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Deciphering The McSherry Code

To Many He’s The Quintessential Irish Piper. Talented, Experienced And Motivated. So Why Does It Take Three Years, A Spaniard And An Electric Toaster To Spark Inspiration For His Latest Project? Eddie Creaney Talks To Uilleann Supremo John McSherry About His New Album Tripswitch.

Hollywood’s latest blockbuster title The Da Vinci Code reminds us all that we still live in a world full of myths and legends. And they’re right. Even here on our dear Emerald Isle we love to seek our own holy grails. For me, well, I’m currently packing my sleeping bag and knick knacks in order to set off on my own adventure, a quest to find the most elusive man in Ireland. Some say he lives in a cave in The Burren, others, that he’s a night-dweller living off the scraps of the land in North Kerry. And I won’t rest until I can say I’ve found him… the only living person in Ireland never to have recorded with John McSherry.

I’m kidding of course. But if you are familiar with John’s work then you will definitely see the humour. It’s not often that an Uilleann Piper can boast such a portfolio to the extent that other Uilleann Pipers are saying ‘C’mon now, give the rest of us a chance.’ But Master McSherry has made it so. For the uninitiated, I’ll try to explain. Deep breath, here we go. Nancy Griffith, Mike McGoldrick, Tamalin, Sinead O’Connor, Lunasa, Coolfin, Shaun Davey, Dan Ar Braz, Dónal Lunny, Clannad, Gary Kemp, Niamh Parsons, Sharon Shannon, Aoife Ni Fhearraigh, Riverdance, Maighread & Triona Ni Dhomhnail, Carmina, Sult, Maura O’Connell, Tommy Fleming, Melanie Harrold & Olly Blancheflower, Secret Garden, Soul Flower Union, Gilles Servat, Eleanor Shanely and Brian Kennedy. Getting the picture? Good.

And so to his latest album, Tripswitch. It follows keenly on the heels of the 2001 award-winning album At First Light and is sure to please. As with previous projects McSherry has managed to create another successful musical partnership, this time with fellow Belfast man Dónal O’Connor. The fiddler and emerging media broadcaster was just what the doctor ordered. And, after a few listens, you can see why this is indeed medicine for the soul. Already described as a delightful wonder the album is worth every penny for its eight tracks.

“It took us about three years from start to finish” says McSherry. “Since the First Light album we’ve been really busy touring and working on other projects. But when Dónal and myself decided to work together on this project we knew we had to see it through.” And thankfully they did. From the first medley of tunes, Rose In The Gap, the passion is audible. The opening track kicks off with a driving acoustic burst reminiscent of Planxty’s trad-rock days. And fans of the former Lunasa front man will no doubt notice a strong Spanish influence on some of the tunes, courtesy of bouzouki master Rubén Bada. “We had to have him on the album” says John. “He’s been living in Ireland for a while now and I had played with him many times at sessions, mainly in Belfast. And when we were putting the musicians together for the album Rubén was top of the list.” You can see why the man from the Asturias was the right choice. Two tracks in particular, Spanish 5’s: Charrada De Berimuelle/Corrido De Encina and Anton: Munera d'Anton, see Bada’s contribution come to the fore. And with McSherrys pipes and O’Connors fiddle there’s an enticing blend of cultures. John explains that they wanted to do something a bit different. “On our travels we had been impressed by other styles such as Breton and Spanish and wanted to bring that influence in to the studio. So along with Rubén we brought in guitarist Gilles Le Bigot, particularly for his impressive finger-picking style.” And impressive it is. Two other guitarists to shine are Paul McSherry, brother of the Belfast piper, and Dubliner Tony Byrne. Between them they have managed to create a musical palette on which McSherry and O’Connor have fabulously applied their creative brush strokes. The title track Tripswitch is a real stunner. Not so much in that it’ll get the blood pumping or heart rates dashing but in its sweet, melancholic vibe, evident from the outset with a laid back guitar and gentle poise from Bodhrán player Francis McIlduff. Indeed it was this track that John McSherry & Co. found the most challenging and exhilarating. “Technically all of the tunes needed lots of thought and input, but on Tripswitch we had to dig deeper.” And it shows. The melody definitely takes the lead in an album that already boasts many fine tunes. Two other pieces, both self-penned, deserve more than a mention. The ponderous Both Ghe, and end track Áille’s Arabesque, reminding us that the Uilleann Pipe master is no novice when it comes to the low whistle. And the latter tune has a special place in McSherrys heart as he had written it expressly for his daughter Áille. “I think it’s easy to sometimes knock out the tunes just to get on with it, but sometimes you’ve got to stop and think about the people who are important to you.” Quite right. And the album, which was recorded at Homestead Studios near Belfast, also provides us with a helping or two of the McSherry staple of home-grown goodness. In Sean Maguire’s and the Commonality Set McSherry and O’Connor thrash it out like two battling giants fighting over the crown. But the real treasure is to be had with the entirety of the album and its hoard of little gems. For many the attraction will be in its instant brow-raising effect. For me, it’s the eclectic selection, the blending of styles, and most importantly, its subtlety. Listen, and ye will be saved.

On a less formal take on the album John comments on how sometimes a minor incident can have such a major bearing whilst recording. I asked how he chose the title for the album. “Well, we were in the studio one night trying out a few ideas, and during a break I tried to get a light off a little electric toaster. Bang! Darkness. I had tripped the entire studio, and the owner Mudd Wallace (who also chipped in with percussion on the album) wasn’t around to save our bacon. Needless to say we spent the rest of the night looking for, you guessed it, the Tripswitch.” But inspiration can come from such experiences and the incident prompted the musicians into creative mode. “We sat in the dark and thought, what the hell, lets keep playing.” One hour later and Tripswitch, the tune, was born. Inspiration indeed.

Touring and promoting the album over the next few months will see the boys, who have decided to name the band after the album At First Light, ply their trade via a hectic and demanding schedule. “Ten days in Scotland followed by some European dates in Spain, Switzerland and the Czech Republic will keep us wide awake,” laughs McSherry. “The Spanish trip will also give us a chance to start our next project. We intend to make a new studio album there around August, but with a difference. We want the production to have a session-like feel and we’ll invite an audience in to capture the ambience.” Lets hope the studio has a good supply of Sangria, eh? “As for Ireland” continues McSherry “we are all looking forward to September when we’ll play around fifteen shows across the country including Dublin, Belfast, Monaghan, Letterkenny, Dundalk, Brantry, Wexford, Grange and Ennis.” In the meantime enthusiasts of At First Light can purchase the new album, released through Vertical Records, online at www.atfirstlight.net where you can also look out for tour dates and catch up with the latest news of the band. And me? Well, I’m off to The Burren with my sleeping bag, knick knacks… and definitely a copy of Tripswitch.

Eddie Creaney
eddiecreaney@hotmail.com