Irish musicians Cormac Begley (concertina) and Liam O’Connor (fiddle) are well-known for their innovative approach to traditional music. They follow a sincere philosophy when it comes to their creative endeavours, which is well reflected not just in the music of their new collaborative album, Into the Loam, which they launched at Vicar Street last month and is due for release on July 29th, but also in the album’s physical design that includes several interesting design touches.
On the opening track, “Ryan’s Rant”, a brooding and powerful piece that immediately hints at not just their deep, creative engagement with tradition, but a fearless approach to forging something new. The traditional reel is offered as a tribute to the legendary Dublin fiddler Tommie Potts. While not a direct imitation of his style, Begley and O’Connor have been profoundly influenced by Potts’ philosophy of tradition as a dynamic and evolving force, and their rendition clearly captures that spirit of innovation while honouring its historical roots.
Live Recording:
In his introduction to the album, Begley emphasises a commitment to sincere artistic creation. He speaks of the challenge each generation faces: to preserve the best of the past while contributing something fresh. The album is structured as a journey, moving from darker, introspective moods to brighter, more hopeful tones, reflecting a search for new meaning within traditional forms.
This journey theme is carried over into the design of the limited-edition album cover, a bespoke layered design by Cillian Ó Mongáin. Begley shared that the design is intended to physically represent the concept of delving “into the loam” and the subconscious of the music. In a novel approach to sustainable packaging, the album will be mailed in seeded paper, with the artists encouraging fans to plant the wildflower seeds from the paper. This thoughtful detail encapsulates the organic, grounded, and forward-looking ethos of Into the Loam. The album is available for preorder and will be sold at their upcoming concerts.
Order here: https://cormacbegley.bandcamp.com/album/into-the-loam