The wild and rugged coastline of this beautiful part of Mayo in the West of Ireland has inspired many of the pieces on this album. From intimate Irish flute and piano pieces- to fully orchestrated sections - this varied album will appeal to a wide range listeners. The composer, Paul Neville, has written all the tracks on this album from his work studio situated close to the wild Mayo coastline in Ireland. The opening title "Hy Brasil" is a mythical island off the Irish coast and features tuned percussion - with marimba, harp and celesta providing an exotic bed culminating in a warm enticing vocal performance from Barbary Grant. "Belderg" is a poem written by the Nobel Prize recipient Seamus Heaney and is set to music here with a traditional Irish harp and piano. Belderg is a village on the Atlantic coast in Mayo where the composers ancestors have lived for many generations - and still do to this day! The poem is read by the renowned Irish actor Adrian Dunbar. "Achill Ships" is a "seascape" soundtrack featuring strings and the Armenian wind instrument - the duduk. The "Sea Queen" features an engaging and powerful performance from Francesca Genko who sings here in both Latin and in Irish. The song is about the legendary pirate queen, Grace O'Malley, who was based in this part of Mayo during the late 16th century. "Across Time" is a duet between piano and a traditional Irish flute. The composers grandfather, Patrick Tomas, who lived in Belderg, Co Mayo, made his own flutes and played his own compositions. This piece of music is an imaginery duet between the composer and his grandfaher (1870 - 1956). "Killala Skirmish" is a soundtrack which portrays a battle in 1798 which took place in Killala, Mayo, between the combined forces of the Irish and French against the British Army. This track features a traditional Irish tin whistle which represents the Irish forces. "Pullatomas" - meaning "the bay of Tomas" is an inlet on the Mayo coast. A number of ships in the Spanish Armada were lost in violent storms along this coast in 1588. This music depicts the anguish of a Spanish mother (surname Tomas) grieving for her sailor son believed to be on one of the wrecked ships. The vocal in this theme (representing the mother) is sung by Francesca Genko. "Horned Women" is a frightening traditional Irish childrens story about a a mother and her concern for her children. A coven of witches with horns on their head invade her home and frantically work their spinning wheels. "Ceide Fields" - the clashing of tectonic plates millions of years ago created the wild and beautiful coast here. An old civilisation lived and farmed here 6,ooo years ago close to Belderg village. More information can be found at www.ceidefields.com.