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from 01.04.2014 to 30.04.2014

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16/04/2014 Hot Press: D.F.F...... 3 04/04/2014 Clare Champion-Living: DFF make fresh new sounds in Limerick...... 4

Copyright Material. This may only be copied under the terms of a Newspaper Licensing Ireland agreement (www.newspaperlicensing.ie) or written publisher permission. -3- Hot Press Circulation: 17725 Wednesday, 16 April 2014 Area of Clip: 7800mm² Page: 85 Page 1 of 1

D.F.F. Pouric Songs

Frisbee Records

KEYTRACK:'Slone Walls'

BAROQUEWESTAFRICAN-TINGED CHAMBERPOP, FORREAL D.F.F.(don’t ask us what it means)isthe brainchild ofaward-winning composer andThe Gloaming

collaboratorDave Flynn. While attending an IMRO seminarin 2000,Flynn first crossed paths with songwriterPadraic O'Beim and the pair began to writemusic together. Now 14 years on, with the helpof renownedcellist and vocalist Vyvienne Long andCongolese guitarist NewilTsumbu, Padraic's tunes(Pouric Songs) come to lifein the form of 12 skillfullycrafted "African-tinged chamber pop" songs. Rightaway 'Mad For You’ acquaints uswith Tsumbu'sWest-Africanrhythms, Long’s sprightly harmoniesand Flynn's astute arrangements. And at firstit seemslike an odd concoction. Acouple of listenslater it becomesclear that D.F.F. - over 12meticulously produced tracks - havedelivered a crackingrecord. 'StoneWalls’, with its ornate production and ethereallayered vocals, isstraight out of the baroquepop handbook (that's a goodthing).

Meanwhile,Tsumbu's slick guitar work brings lashingsofcolour to thewonderfully titled 'BeautifulFreaks Like Us' and 'The Mad Magician' - thelatter showcasing O'Beirn's uncomplicated, poeticlyrics. Trumpingeverything else on the record, however,isthe outstanding musicianship: Long’s incandescentcello work is beyondbeautiful, while Tsumbu'sCongolese rumba and Flynn's masterful popmelodies are superbly bolstered by Ciaran Swift (rhythmguitar) and Dan Bodwell (double bass) withSwift and Aidan Dunphy providing all sorts of percussivedelights. Withsuch a talentedline-up, their upcoming nationwidetour, which culminates with a Button Factory(Dublin) show on April 12, is definitely one forthe diaries. OUTAPRIL 4.JOHNNY KEEGAN -4- Clare Champion-Living Circulation: 15742 Friday, 4 April 2014 Area of Clip: 58500mm² Page: 2 Page 1 of 3

DFF make fresh new sounds in Limerick

Carol Byrne Jackson. The album features songs full of pop melodies, with poetic lyrics A BAND offering the unusual blend by Padraic O’Beirn and a unique of African-tinged chamber pop music instrumentation of three vocalists, and featuring Ballyvaughan-based three guitarists, two percussionists, musician, Dave Flynn, come to 69 cello and double bass. O’Connell Street, Limerick, on April Speaking to The Clare Champion, 10. Dave Flynn outlined how the group DFF offers a fresh new sound to the and album came about. Irish music scene as is evidenced on “Before I ever did any composing their debut double-single release of for orchestras or the trad stuff, Mad For You and Skin To The Bone, I was a songwriter so a lot of these which is out since March 21 to critical songs on the album were written a acclaim. Their debut album, Pouric long time ago with the poetic-lyricist, Songs, will be released this Friday. Padraic O’Beirn. I met him in 2000 at At the front of the group are three an IMRO songwriters collaboration musicians with international reputationsweek and he had lyrics already written. across multiple genres. Main I looked through them and, over songwriter, Dave Flynn is as comfortablea few years, I got these songs written composing concertos for Martin based on his lyrics. That’s where it Hayes (The Gloaming) as he is writingstarted,” he said. three-minute pop songs. VyvienneThe group and subsequent recordings Long brings her porcelain voice began around the same time and sultry cello into the mix, while and evolved until approximately two the incredible Congolese guitarist, years ago. Niwel Tsumbu, brings an irresistible Dave said he worked initially on authenticity to the band’s Kinshasa the songs with another group he chamber pop style. played with, which included Ciaran Added to this is a rhythm section Swift, Aidan Dunphy and Cion featuring four of the busiest musiciansO’Callaghan and a few others. Together in Ireland, namely Dan Bodwell they did some demo recordings on double bass, Ciaran Swift on but never went beyond that. rhythm guitar, Aidan Dunphy, percussionHe explained that he met Vyvienne and Cion O’Callaghan, also years ago on the songwriters percussion. scene, before Damien Rice got famous. With an incomparable sound, DFF He played a gig with them just merge singular talents and internationalafter Damien left the band Juniper reputations into one genrebendingand was embarking on his solo career. musical concoction that Vyvienne was playing with him reflects the diversity of Ireland’s modernand Dave was supporting them. music scene. The band is packed “I remember her from then. After to the brim with highly talented musicians.I played, she came up to me and said, Between them, they have ‘If you ever need a cellist, I would worked with hit songwriters, Damien love to play with you’. Years and Rice, Declan O’Rourke, Lisa Hanniganyears later, by coincidence, we were and Shane McGowan, as well both at a festival in Sweden, and myself as classical orchestras, jazz legends and Vyvienne got on very well,” Louis Stewart, Herbie Hancock and he said. Ireland’s finest traditional musicians, They worked on a collaborative Martin Hayes, Mairtm O'Connor and music project at the festival and he Tommy Peoples. said he really liked her work on the DFF’s album, Pouric Songs, was recordedcello and also her vocals so, when it in Peter Gabriel’s Real World came to recording these latest songs, Studios and Grouse Lodge Studios, he thought of what she could add. which was used by the late Michael Meanwhile, some of Dave’s songs -5- Clare Champion-Living Circulation: 15742 Friday, 4 April 2014 Area of Clip: 58500mm² Page: 2 Page 2 of 3 -6- Clare Champion-Living Circulation: 15742 Friday, 4 April 2014 Area of Clip: 58500mm² Page: 2 Page 3 of 3

DFF, who will be performing in Limerick on April 10, as part of a nationwide tour.

had an African style to them. to allow them to set up. He also liked has been very positive.p“The Thi y "I’ve always liked Congolese music, that the sound engineer is in the studio most important thing now and Niwel Tsumbu is from the Congo. with the group, which is unusual. is bringing it to the live audiences. I discovered he was living in Ireland “We wanted to get a live vibe out of When you take something from a and I got in touch with him and asked it and it has a more natural feel to it. record and bring it to the live realm, him if he was interested in collaboratingIt is a great place to hang out and everyoneit always develops. at some point. He was and we did was in a good mood. We were “I’d love to bring the group to a gig at Africa Day in 2010 in Dublin. sharing lunch with the Kaiser Chiefs. Clare. We’re taking each gig as it It just went from there. Coincidentally, Charlie Burchhill, the guitarist from comes. We would love to do festivals he has done a fair bit of work with Simple Minds, was there as well. It’s a because most of our music is very upbeat,” Vyvienne,” Dave added. real creative hub,” he said. he concluded. The album he said, all came togetherGrouse Lodge, which is where The band’s upcoming live shows in the studio and this tour is Michael Jackson lived for five months, began on Wednesday in Kilkenny. the first of the live gigs the band has was also a really nice studio with a They come to 69 O’Connell Street, played together. Speaking about recordingsimilar vibe, he said. Limerick, on Thursday, April 10, in Real World Studios, Dave Now that the album is out there, where they will take to the stage at said it was a good studio for the band Dave said he is very happy with it and 8pm. Booking details are available as it is a huge room and a good space also with the reaction so far, which through www.hmetreetheatre.ie.