Donal Dineen’s Sunken Treasure: Jack Talty & Cormac Begley’s Na Fir Bolg

In Irish mythology, Na Fir Bolg were one of the races that inhabited Ireland before being overthrown by the Tuatha Dé Danann. “Na Fir Bolg” translates as “men with bellows”, and on this 2011 record the men with the bellows more than master the use of their machines – they redefine the possibilities of the sound of the concertina itself.

It’s a complicated instrument, deceptively simple in its construction and nearly always handsomely finished. There’s a beauty in them even without a sound out of them. But they rarely get top billing, so hearing them played so sweetly and expertly by this duo is a revelation.

Cormac Begley and Jack Talty are in their 20s. They were born into the rich traditions of west Clare and west Kerry, but grew up in the age of sound. It feels like they instinctively know a thing or two about all types of music. There’s an openness to their sounds that is refreshing and invigorating.

The manner in which they bend and stretch the the concertina here is indicative of a restless sense of adventure on their part. They bring a feeling for exploration to the game. This adventurous spirit, combined with impeccable technique, bring the instrument to new heights, and in their hands it revels in the rarefied air.

Another feather in the album’s bow is the way it was recorded live. St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church in Galway has the best natural acoustics of any church I’ve ever heard music in. The result is that the music seems to fit the space. It expands and rises. Studio sound can often suffer from being a fraction too dry and contained, but there’s no such problem here.

Life courses through Na Fir Bolg. The pace varies in the most natural way possible, but when they hit top speed the combination of the concert pitch and baritone weaving magical patterns is mesmerising. To listen to the Kerry slides Johnny O' Leary's and If I Had a Wife without rising to your feet and dancing – or at least tapping your foot – is a challenge you might want to set yourself as soon as possible.

- raelachrecords.com