Let me start by saying that ' The Ravishing Genius of Bones' is a terrific album, pushing boundaries whilst staying within a defined feel of Irish trad. Brian Finnegan shows his capability as a modern tune writer and arranger bringing a definite feel to the proceedings that is unmistakably his.
When I look at the modern day composers to whom he might be compared, I instantly think of Michael McGoldrick and Aiden O'Rourke: heavyweight company indeed. There are, of course, clear differences, McGoldrick's style routes itself in the trad style but, especially on his latest album 'Aurora', arranges larger group work with strong funk overtones with mixed results; the main drawback being how the rhythm was recorded which, although making the sound bigger doesn't fill the space like it should. On the other hand, O'Rourke's arrangements on 'Sirius' are a masterclass on how to work the space for maximum results though his tune writing is less conventional than those that McGoldrick pens.
So where does this album fit in? To start off with, from just looking at the artwork, the album starts to set itself apart by creating a fantasy, dreamlike world with a melancholic/ contemplative figure sat cradling a ball of light whilst large dandelion fairies float past, a fish swims through the air past a distant mountain backdrop and tall tree stems stretching up beyond the inlay's edge. If ever the cover art represented an album's intention and setting, this is it! The music ranges from the fast and furious (night ride to Armagh) to the delicate (Marga's moment) and on to the sublime (last of the stars) and shows BF as a tune writer who wants to present you with his visions and experiences though they are not necessarily of this world.
The list of musicians playing on this album is essentially a role call of who is hot on the circuit right now, notable mentions being Rex Preston, Ed Boyd, Aiden O'Rourke and Ian Stephenson (with whom BF formed KAN who are on tour this spring and summer and well worth catching), all of which present the music in perfect fashion.
In my last post I referred to June Tabor's album 'Ashore' as being real in every sense of the word, this, however, is the reverse. It is a flight, a journey through BF's imagination and memories that stays with you as if they were your own.
Listening to right now:
Various artists: 'Come let us buy the licence: songs of courtship and marriage'. topic records
Jim Causley: 'Dumnonia'. wild goose records
Martin Green: 'The Martin Green machine'. navigator records
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