Troublesome Things

With plenty of recording and television credits behind him, as well as original tunes covered by everyone from Nomos to Sharon Shannon, it’s surprising that multi-instrumentalist Brendan Ring has taken this long to get round to making his debut solo album. His low whistle playing on tracks like the exotic-sounding ‘Kushka’s/Maverick Angels’ and ‘The Robbery of Chester Jail/Rí Ring’s’ (written in honour of two of Ring’s wilder ancestors) is beautifully fluid, with sympathetic guitar and percussion backing from John Neville and Mel Mercier, respectively. As for his piping, it’s impeccable: clean and solid throughout, particularly on the gorgeous slow air ‘An Leanbh Sídhe’.