Some of you may know that Michael Flatley is, in fact, a damn good flute player. He was a student of Seamus Tansey and won at least one all Ireland. He came out with an album a number of years ago that is supposedly rather excellent but near impossible to find.
Fear not, Flatley is near releasing a new flute album which features probably the most obnoxious flute recording I’ve ever heard. It’s well worth a listen.
His flute playing is pretty good, not exactly a show stopper or anything but smooth and professional. The rest is almost beyond godawful, it’s into ludicrous for a major show biz. celeb.
There’s hope for us all, lads.
This track reminds me of the movie The Mask, when the movie’s anti-hero has all the policemen dancing a conga line, and this cop says to the other cop: “If you start dancing, I’ll blow your brains off.”
I have a CD of his that I picked up recently ($19.95USD; must be financing that castle of his). It’s just titled Michael Flatley, 12 tracks as I recall, and skillful playing. He has the stamp of Tansey all over him, especially evident in the airs. Not my cup of tea, although his ability at pulling myriad variations out of his hat is impressive to say the least; I’ll be listening more for the sake of that. The first track made me consider putting away my flute…Nah. That’s just ludicrous. I can dream, after all. The rest of it…meh. Mastery of the cold variety.
This can’t be the same elusive grail of a recording that people talk about, right? I understood that the much sought-after one was named Then Came Flatley. Makes me wince.
If you come across the one I did, it’s notable for the cover photo: himself smiling bemusedly, flute in hand, hair done to ironsided perfection, and a makeup job that any mortician would do well to study.
Miss McLeod’s! Well Duh, I should’ve known! I gave that a whirl on the 'tina only last weekend. Thanks chaps
And, of course, there’s the whole Barbados/Caribbean connection, which explains the boomchakka Reggie accompaniment. She used to holiday there regularly, I believe. They’ve even named a gas station after her in Jamaica.
Nano
that CD is the remade version of the “And Then There Was Flatley” vinyl album that is so hard to locate.
Same thing, just a different title.
Hold onto it. You can’t find it anywhere. If you were luckly to find a source, you should share. Many here would love to have it.
His reels are truly incredible on that recording. The airs are average at best and the jigs somewhat ho-hum. But the reels…if you can get past not hearing the actual tune anymoire and just listen to what he’s doing…it’s pretty nifty playing.
Dave
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