The Ravishing Genius of Bones Singing Tree Music ****

This is a slow grower that diffidently reveals itself note by simmering note. Finnegan has already made his mark as one of Flook’s two anchor flute players, but here he lets rip and roll with a thoughtfulness that suggests a lengthy period of gestation. He has written no less than 12 highly diverse and distinct tunes for

The Ravishing Genius of Bones

, marrying them with handpicked and lateral-thinking offerings from the likes of Pádraig Rynne (of Guidewires), Liz Carroll and even Basque accordionist Kepa Junkera. The flute is an instrument that instinctively suggests clean, fluid lines, and Finnegan executes these with ease, tracing funky patterns on

Lunchtime Boredom

and more meditatively on the beautifully stringed

Last of the Stars

. Fellow Flookers, Ed Boyd and John Joe Kelly lend a light hand on guitar and bodhrán. A beautiful, bejewelled collection.

See myspace.com/brian finnegan