Excavating the past can be an act of historical value, personal passion or sheer folly, depending on what lies beneath. Piper Jimmy O'Brien Moran has pursued the details of the music and life of 19th-century fellow piper Paddy Conneely with precision and tenacity. This collection adds a rich layer to our store of music, with 31 tunes from more than 140 melodies transcribed from Conneely's collection finding new light of day. O'Brien Moran takes the musical notation and makes it his own, allowing his unhurried, pinprick precision piping style to etch its own impressions on a raft of beautiful tunes, many of which have their musical descendents identified in the detailed sleeve notes. For any piper scouting for precious tunes, or any listener hungry for a peep behind the veil of pre-Famine Irish music, this is a treasure trove. The tune names alone are a delight, from the title: Take Me Tender and You'll Have Me Always . jimmyobrienmoran.com