PÁDRAIG RYNNE

He has even been described by the British magazine fRoots as "one of the freshest sounds in Irish music". And it's true that this reputation that precedes him is not misplaced. With a Master's degree in music technology, Pádraig Rynne is known for his innovative explorations of Irish music.

He has helped create bands such as Guidewires, Triad, Notify, Irish Concertina Ensemble. And he is a member of Atlantic Arc, a collective ensemble of musicians from Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland led by Dónal Lunny. A few months ago I wrote about his album Nasc, a duet with Tara Breen. Curiously, while he has collaborated on some thirty albums, he had not produced a solo album for seventeen years when Bye a While was released. This gap is now repaired with Begin with the End of Mind which is released this month.

Back to tradition this time with an anthology of jigs, reels, fling or hop jigs, both traditional and of recent composition by Pádraig himself, such as the track that gives its title to the album. We recognize The Sunny Hills of Beara by Cork fiddler John Dwyer, Lad O'Beirnes or The New Road to Miltown. And then the magnificent tune Mná na hÉireann (Women of Ireland), a standard. Twenty tracks in all over nine titles. When I say solo album, it's not quite accurate because several musicians came to lend a hand to Pádraig, among them Conal O'Kane on guitar, Ruben Bada on bouzouki, Jarlath Henderson on uilleann pipes or Dónal Lunny on bodhrán.

Entirely traditional, this album is perfectly balanced and will delight the unconditional fans of Irish music. A little gem.

Liosberg Records PRCD005 - www.padraigrynne.com