Tír Na HiFi

Kristo Rodzevski is a new name for me and is a very interesting songwriter and guitarist (originally from Macedonia but now resident in New York) whose day job appears to be a certified psychiatrist but he likes to find time for his musical projects. There is quite a line-up of talent on his new alb...

I am eagerly awaiting the new Thumbscrew album from Mary Halvorson, due for release at the end of this month. It’s a very personal project to mark the 75th birthday of her mentor, Anthony Braxton, who radically changed the course of her life when she happened - out of curiosity- to sit in on a cours...

Listening this evening to a wonderful box set of Dvorak’s complete chamber music with piano performed by the Busch Trio and guests on the Alpha label. The piano trios, piano quartets and piano quintets in vibrant, joyous, life-affirming performances by this wonderful ensemble. Very highly recommended.

The quite remarkable Gwenifer Raymond in concert in Copenhagen in December 2018. Short set, minimal audience interaction but profoundly rewarding music-making. Personally, I find her playing absolutely mesmerising. There is a cumulative power to her music, compelling and urgent. There is a sense of ...

The new album is astonishing, Dermot. There’s no other word to describe it. The last few albums have been consistently excellent but have seen Hedvig continually refining the trio sound rather than make any great leaps forward. This album is that great leap forward. I can’t overstate just what a pro...

I’ve been listening spellbound to the new Hedvig Mollestad album, Ekhidna, over the past few nights. Over and over and over again. This is undoubtedly her best work yet. It’s her most jazz-influenced work yet and I believe this freedom has liberated her and unleashed something genuinely astonishing,...

Tonight at 11.25 on TG4 - Joni Mitchell live at the Isle of Wight Festival in 1970.

I just find solo harpsichord music so rewarding, Simon. It creates a stillness in the mind and provokes much inner contemplation, which is always a good thing. I would also recommend a thorough investigation of Louis Couperin. Christophe Rousset’s recordings on the Aparté label are mandatory listeni...

One of my most profoundly rewarding listening experiences over the past year has been Carole Cerasi’s magisterial traversal of the complete harpsichord works of François Couperin for the Metronome label. This is a quite magnificent achievement and I have returned to these recordings time and again. ...

I’m hoping for a new Gwenifer Raymond album this year. Nothing’s been announced yet but these astonishing performances of new work were recently posted online. Eulogy for a French dead composer: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SZwGm3UInTA Untitled about a train: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_ncum4rnl...