Customer Reviews

Molloy Brady & Peoples

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I consider this album an absolute must for any Irish music collection. Matt Molloy is a consumate flute player who plays not only with speed and fire but with incredible acurracy. Tommy Peoples has never sounded so exciting as on this classic album. His playing literally explodes and captures you from the first note. Paul Brady's accompaniament helped set the standard for modern backing of tunes. Together they created a sound that paved the way for such bands as Altan and Solas. Their version of Toss the Feathers is emulated in sessions the world over. If you want to learn to play Irish music or just appreciate its firey beauty you MUST BUY THIS ALBUM!!!

This is truly a classic recording of authentic, top-quality Irish music by two of Ireland's greatest traditional musicians. While Matt Molloy is universally regarded as a master flute-player, Tommy Peoples holds a position of reverence among Irish fiddle-players that is reserved for probably just one person in every generation. Together they are a musical powerhouse! They have distinctive guitar accompaniment on the album and one's view of that style will be a matter of personal taste. In any case, you will not tire of this album! (I would like to see Tommy Peoples' other recordings available on Amazon also).

This is a wonderful album. Molloy is a virtuoso flautist with a low-key manner, while his former Bothy Band colleague Peoples is a charismatic, creative, rather erratic fiddler. But both share the same approach to tunes: d*mn the torpedoes, full speed ahead. Together they play with fire and passion, enlivening the traditional tunes without losing any of their nuances. Brady is a perfect accompanist, supportive but not intrusive, and performs handsomely as a soloist too. This may be an oldie, but it's a recording I keep reaching for again and again.

Fáilte!

If your taste in entertainment is real traditional Irish music, this is a must have landmark album. There were other flute pioneers, but Matt Molloy's fast and fluid style of playing was stunning when he first started recording music. Tommy Peoples is little known outside of Ireland. He is featured on the DVD "Come Along the West Road" with a perfect solo performance. Tom Brady had a unique style of guitar accompaniament, from unique chord progressions to open hand playing, to counter point or share lead playing. He has only one vocal track on this album. He is also featured on the mid 70's album Andy Irvine and Tom Brady, an album that included other original Planxty members when they were still a pub playing music group. Matt is also featured on four other albums before he started with the Chieftains. "Music from Matt Molloy's" is a jam session with friends and family from his own pub. It is perhaps one of the few album examples of pub "craic" - an Irish Gaelic term for fun and friendly community spirit of local pubs. Matt and Tommy are also featured on the Chieftains DVD, "Water from the Well."

Back in the day, many Irish were lucky to have two coins to rub together, let alone two or three musicians for a pub music group. Still having small group albums accessible is the only way to return to the old pub style of playing. Other albums I can recommend are "Frankie Gavin and Alec Finn," James Kelly, Paddy O'Brien, and Daitha Sproule," and Trian's two albums (Liz Carroll, Bill McCluskey, Daitha Sproule). "Come Along the West Road" is an excellent archive of the last 30 years of Irish Traditional Music.

Slán agaibh!

If you love traditional Irish music you must listen to this! In my opinion Tommy Peoples is a musical genius, and this features him at his best. It is easier to hear and appreciate the Donnegal elements of his fiddling on this album than in his tunes with the Bothy Band. Matt Molloy also shines as always, as does Paul Brady. There is not a bad number on this album, and I give it my highest recommendation.