From the opening notes arriving as if in mid-air to its final, cheerful burblings, Sen Mac Erlaine and Caoimhn Raghallaighs Old Segotia is an album about friendship: both musical and human, the product of two distinctive musicians visiting each others worlds with a sense of veneration, and a sense of joyful wonder.

Here, Mac Erlaine (This is How We Fly, Quiet Music Ensemble) and Raghallaigh (The Gloaming, This is How We Fly) meet on common ground developed over
20 years of playing together, with Mac Erlaines musical language rooted in jazz and sonic experimentation, and Raghallaigh emerging from an Irish traditional music that he has shaped and reshaped in a deeply personal way.
In this place, Mac Erlaine and Raghallaighs music is profoundly integrated and emotionally textured: at times bursting with explosive energy, at times almost sighing into life, but always searching.
Here are the touching unison duets of Cantandor, the lyrical wanderings of Swallow Dive, or the flirtations with finding a groove in Reverse Burst.

The palette of instruments speaks to the albums feeling of abundance, with Mac Erlaine performing on clarinets, chalumeau damore, three different flutes, car hooter, percussion, live electronics, Wurlitzer, synthesiser, vocals and alto saxophone; and with Raghallaigh bringing his signature hardanger damore sound plus a turn on the flute and live electronics, too.

With the title echoing a well-worn Dublinese expression for friend, Old Segotia plays out with Oche Crua Sna Slibhte (A Hard Night in the Mountains), with ornithologist Sen Ronaynes field recordings of birdsong rising out of the musicians playful explorations, offering a taste of life echoing music, echoing life.