BBC Folk and Acoustic website

'Music, rhythm and breath'. The essential ingredients of a rubai (a four-line poem) and the flute-based band Flook, though you'd have to add 'energy' to that mix to properly describe the music of this band. Sarah Allen, Brian Finnegan, Ed Boyd and John Joe Kelly crank up a notch with their latest album, away from the simpler, more acoustic sound of 1999's Flatfish towards a more complex territory and a broader canvas for their powerhouse jazzy, improvisational technique.

Flook's Celtic/European-flavoured tunes, many from the expert pens of Allen and Finnegan, are for the first time augmented by guest musicians. Sparing use of Ewen Vernal's bass, Colin Farrell's fiddle and occasional tasteful sonic effects by Martin Cradick and engineer/producer Mark Tucker adds texture that never swamps the core musicians or redefines the trademark sound - the signature double-flute harmony work from Finnegan and Allen, John Joe Kelly's out-of-this-world

There's always a real flow to Flook albums: one set follows another like they've been mystically co-created in some musical nirvana, so it's hard to define highlights. Arm-twisting, however, might namecheck album-opener Pod, the tight inventiveness of which sets the tone for the rest of the album, and the Granny set: Allen's Granny In The Attic and Blue Ball segued with The False Proof by Jowan Merckx, permeated throughout by some delicious trombone from Rory McLeod.

Gone are the days, thankfully, when instrumental bands thought they needed to throw in a few songs to retain audience interest. The nine sets of Rubai need no vocals to keep the ear delighted, the face grinning, the feet dancing and the heart soaring. Excellent production, well-designed digipak, quality product all round. The music of Flook is joyous and irresistible. Go buy - now!

Mel McClellan - May 2002

Sunday Herald, Glasgow

*****

One of the busiest and most distinctive bands currently working the international roots circuit, Flook make music that reconciles a string of apparently opposing qualities -- coolness with fire, tightness with space, delicacy with toughness -- to create a uniquely thrilling whole.

Featuring an Anglo/Irish line-up of four superbly creative instrumentalists -- Brian Finnegan and Sarah Allen on flutes and whistles (Allen also on accordion), Ed Boyd on guitar and John Joe Kelly on bodhran -- their sound displays a near-telepathic ensemble closeness that still provides each player with ample individual scope.

Their third album, Rubai, is aptly named after a type of traditional poem that is 'full of music, rhythm and breath'. And it elevates the band's characteristics to even dizzier heights than its hugely acclaimed predecessor, their 1999 album Flatfish. Whether you listen to the overall soundscape or zero in on the fine detail, it serves up delights from start to finish.

These lie as much in the subtlety of Boyd's ultra-responsive picking

The playing of these two is full of fleet-fingered dexterity , minutely calibrated phrasing and unexpected percussive effects. There is also sparing additional accompaniment from a handful of guests including Rory McLeod on trombone, Ewen Vernal on bass and Martin Cradick on mandolin -- as well as the odd electronic embellishment.

More than half of the 22 individual tunes are Flook originals, which emphasise the band's strong jazz and funk influences as well as folk flavours from all over the world. Other tracks include Scottish, Swedish, Spanish, Balkan and American material. Tempos and arrangements are
constantly shifting, from the sweetly stripped-down slow polska Glass to the sassy saunter of Granny In The Attic and the positively explosive punch of Pressed For Time.

Playing to Flook's established strengths while expanding their musical reach, Rubai firmly underlines this band's position among any connoisseur's choice of contemporary Celtic bands, and is a sure bet for many a best-of-year list come December.

Sue Wilson

Folkworld

www.folkword.de

Flook "Rubai"
Label: Flatfish Records; No. 004CD; 2002; Playing time: 44.04 min

If we would give out Awards to the most tastefully designed CD, "Rubai" would be my choice of the year, with its beautiful painting in shades between orange, red and green on the cover of one of those folding all-in-one boxes without much plastic. Yet it is not only the CD design that attracts, also the music on Rubai is absolutely outstanding.

Flook are on this, their second album in the established line-up at their very height of their abilities. The playing together is perfect, their is so much buzz in this music, and the choice of tunes as good as ever. Flook has never before managed as well to ban the unique Flook experience on CD.

Most of the tunes on Rubai are composed by Sarah and Allen, taking their inspiration in the Celtic world and well beyond that, with influences from all over Europe. And to add a new dimension to the unique Flook sound, they have invited for the recording some special guests, most notably on a couple of tunes Rory McLeod, offering some trombone blast - sounding superb in the Flook soundscape. Check out for example the tune set "Granny" - not only a great title, but also stunning music, featuring Rory and his trombone...

Rubai means "A four-line poem, in perfect rhyme, full of music, rhythm and breath". Full of music, rhythm and breath is also this album.

A perfect and outstanding album.

Musician

A rubai, as the sumptuous packaging of Flook's second studio album points out, is a four-line poem "full of music, rhythm and breath". This is an apt enough description of the immaculately played jigs and reels contained within, though given the breakneck speed of tracks like Pressed for Time, breathless sometimes seems more appropriate. Characterised by Sarah Allen and Brian Finnegan’s furious duelling flutes, this is fluid, life-affirming modern folk music, bolstered by bright acoustics and inventive percussion.

At times the melodies edge towards the whimsical, and fans of traditional music may find themselves yearning for a little more grit, but the haunting ballads Glass and Rosbeg break up the pace and the Greek-flavoured Larry ought to bring a smile to the face of even the sourest of churls.

Chris Broughton
Musician
The Journal of the Musicians' Union

Rambles

Rubai is a beautifully packaged and excellently produced CD. The array of instruments will convey the virtuosity of the performers and the depth of sound to be expected. To the core talents of the four members of Flook with their guitars, mandolin, bouzouki, bodhran, flutes and accordion are added guest performers with bass, fiddle, trombone, shaker and sogo.

I hope that the band will not be upset if I call this an excellent "chill out" album, to use the phrase most bandied about in recent years. I use the description in the best possible sense. This is a CD to put in the machine, draw the shades and relax after a hard day at work or a stressful journey. And, although I describe the album in "chill out" terms, it is not a "rest your head" CD.

Taking my magnifying glass to the credits after an initial listen, I was amazed and delighted to find that most of the tracks

"Beehive" is a magnificent track with a pulsing beat. The thought that came to me as I listened was of a "sweet bodhran," if such a description is possible. "Glass" is one of those tunes that come close to acting like a drug. With that flute filling the room I saw a sunrise, and as the tune opened out instrumentally it was like the sun illuminating a landscape at dawn. "Granny in the Attic" is a title sounding so traditional I could almost imagine the sound before the music started. Boy, was I wrong. That trombone added a touch of real class. There are definite Chieftain influences to be hear in "Ramnee Ceilidh" and a refreshing clarity of production on "Kalamantinos."

This is a very worthwhile production that showcases a group that I imagine would be an experience in live performance. No live band can be truly captured on the plastic disc but this comes close.

by Nicky Rossiter
Rambles: 24 August 2002

Taplas Magazine

THE LINK between these two albums (reviewed with SWAP Mosquito Hunter) is that, in each case, it's the band's third, and, in each case, the acid test is passed with flying colours.

Just as their second album was a big leap forward from their first, so is Rubai over Flatfish. Extensive gigging, both at home and abroad, in the intervening three years is, no doubt, a significant factor and much of the material has been thoroughly road-tested. And, if there were a prize for cover design, Flook would win it hands down.

Although an Irish feel still dominates, Rubai includes both original tunes inspired by their travels and strong tunes from other cultures.

Bodhran ace John Joe Kelly, now a firm fixture in the engine room, and guitarist extraordinaire Ed Boyd keep the steam pressure high, building a powerful framework for Brian Finnegan and Sarah Allen's flute and whistle melody lines that seemingly intermingle more successfully than ever.

A few friends lend helping hands. Among them, Rory McLeod adds a few blasts on trombone, but it's fiddler Colin Farrell's contribution that will cause the raised eyebrows. What a talent!

Keith Hudson

Folking.com

It takes a lot for me to sit through a totally instrumental album. I suppose like most of the general public I get bored easily but then, occasionally you come across a little gem. Rubai is just such an album featuring the talents of Sarah Allen, Brian Finnegan, Ed Boyd and John Joe Kelly.

This is scintillating stuff and as if the duelling flutes/whistles weren't a rewarding experience in their own right coupled with great guitar and the expressive bodhran Flook leave you in little doubt that here is music of the highest calibre.

That's not to say the band can't rock it out when they want. To experience this check out the highly syncopated Gordon Duncan composition 'Pressed For Time'.

I admit to having caught the band at Cambridge some year's back and not being over-struck but on listening to this album I am more than impressed.

I don't know why but I'm reminded of the first time I heard The Storm by Moving Hearts. OK the band aren't folk-rock but they are just as exciting.

Pete Fyfe

Scotland on Sunday

Two flutes, bodhran and guitar (with occasional accordion) might not seem to add up to much, but the exuberant music made by these eight hands will transcend any expectations.

All instrumental, and contemporary Irish in outlook and inflection, there are only a

Norman Chalmers

Sing Out!

Flook define Rubai as a "four-line poem, in perfect rhyme, full of music, rhythm and breath." That pretty much sums up this new recording.

Flook is based in the U.K. and is comprised of John Joe Kelly, bodhran and mandolin; Ed Boyd, guitar and bouzouki; Brian Finnegan, flutes and whistles; and Sarah Allen on flute, alto flute and accordion. Various friends offering everything from fiddle and percussion to wah wah mandolin and trombone join them. Quite a roux, I'd say.

The recording, while quite marvellous, is somewhat confusing in its arrangement of selections. There are nine general groupings of tunes under such categories as Pod, Glass, Granny and Larry. Within each of the groupings lie one or two medleys of tunes, each indexed separately.

The selections range from band originals such as Sarah's "The Beehive" and "Blue Ball" and Brian's "Poon Hill" and their collaboration on "Larry Get Out of the Bin" to trad tunes such as "Kalamantinos", Jay Ungar's "Vladimir's Steamboat" and "Glass Polska" by Ale Moller.

Flook appear to be following the more recent path of dance bands as they explore the dance music of the entire planet and instil the diverse influences of the stark Scandinavian harmony, North American fiddle tunes and the wild abandon of West African rhythm into music with its tradition firmly rooted in the British Isles. This channelling of diverse influences makes today's young dance musicians so exciting. Flook brings this excitement and taste to their hybrid dance music.

PAN

"Rubai", a four line poem, in perfect rhyme, full of music, rhythm and breath'.

This excellent collection of nine sets is certainly that ! The vibrant colours on the CD case are reflected in the pieces. Life and energy run through the CD, providing 45 minutes of exhilaration.

Flook is an Anglo-Irish band which mixes contemporary with traditional.

They successfully combine jazz, funk, folk and world music influences. The melodies flow beautifully from one to the next, as a natural, organic progression. It is clear that a lot of time and thought has gone into its production.

'Rubai' is easy to listen to, yet it will set your heart pounding. A great CD, definitely worth looking out for.

Yvonne McIlwaine
September 2002

http://www.globalvillageidiot.net

Rubai
Flatfish

Quite how Flook still manage to operate under the radar is a mystery - maybe because they self-release their albums without a big flash of publicity.

The Scotsman

****

THE Anglo-Irish band Flook were one of the more exciting arrivals on the UK folk scene in the 1990s, and have earned a deserved reputation as a great live act.

Mon 13 May 2002

www.chiffandfipple.com

Like Flatfish, it's a beautiful work. Often as energetic and invigorating as music gets, we get a chance to rest with the inclusion of some touching slower pieces. Brian Finnegan, as always, plays the whistle and the flute with an instantly recognizable technique which will thrill people who are relatively new to the instruments, and will leave

I also enjoy Ed Boyd's work here: On a couple of tracks his rhythm guitar soars to the edges of Pete Townsend's domain.

Now a warning: If you are a purist about traditional music and that's all you listen to, this CD will shock and horrify you. You will quickly organize meetings to try to do something about it. You'll hire steamrollers to flatten your copy. Don't buy it, unless you're up for something really fresh and exciting.