Album Review: Gareth Quinn Redmond, Múscailte

Múscailte, the latest album from Gareth Quinn Redmond, one of Ireland’s most prolific musicians, is a masterful work. The album title translates as ‘Awakened’, and the album itself seems to compel us toward that half-dreaming, half-awakened state we find ourselves in each morning.

The first track, ‘Tae na Maidne’. is an illuminating example of restraint; throughout its nine minutes, you find yourself actively listening to the spaces in between the sparse notes. You hear a refracted version of your own thoughts – your breathing and environment are different.

These tracks recall the ambient greats like Brian Eno, but Redmond notes that he was deeply influenced by the Japanese concept of Kankyō Ongaku (environmental music). He’s also in the territory of composer Arvo Pärt; as with Pärt, on each track, the producer invites you into the room with him as the sounds are being made.

The songs become more involved and layered as the album progresses – and more moving, especially the title track. Lush, flighty string sounds come later and provide a real uplift, so that by the time we get to the final track, ‘Brionglóidí / Críoch na Maidne’, it feels like a quiet, elongated crescendo is occurring. Beautiful stuff.

8/10