Sanju by Flook
When Flook were formed back in 1995 there was nothing to compare them to; they were a flute driven phenomenon, not Irish nor English, perfectly comfortable in their own musical skin and free to go as the wind goes. So boldly go they did.
If their music was a challenging brew to label for the trad cognoscenti, to many it made heart strings quiver. The musical freedom of having no fixed abode, married with the obvious joy they were creating onstage saw new fans flock to their shows in droves. One third of their flute front line would leave in 1997 and ever since they have remained unchanged, their formidable musical prowess marked through the years with a quartet of acclaimed studio albums; Flatfish (1999), Rubai (2002), Haven (2005) and Ancora (2019).
What Flook have grown into as they have grown into life is lyrical storytellers. Each of the original compositions on Sanju have deep contours bedded in the intangible verve of human experience, reflections on friendship, persecution, family, love and loss, the cruelty and beauty of humanity alive now in our world:
- from the sea roads between Co Antrim and Scotland’s western shore, to the lasting glow of love imbued in Winter Flower.
- from a brace of driving jigs that hail the courage to battle illness and adversity, to Timewaver and the great mystery and craft of creativity.
- from the shattering loss of a bright light in Koady to solidarity with musician friends in shattered war torn Ukraine.
- from a composition tender with love for newly wed friends in Tiblisi to the defiance and keen of Faqqua.
- from a tone poem of hope to 2 joyful jigs capturing the carefreeness of long summer days and celebrating our elders.
The late great North American poet, Mary Oliver, had a lesson for living: “Pay attention / Be astonished / Tell about it."
Sanju is testament to that life lesson…
Recorded in North London over three days with cutting edge producers Stevie J Jones and John Calvert, it is a timely reminder at this landmark juncture of what a potent artistic force Flook still remain, in their perpetual push to grow creatively - fondly acknowledging where they've come from while reaching outward and forward, their hunger for innovation burning brighter than ever.
Tracklist
Credits
ARTIST NAME : Flook
ALBUM TITLE: Sanju
RELEASE DATE: 21 March 2025
LABEL: Flatfish Records
DISTRIBUTION COMPANY: Cadiz Music & Digital Ltd
Produced, engineered & mixed by Stevie J Jones & John Calvert
Recorded at The Shelter, London, 3-5 October 2024
Additional parts recorded in Perthshire, Somerset, Antrim, Brockley
Mixed at Unit25, London
Mastered by Kevin Tuffy at Tuff Mastering, Berlin
Flook are:
Brian Finnegan - whistle, wooden flute
Sarah Allen - alto flute
Ed Boyd - acoustic guitar
John Joe Kelly - bodhrán
with additional musicians, as listed in the track detail below
THE FARTHER SHORE/WINTER FLOWER (7.03)
The Farther Shore Sarah Allen/Phil Cunningham SGO Music Publishing Ltd (BMG)/PRS
Winter Flower Brian Finnegan SGO Music Publishing Ltd (BMG)
ISRC CODE: GB-EUX-25-00001
MUSICIANS: Sarah Allen / Ed Boyd / Brian Finnegan / John Joe Kelly
with John Calvert - ukulele bass, shaker / Stevie J Jones - piano
JIG FOR SHAM/THE DAWN WALL/JOHNNY DS/TIMEWAVER (6.18)
Jig for Sham Brian Finnegan SGO Music Publishing Ltd (BMG)
The Dawn Wall Brian Finnegan SGO Music Publishing Ltd (BMG)
Johnny D’s Liz Carroll Grow Your Own Music (BMI)/Bucks Music Group Ltd
Timewaver Brian Finnegan SGO Music Publishing Ltd (BMG)
ISRC CODE: GB-EUX-25-00002
MUSICIANS: Sarah Allen / Ed Boyd / Brian Finnegan / John Joe Kelly
with Patsy Reid - fiddle / John Calvert - ukulele bass, electric bass / Stevie J Jones - synth, synth bass, tambourine
KOADY/THE BURNING LION (4.13)
Koady Brian Finnegan SGO Music Publishing Ltd (BMG)
The Burning Lion Brian Finnegan SGO Music Publishing Ltd (BMG)
ISRC CODE: GB-EUX-25-00003
MUSICIANS: Sarah Allen / Ed Boyd / Brian Finnegan / John Joe Kelly
with John Calvert - ukulele bass, electric piano, shaker /
Stevie J Jones - electric piano, tambourine
TIE THE KNOT IN GEORGIA/ED’S BIG FIVE-O/FAQQUA (6.06)
Tie the Knot in Georgia Brian Finnegan SGO Music Publishing Ltd (BMG)
Ed's Big Five-O Brian Finnegan SGO Music Publishing Ltd (BMG)
Faqqua Brian Finnegan SGO Music Publishing Ltd (BMG)
ISRC CODE: GB-EUX-25-00004
MUSICIANS: Sarah Allen / Ed Boyd / Brian Finnegan / John Joe Kelly
with Konstantine Tumanov - piano / John Calvert - ukulele bass, shaker /
Stevie J Jones - synth
WHERE THERE IS LIGHT/THE MAY WATERWAY/NINETY YEARS YOUNG (6.52)
Where There is Light Sarah Allen SGO Music Publishing Ltd (BMG)
The May Waterway Sarah Allen SGO Music Publishing Ltd (BMG)
Ninety Years Young Sarah Allen SGO Music Publishing Ltd (BMG)
ISRC CODE: GB-EUX-25-00005
MUSICIANS: Sarah Allen / Ed Boyd / Brian Finnegan / John Joe Kelly
with Patsy Reid - fiddle, viola / John Calvert - ukulele bass / Stevie J Jones - synth, synth bass, vocals
License
All rights reserved.
Flook have an enviable trademark sound, weaving & spinning traditionally rooted tunes over precise acoustic grooves with a rare blend of fiery technical brilliance, delicate ensemble interaction & a bold,
adventurous musical imagination. There is no shortage of virtuosity in Flook but the unique impact of this band stems from the almost symbiotic exchange between the various flutes, frets & skins