Customer Reviews

Shadows on Stone

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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If you're looking for a celtic music experience, there are better places to look. . . But if you're tired of only hearing 20 seconds of matt on Chieftains recordings and/or love flute music, then this ought to be on your list. He is certainly up there on the list of best flutists. His unique sound is the sound of someone who has played long enough to arrive at the master level, and long enough still to develop a personal touch with the master level stuff. If you're tired of hearing a master behind too many other instruments and want to hear one in the forefront, here's your cd.

The latest album from Matt Molloy is a feast of enjoyable arrangements and tunes. As flute player I like to hear the strong tone he puts into tunes such as The Morning Thrush. The Mason's Apron is an old favourite but in this rendition you can't help feel the enjoyment Malloy still feels in playing this tune. The end of it in particular mimics some classical pieces. The Music of the Seals is the longest piece. It takes the listener through a series of very pleasant tunes from a variety of sources. The use of the cello is most pleasing in this piece. The only weak piece for me is The Wind in the Woods which doesn't grab me. Overall this is an excellent album.

Matt Molloy is widely heralded as one of THE master irish flute players and this record shows why. Molloy's playing is traditional, eschewing the sonic fireworks of Niall Keegan or the experimentation of Mike McGoldrick, yet his mastery is undeniable. Molloy puts a tangible emotion into his playing of the great tunes selected here and the result is impeccable.

Matt Molloy has been making recordings for nearly 25 years, plus keeping up a grueling performance schedule with various bands and running a pub in his spare time. But his musicianship has, if anything, gotten better: this album displays his skills in everything from the most straightforward traditional melodies to his own compositions, and even a Chinese tune. The supporting cast includes a fine "lilter," several long-time associates, and even a brief solo by Altan's foundress/singer. The suite "The Music of the Seals" is well done, and "The Banshee" is downright scary. I think Molloy's breathwork has suffered a little (probably from all those years of inhaling smoky pub atmospheres), but he's still a consummate musician.