2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pipe dreams, December 7, 2009
This review is from: Wynd You Know (Audio CD)
Likened by both malcontents and bosthoons to the sound made when a trumpet is slowly sawed in half the uilleann pipes in full battle cry take a deal of getting used to but are in fact all the more interesting for their uncanny ability to emit such piercing and untamed strains of melodious Gaelic squawkery. Maestro Browne, the piper here, is something of a dab pair of hands at the elbow-inflated bag of tricks too and when he isn't working up a typhoonical storm or dreamily finessing a slow air he's lashing into the low whistle or flute for a welcome little breather. Ronan Browne, wha'? On record no less. Not that I'm into blowing me own aerophone here now mind you but sure didn't I know the lad well at one time. Big feller he was, rolled his own cigarettes until he had to quit on account of his wind instruments. Cycled a big old iron bicycle, just like me. Fairly loved his uilleann pipes though so he did and would kick up a right powerful rumpus at the drop of a hat. Jigs and reels to beat the band. Airs to set a strong man's valves to dribbling. A hornpipe once, by God! Traditional folk tunes mostly, some of them going back donkey's years. Up potatoes anyhow I want to say because honestly I actually sort of dig this raucously sonorous record here. Nice one, you big bleeding blowpipe! I miss this type of music on occasion, this type on the pipes I mean, no vocals, just this frankly colossal wailing--shivered me timbers more than once I'm not ashamed to admit. So there you have it: a beguiling blend of the melancholy and the exhilarating weaves in and out of this curiously satisfying species of music and betimes begob it's just the sort of non-vocal niobaloo to make you jump up and down in your wellies.
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