For anyone in search of the raw majesty at the heart of uilleann piping, David Power's the eighteen Moloney is a recommended entry point into this great art.  It is a beautifully paced recording throughout with a strong, emotive guiding hand on each set. His approach on most tracks is restrained, with his slow airs in particular benefiting from this approach. The mellow sound that he achieves throughout is beautifully balanced with nothing in the way of sharp edges or grunts that can sometimes distract.  There are some outstanding tracks including The Cook in the Kitchen/Jackson’s/The Walls of Liscarroll, The Rainy Day/The Bunch of Keys and the glorious jigs Child of my Heart/Is it the Priest you want?

 We have been blessed of late with some great piping albums, some with accompaniment and some not.  David has chosen the latter form and he brings with him a tall tale regarding the chanter he uses on the recording, and hence the album name.  The chanter was given to him as a parting gift by Mal Whyte and it was once referred to as the eighteen Moloney. It was made before the famine by Thomas and Andrew Moloney and it is believed to have passed through some interesting hands down through the decades.  Owners included Pat Ward, Gildas O'Shea, Willie Rowsome, Jem Byrne, Sean Reid, Willie Clancy and Mal Whyte.  Whatever its history, the music that David has recorded makes this album a highlight of the year so far. For those that appreciate the art of piping this is a must have.

To purchase visit : www.davidpowerup.com/discography