Wooden Flute Obsession 2
International
Traditional Music Society ITMS0401; 2 CDs; 141 minutes; 2004
Attempting
to repeat a successful formula is a risky business and thus it proves with Wooden
Flute Obsession 2, the follow-up to 2002’s very original compilation of
Irish traditional and traditionally inspired music played on wooden keyed and
keyless flutes. 
There simply
is not a limitless supply of top-notch flute players and most of the current
cream of the crop figured on WFO’s first volume. Fortunately, several
more are included on this new collection (such as Gary Hastings, Peter Horan,
Kevin Henry, Michael Tubridy, Tara Diamond, Kevin Crawford and Desi Wilkinson),
but there are far too many unknown quantities, a featured not aided by the
absence of even basic biographies in the liner notes (for that one has to head
to the confusing morass of www.worldtrad.org).
Additionally,
some of the recordings are rather ropey – Damon Stenson’s track is ruined by
the sound of his embouchure – and the accompaniment often slips below even a
middling quality. Lúnasa’s Kevin Crawford appears to be supported by a tin
bouzouki while Mike McHale and his guitarist seem to be playing in different
keys. In fact, from the over-percussive intro of Brendyn Montgomery’s The
Roscommon Reel to the pea soup backing on Justin Murphy’s set of jigs, WFO2
might serve as an object lesson for budding accompanists on how not to
supplement this most lyrical of instruments.
Sure, there
is plenty of decent music on this double album (Desi Wilkinson’s elegiac My
Lagan Love and a sparkling pair of hornpipes from Peter Horan, for
instance), but WFO2 is very much a case of a pint being diluted to fill
a quart pot.
This review by Geoff Wallis was written for Songlines magazine
– www.songlines.co.uk – and more details
about the album can be found at www.worldtrad.org.