Lumina

As far as I can recall, this is the first time in nearly a decade of reviewing that I’ve given a Ten/Ten rating to an album by a living artist. It’s warranted. Inspired by the six Harry Clarke stained glass windows in Díseart Chapel, Dingle, Lumina is an ambitious six-part suite that traces the journey of the spirit from birth to death and rebirth. Eoin Duignan composed the piece, and his whistles and low whistles are the fulcrum around which the music whirls. However, producer Gerry O’Beirne deserves equal credit for his glorious arrangements, bringing an orchestra’s worth of instruments (ukelele, kalimba, harmonium, ebo, xylophone, clarinet and shruti box, to name just a few) into a beautifully coherent whole. Liam Ó Maonlaí contributes a brief spoken-word interlude; among the other guests are Máire Breathnach, James Blennerhassett, Liam Bradley and of course O’Beirne himself. Lumina is a stunning achievement.