BRENDAN RING: TROUBLESOME THINGS
Brendan Ring: uilleann pipes, low whistle
Ring is a piper from Cork now living in Brittany. If his music is in any way a reflection of his personality, he must be a pretty wild man. Ring's piping sometimes reminds me of Finbar Furey's, almost on the edge of getting out of control (listen to the live track where he plays "Madam Bonaparte" at reel speed), and his low whistle playing is equally impressive. With flawless technique, Ring performs traditional tunes, including some lovely airs, as well as a fair share of his own compositions, some of which definitely deserve to be heard and played more. Good accompaniments in the contemporary vein on guitar and percussion, the latter by Mel Mercier.
Rating: *** 1/2
Price: $16.99
