra met fiddler Sophie Lavoie and emigrated to Quebec, where he settled and played with Sophie and André Marchand in the group Grosse Isle.

After a first solo album in 2008 and a duo album in 2010, this year sees the release of his second solo album, Na Beanna Beola, named after the Beola peaks that dominate Connemara and at whose foot he grew up. While the uilleann pipes are not the only instrument in his band, and he spares himself moments of silence, here they are the dominant instrument, with the exception of the tin whistle, which comes in on certain tracks. This highlights the expressiveness and musical nuances of this highly complex instrument, which consists of a chanter on which the melody is played, drones and regulators.

Sometimes distance is necessary to appreciate and rediscover the influence of one's birthplace on one's music. With so many miles separating him from his homeland, this is certainly what influenced Fiachra to find the energy to compose a second solo album. As the project matured, he thought of Connemara in musical terms, and inspiration came almost naturally.
For Fiachra, each track is linked to a moment or a place, and this is what characterises each of the traditional tunes he has arranged, 23 out of the 27 that make up the album. Cucanandy, Boys of the Lough, Drowsie Maggie and Bean Páidín can all be heard throughout the album.
To enhance the arrangements, guitarist André Marchand effectively assists Fiachra on a number of tracks. From the first note to the last, excellence dominates and Fiachra's talent shines through. A real success.

Autoproduit SLFOR004 - https://fiachrapipes.com