The début album from Clare accordionist, Damien O'Reilly
"Damien’s playing is full of life and energy - inhibited with soul and bravado as he tackles the tunes and rolls with their melodic flow and ebb. It’s an emotional experience; one in which the secret language of music waves its spell over the listener, equipping the performances with the appropriate heart and leaving the listener looking for more"
- John O'Regan, The Living Tradition
“Damien leaves no stone unturned to deliver a debut solo album that’s a true representation of his lively, driving style in which he adds ornamentation and variations freely and effortlessly. All very much in line with his ‘Dúchas’”
-Caoimhín Ó Sé, RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta
“Great musical qualities and great playing”
-Ellen Cranitch, RTÉ Lyric FM
"“Dúchas” is an exceedingly fine album from a great young player"
-Daniel Neely, The Irish Echo
“A fine debut album”
-Siobhán Long, The Irish Times
“For anyone interested in Irish Traditional music and especially accordion playing this album is definitely one for your collection. The musicality, technical ability, choice of material, very tasteful accompaniment and excellent production leads to a superb listening experience that lingers in the mind long after the music has stopped playing”
-John Lynch, The Kilfenora Céilí Band
"This is an unpretentious disc affording simple, tasteful pleasures which stand repeated listening, up close to savour – but the simplicity and apparent effortless ease of Damien’s playing is highly deceptive and inevitably there’s more to his artistry that’s revealed primarily by further attentive listening"
-David Kidman, Folk Radio UK
“Damien’s energy and zest are what makes this CD something special. Many young players can produce virtuoso renditions of Austin Tierney’s or The Boys of Ballisodare, but very few can bring a range of traditional melodies to life as Damien does. “Dúchas” shows more than virtuosity: it shows vitality and vision and an ability to reveal the soul of the music”
-Alex Monaghan, Irish Music Magazine
"This debut album from Damien is a pure delight to listen to. The recording by Jack Talty of Realach Records is excellent, the cover is attractive and the music itself is hearty, lively and is overflowing with ancient tradition and “dúchas” from his native Co. Clare"
-Neansaí Ní Choisdealbha, Eagraí Ceoil, RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta.
“County Clare's lively and rhythmic style dominates this excellent album of traditional Irish music”
-Ciro De Rosa, Blogfoolk
credits
released May 15, 2019
Damien O’Reilly – Accordion & Melodeon
John Blake – Guitars
Padraic O’Reilly – Piano
Caoimhín Ó Fearghail - Bouzouki
Produced by Jack Talty and Damien O’Reilly
Artwork, Design and Photography by Maurice Gunning
Recorded, Mixed, and Mastered by Jack Talty at Raelach Studios, Lissycasey, Clare, Ireland
HI,The first track and sound I heard was enough for me to get whole album Raw honest,goose bumps live sound, fantastic reels ,to dance Sean nos. Dave Suffolk Uk ps if have,listen on a blue tooth speaker ,this is even more amazing.pps Have listen more ofCormac music and feel the instrument when played becomes a living entity . 13844
Absolutely love that deep concertina sound. And the range of expression that Cormac brings out through this instrument, well beyond the intentions of the designers or makers of these instruments. And, feel sorry for his poor bellows and reeds. He has to do a lot of personal repair on them. Cormac's album design and presentation are beautiful works of art as well. See him in concert if you can. You can really feel those bass notes resonate through a hall. balinsky
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