Brendan McAuley
Album: The McCartney's of Pennyburn 1865-1912
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 11
Website: http://brendanmcauley100.wix.com/brendan-mcauley

Brendan McAuley, story teller, musician and artist has devised these beautiful pieces of enchanting music. All inspired by the events that happened to his ancestors (The McCartney's of Pennyburn) it is like a narrative in music, as each song that McAuley has created is like a separate chapter in a book.

A book that tells a story of the Pennyburn windmill which was a support for the Jacobite troops in the battle of The Three Kings during the Siege of Derry (1804-1873). The album tells us how the original windmill was destroyed and how Brendan McAuley's' grandfather (Patrick McCartney) was able to rebuild the remaining flourmills and bring back the community and thrive of the business.

The McCartney's of Pennyburn is like nothing I have heard before, it has been intertwined with traditional Irish folk instruments such as the Uilleann pipe, taking my breath away.

As soon as you open the page or listen to the first track of the album, you are hit with this intense and almost hypnotic sound of pipes. The Last McCartney of Pennyburn is about the hardship and struggle that McAuleys' grandmother, Kathleen had gone through during her life. The music fades away and suddenly eases back into the pipes; it's soothing yet commanding your attention. You don't need the side notes provided in the booklet to grasp the theme of this track, the music tells its own story.

It is not all doom and gloom, After The Rally is complimented by two traditional tunes that being Temple an Ghleanntain and The Crooked. The McCartney's were known for big speeches and parties; this song celebrates that party and dance atmosphere. You can picture children and families dancing and jigging around in fields and old town halls having a whale of a time to this set of Irish dance music.

McAuley should be proud of what he has created, especially with the track of The Men Of Arranmore. It is a story of how men who sailed at sea in a small rowing boat risked their lives to save others, together with accompanied vocals

"All my life upon the sea, and if not for the men of Arranmore, I would never know my home, Or have St Brendan watching over me" sounds a cliché but it brings a tear to my eye. It simply encapsulates what this album means to Brendan McAuley and connects nee communicates to us how special this album and story is to him.

With the power and emotion that the story brings, the music is almost secondary. The music brings the story to life and really hits you in the heart, you will find that your deepest and darkest emotions comes flooding out with this album.

Gemma Hirst