Dúo Nua

Reviews

Monday, 04 May 2009 22:15

There are some intersting collaborations going on in the Celtic world that I've been coming across recently and this one really caught my attention. Dúo Nua are Eoghan Neff and César Pastor who are working on a new album but were happy to send me some demo material for airplay. Dúo Nua were formed in Dublin at the end of last year following a chance meeting at a session in the Conradh na Gaeilage bar. Irish Fiddle-player, Eoghan Neff, and Spanish uilleann-piper, César Pastor, found themselves performing a new kind of duet of Irish traditional music. The following day they brought their concept to the basement of the Irish Traditional Music Archive where Eoghan works as an archivist. Following Eoghan's move to Spain they worked on a demo of their ideas.

Having listened to their demo I can honestly say that I have never heard anything like this before. These two know all about taking risks and how far they can take it. The mastery of fiddle and pipe is phenomenal but what is more exciting is the creation of such a new and inspiring sound. I have read that Eoghan is not your typical Irish Fiddle player, and now I can see why. He takes the fiddle to its limits making it an exquisite listening experience. Likewise, César understands and communicates with that ability to push music beyond it's tamed limits into an altogether new form of expression. There is no discounting the passion these two have for both their relative traditions and for the instruments they play. Based on what I have heard so far the new album will be groundbreaking.

Eoghan Neff has recorded and toured to critical acclaim with such international productions as Riverdance, NeffBros (with his brother Flaithrí Neff of the Afro-Celt Sound System), Shaun Davey, Anxo Lorenzo, Martin Tourish (of the Patti Smith band), Fiddlesticks, and Paul Booth (of the Steve Winwood band).

César Pastor is a founding memeber of the Asturian pipe band La Tayuela de Mecer where he performs as gaita soloist, and the Irish traditional group, Shymen. He has collaborated with artists such as José Ángel Hevia, Cristina del Valle, and the folk group Corquieu. He has also guested on stage with Carlos Núñez, The Chieftains, and Brenga Astur.