Album Review: Alfi, Say Old Man

Although much has been said about the “folk music boom” that’s gripping Ireland today, what’s sometimes overlooked is the remarkable diversity of sounds, styles and influences within the scene. With an experimental edge, and a brazen, madcap energy, Irish trio Alfi have carved out their own path, by exploring the connections and the contrasts between the folk traditions of Ireland and America.

Made up of three phenomenally talented musicians – Dundalk’s Fiachra Meek and Ryan McAuley, and Co. Mayo’s Alannah Thornburgh – Alfi have continued to expand their artistry and their vision since their 2019 EP, Wolves In The Woods. The trio's first full-length release, Say Old Man, finds them imaginatively reinterpreting a compelling selection of tracks that span both centuries and oceans – centred, unusually, around the sounds of the harp, banjo and uilleann pipes.

From the playfulness of ‘The Whistling Thief’ to the poignancy of ‘The Lament For Terence MacDonough / En Attendant’, the album captures the organic, full-bodied spirit of their live shows, as well as the distinctive personalities of the players – and marks Alfi as a vital force in Ireland’s ever-diversifying folk scene.

8.5/10