Seán Mac Erlaine | press area

Press

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"One of the strangest and most beautiful shows of the Dublin Theatre Festival"

- Colm Toibín, New York Review of Books Blog

"A combination of walking tour, performance art, literary archaeology and audio-visual installation, this was a smart, sensitive and impeccably crafted piece of site- specific theatre...brave and new, and very, very good." - Irish Independent

"Absorbing, unsettling...fascinating" - Irish Times

"Morla, with saxophonist Seán Óg and guitarist Simon Jermyn. A breath of fresh air, they also fleshed out the musical textures with electronics, using them with verve and individuality. Among other things, they wove Armenian and Greek elements into a surprising music whose kaleidoscopic colours, textures and original lines constantly confounded expectation."
- The Irish Times, February 2009

"With Breathing Time, their second album, this forward-thinking group brings its unique sound to ten original compositions, all written by leader Seán Óg, and the surprise, wit, and sense of musical exploration that we have come to expect from the band is maintained and extended throughout the recording with variety and panache...This approach depends on excellent musicianship, a willingness to take risks, and trust between band members – there is no room to hide. If it is not to sound precious, such a line-up also requires good writing, and the album’s compositions are well-structured and engaging, and bear repeated listening...The lively, progressive quartet Trihornophone has been intriguing audiences with improvised music that is playful, open, and always fresh. This is a band that continues to be one to watch."
- The Journal of Music in Ireland, January 2009

"[Trihornophone] are a fascinating group, with an old-time feel and a contemporary freedom to handle rhythm and harmony, judiciously mixed with rigorously scored ensembles whose use seems as likely cued as pre-determined.
Seán Óg's settings, so packed with ideas, show a determination to shun the obvious and familiar at almost any price, but their wit, invention and the sheer warmth of what is a very together band are palpable."
- The Irish Times, November 2008

"The trick with playing music that is in any way avant-garde – if you want anyone to actually listen to it, that is - is to make it accessible.
It's not an easy balance, but Irish quartet Trihornophone have succeeded admirably with their debut recording.
Saxophonist Seán Óg, who composed all the music, leads the group through a set of tunes that are full of musical adventure, but full also of humour."
- The Sunday Tribune, October 2008

"Reed-player Seán Óg, who is involved in quite an array of creative projects in Dublin, has only recently taken to solo improvisation. This performance confirmed what had become clear even on his first public outing in that role: that he has the confidence to persue his own purposes without feeling the need to show everything he can do in every piece or to indulge in flash display. “
- Signal To Noise Magazine.

"There followed a solo performance from Irish saxophonist Sean Óg. In complete contrast to the music that came before, he played three short pieces on different instruments, each resembling a passionate, soulful John Butcher, shifting from bleak mournful passages to jagged skronky free jazz, often falling in and out of extended techniques. Not my usual cup of tea but in context a surprisingly welcome interlude of direct human expression."
- Paris Transatlantic Magazine May 2007

"Free spirited and adventurous...it is refreshing to hear young musicians taking risks and pushing the boundaries...an encouraging example of the spirit of innovation current in Irish contemporary music"
- The Journal of Music in Ireland.

"Like Zappa, he appears to have a facination with non-traditional sources of musical sound and highly percussive textures. And he brings a forceful mixture of irreverence and seriousness to his projects, trusting that audiences will provide the openess required to support meaningful performance." - JMI

"one of the busiest musicians on the scene" - The Sunday Tribune

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