Criticism

Dark Tales in a City at Play Dark Tales in a City at Play Brendan Finan Brendan Finan reviews the musical fare at the opening weekend of the 2024 Kilkenny Arts Festival, including the Carducci Quartet, Chamber Choir Ireland, Bassekou Kouyate, and Emma O'Halloran's operas 'Trade' and 'Mary Motorhead'.
An Expressive Portrait An Expressive Portrait James Camien McGuiggan Composer Greg Caffrey has just released 'Environments', an orchestral album featuring the Ulster Orchestra conducted by Sinead Hayes, guitarist Craig Ogden and pianist Daniel Browell. James Camien McGuiggan reviews.
Crash the Universe Crash the Universe Brendan Finan Crash Ensemble's two most recent recordings focus on works by Irish composer Sam Perkin and Canadian Bekah Simms. Brendan Finan reviews 'Children in the Universe' and 'Metamold', both released on the group's own label.
A Remarkable Conversation A Remarkable Conversation James Camien McGuiggan The Blue Chopsticks label has just released 'In the Merry Month of May', a collaboration between Irish composer Jennifer Walshe and the late American experimental artist Tony Conrad who died in 2016. James Camien McGuiggan reviews.
The Wonders of Bantry The Wonders of Bantry Adrian Smith The 2024 West Cork Chamber Music Festival took place from 28 June to 7 July in Bantry and featured Camerata Øresund, Chiaroscuro Quartet, Esther Hoppe, Boris Giltburg, Dana Zemtsov and many more. Adrian Smith reviews the concerts on 4 and 5 July.
Kneecap's Pushback Against Power Kneecap's Pushback Against Power Verena Commins Kneecap's recently released debut album, 'Fine Art', unveils an extraordinary, bilingual Belfast world and features Radie Peat, Manchán Magan and Grian Chatten. Verena Commins reviews.
A Festival Drawn to the Introspective A Festival Drawn to the Introspective Brendan Finan The 2024 Louth Contemporary Music Festival took place on 14–15 June and featured music by Robert Ashley, Linda Catlin Smith and Stockhausen with performances by Varispeed Collective, Neue Vocalsolisten, Rihab Azar, Zoë Conway, Inni-k and more. Brendan Finan reviews.
Exploring Identity and Solitude at the Cutting Edge Exploring Identity and Solitude at the Cutting Edge Don O'Mahony A new film exploring the making of Úna Monaghan's experimental album 'Aonaracht' was broadcast on TG4 on 5 June. Don O'Mahony reviews.
A Composer's Guide to Cataclysm A Composer's Guide to Cataclysm James Camien McGuiggan RTÉ Lyric FM recently broadcast a two-part documentary on Irish composers and climate change, presented and produced by Jonathan Grimes of the Contemporary Music Centre. James Camien McGuiggan reviews.
Getting to What Remains Getting to What Remains Don O'Mahony Musician and composer Shane Latimer has just released a new album, 'Residuum', on the Diatribe label. Don O'Mahony reviews.

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