MOSSIE MARTIN
Humours of Derrynacoosan
Philippe Cousin
Although Ireland is a small country, every region has its own musical style, not necessarily modelled on county boundaries. The style of North Connaught originates from three of them: North Roscommon, South Leitrim and South Sligo.
It is precisely from this area that Mossie Martin comes from and invites us to a musical night in his house in Keadue, Humours of Derrynacoosan. As this delicate album was recorded live in his family home, what could be more normal than to associate his father Tom on harmonica, his sister Áine on harp and his younger brother Brendan on fiddle and banjo, Mossie playing mainly fiddle and tin whistle on two tracks. And then on the recording and mixing, the Dublin guitarist and pianist John Blake. Besides, a majority of the tracks feature the duo fiddle and piano.
It's not surprising that many tracks refer to the music of North Connaught and borrow from local composers. First of all, T. O'Carolan, the famous blind harpist of the 18th century, himself buried in Keadue. And then harpist Michael Rooney for Planxty MacClancy on which Mossie is accompanied by his sister. We should also mention Josie McDermott and Charlie Lennon, not forgetting Mossie, himself the composer of three tunes on the album, Susan Sweeney's, The Humours of Derrynacoosan and The Himalayan Hornpipe.
A pleasant and refreshing album that allows Mossie Martin to show the full extent of his talent on a first album.
Autoproduit MM01 – www.mossiemartin.com