The Brilliant Irish Flute: The Inish Turk Beg Sessions Warner Music***

Any project whose mission is to "throw the flute up in the air and examine the pieces after they had crashed to the floor" surely warrants rapt attention. The Brilliant Irish Fluteis the first instalment in a proposed series of CDs and books exploring the depth and breadth of reach of a range of traditional instruments. The brainchild of Inish Turk Beg islander Nadim Sadek, this first CD features flute player Alan Doherty. Musically ambitious, with one CD ( Then) focusing on traditional tunes and a second ( Now) exploring everything from Scissor Sisters' Take Your Mamato Kings of Leon's Sex on Fire, it's a challenge that yields mixed results. Then is a sprightly collection, but Nowlabours beneath disappointingly pedestrian arrangements that do little to promote the dexterity of the flute in its new environment. The accompanying book is a treasure of witty insights and throwaway observations; a gem in itself.

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