Focus

Risks in the Wild Risks in the Wild Adrian Smith Composer Ian Wilson's new album 'Wild is the Wind' has just been released on Diatribe Records. Adrian Smith reviews.
Right Words, Unlikely Places Right Words, Unlikely Places Andrea Cleary Dublin rap artist Nealo's debut album 'All the Leaves Are Falling' reflects poetically on suburban monotony, social struggles, travel and time passing. Andrea Cleary reviews.
Telepathic Document at the Edge Telepathic Document at the Edge Anna Murray Danny McCarthy and Mick O’Shea (The Quiet Club) have recently released 'The Telepathic Lockdown Tapes' on Cafe OTO’s Takuroku label. Anna Murray reviews.
Choruses that Cry Out for a Crammed Venue Choruses that Cry Out for a Crammed Venue Andrea Cleary Rap artist JYellowL has just released his debut album '2020 D|Vision', a collection that tears down the semantic barriers between the political and the personal. Andrea Cleary reviews.
The Interplay of Light and Dark The Interplay of Light and Dark Adrian Scahill Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin and Ultan O’Brien's new traditional and experimental album probes the soundworld between voice, fiddle and viola. Adrian Scahill reviews.
Is It Time to Separate Irish Traditional Music from Irishness? Is It Time to Separate Irish Traditional Music from Irishness? Helen Lawlor ‘Trad Nation’, a new book by fiddle-player and scholar Tes Slominski, questions how ‘Irish’ Irish traditional music is in a postnational music scene, and makes the case for separating the genre from ethnic nationalism. Helen Lawlor reviews.
Understanding the Core Tradition Understanding the Core Tradition Toner Quinn The latest release from the traditional music label Raelach Records is its very first compilation album, featuring Noel Hill, Aoife Ní Bhriain, Pádraic Keane and Nell Ní Chróinín. Toner Quinn reviews.
No Obstacle for Erraught Online No Obstacle for Erraught Online Brendan Finan The Irish mezzo Tara Erraught performed on 15 November at Dublin Castle as part of Irish National Opera's livestream series, Mezzo Masterpieces. Brendan Finan reviews.
The Enduring Vision of Julius Eastman The Enduring Vision of Julius Eastman Adrian Smith This week, in a livestream from the National Concert Hall, Crash Ensemble performed 'Femenine' by the black American composer Julius Eastman whose career was cut tragically short. Adrian Smith reviews.
Rebuilding the Public Conversation Around Music Rebuilding the Public Conversation Around Music Toner Quinn Why is the public conversation around music important, and how do we make it stronger? Toner Quinn reflects on twenty years of publishing the Journal of Music and the changes that have taken place.

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