On this episode of Open Ears, the sixth and final episode of Season 3, Alain chats with Kate Stables of This Is The Kit. Together, they listened to Aleksandr Nisse's Pleonexia. 

Aleksandr Nisse, Titular Organist of St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral in Dublin, is a composer of Russian and French descent based in Ireland.  He has written for Hochschule der Künste Bern and Crash Ensemble, with notable works including áiséirí (2019) and NOTINTUNE, which explores the impact of digital distractions on society. His compositions, The Eve of St Agnes and Francis Bacon’s Studio premiered in Dublin’s Hugh Lane Gallery in 2022.

Pleonexia was one of five works, written for 10 performers and organ in collaboration with Crash Ensemble in 2025 as part the Crash Works programme. Pleonexia features on Crash Works II which was released on Crash records in September 2025.

Find out more about Kate Stables/This Is The Kit at: thisisthekit.co.uk

This episode is presented by Alain McFadden

Music: 'Pleonexia’ from Crash Works II by Aleksandr Nisse

Host: Alain McFadden

Guest: Kate Stables

In this fifth episode of Open Ears, Alain McFadden talks to Dani Larkin. Together they listened to Chrysalism by Linda Buckley.
Linda Buckley is an award winning Irish Composer who creates electronic and acoustic music, and has a particular interest in working across many disciplines, most notably film and in the realm of drone and dark ambient music. Chrysalism features on the album Crashlands alongside works from Irish and international composers that premiered in rural locations across Ireland during 2017.
Find out more from Linda Buckley here: https://www.lindabuckley.org/about/
And Dani Larkin at: https://www.danilarkin.com
This episode is presented by Alain McFadden
Music: 'Chrysalism’ from Crashlands by Linda Buckley
Host: Alain McFadden
Guest: Dani Larkin

In this fourth episode of Open Ears, Alain McFadden talks to Tolü Makay. Together they listened to Disequilibrium by Amy Rooney.

Amy Rooney is a composer from Co. Down. She read music at Queen’s University Belfast, where she completed a PhD in Composition. Her preference is for music which involves some degree of co-creativity; this can present itself through an interactive score, where various decisions assigned to the player produce music that is nuanced, natural and flexible. Disequilibrium was one of the five works, written for 10 performers in collaboration with Crash Ensemble in 2023.

Find out more about Amy Rooney at: https://www.cmc.ie/composers/amy-rooney and more about Tolü Makay: https://tolumakayofficial.com/
This episode is presented by Alain McFadden
Music: 'Disequilibrium' from Crash Works by Amy Rooney.
Host: Alain McFadden
Guest: Tolü Makay

In this third episode of Open Ears, Alain McFadden talks to Conor O’Reilly and Jonny Pickett of Americana-Folk duo DUG. Together they listened to Senses IV by Yue Song.
Yue Song is a composer and pianist based in Dublin, merging various genres, including works for opera, orchestra, Chinese orchestra, various chamber music ensembles, solo pieces, and electronic music. Senses IV was one of the five works, written for 10 performers with electronics in collaboration with Crash Ensemble in 2023.
Find Out more about Yue Song at: https://www.yuesongmusic.com/ and more about DUG at: https://www.dugworld.com/
This episode is presented by Alain McFadden
Music: 'Sensers IV' from Crash Works by Yue Song.
Host: Alain McFadden
Guests: DUG (Conor O’Reilly - Jonny Pickett)

In this second episode of Open Ears, Alain McFadden talks to Laura Quirke - Musician, songwriter and one half of folk duo Lemoncello.

Together they listened to two movements of Lipids by Barry O'Halpin.

Barry O'Halpin is a composer and performer based in Dublin, merging approaches and formative influences from contemporary classical, experimental rock, electronic music and jazz contexts. Lipids charts the evolution of Barry O' Halpins inventive and exploratory writing for both chamber ensemble and solo electric guitar, as composer in residence and guitarist with Crash Ensemble.

Find Out more about Barry O'Halpin at https://barryohalpin.com/, and more about Laura Quirke at https://www.lemoncelloireland.com/

This episode is presented by Alain McFadden

Music: 'Lipids' and 'Lethargarian' from Lipids by Barry O'Halpin.

Host: Alain McFadden

Guest: Laura Quirke

In this first episode of our third season, Alain McFadden speaks to Brían MacGloinn - songwriter, radio host and one of the brothers that make up Irish folk-darlings Ye Vagabonds. Together, they listen to extracts from Jonathan Nangle's Blue Haze of Deep Time.

Jonathan Nangle draws inspiration from his field recordings of the sea, made during walks near his home. These sounds form the foundation of the piece, marking the start of a musical journey. Blue Haze of Deep Time was commissioned by Crash and premiered at New Music Dublin Festival in 2025.

Find out more about Jonathan Nangle at https://jonathannangle.com, and more about Brían MacGloinn and his music at https://yevagabonds.com.

This episode is presented by Alain McFadden, the new host of Open Ears.

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Music

‘Inbhear Glás’ and ‘Where Grey Waves Rise and Fall Unseen’ from Blue Haze of Deep Time by Jonathan Nangle

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Host: Alain McFadden

Guest: Brían MacGloinn

Composer Andrew Hamilton meets singer, songwriter and dance artist, Aoife McAtamney, to discuss Andrew's composition, 'Friendly Piece', composed in 2023 for Crash Ensemble.

Friendly Piece was recently part of an installation at the Mermaid Arts Centre in Bray, co. Wicklow.

Find out more about Aoife McAtamney at www.daughterofadrum.com

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Music

Andrew Hamilton - Friendly Piece (available on Bandcamp)

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Host: Andrew Hamilton

Guest: Aoife McAtamney

As part of Kilkenny Arts Festival 2024, Crash Ensemble spent a day in Shee Alms House recording and performing seven Postcard pieces that had been commissioned by Crash Ensemble. Olga Barry, the Director of Kilkenny Arts Festival, hosted one of the performances for this live podcast episode, featuring live performances and conversations with some of the composers and audience members.

With thanks to Kilkenny Arts Festival and The Arts Council.

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Music:

Paul Scully - Escape Velocity

Emmelle Wadding - Junk

Jenn Kirby - Waves

Maeve Kelly - X-change of Flames

Dani Larkin - Lighthouse

Michael Sullivan - Through Worlds of Fog

Neil O’Connor - The Last Broadcast

Title Music: Ed Bennett - Accel

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Host: Olga Barry

As part of Musictown 2024, Crash Ensemble collaborated with four different artists for four unique performances: Elaine Howley, Mohammad Syfkhan, Rachael Lavelle and E the Artist. On this special episode, we hear from the artists themselves about working with Crash. We also hear from attendees of our listening groups, who attended sessions with Elaine Howley and E the Artist.

With thanks to Dublin City Council Culture Company and the Blow the Dust Orchestra.

Artists:

Elaine Howley

Mohammad Syfkhan

Rachael Lavelle

E the Artist

Recorded live at National Concert Hall, Dublin.

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Music

Title Music: Accel. - Ed Bennett

Outro Music: this is the space between your hand and mine - Rachael Lavelle

Available on Bandcamp.

Flautist Lina Andonovska meets with author Ciara Geraghty for the first time, and together they listen to excerpts from The Last Hotel, which Lina joined Crash for in 2015.

Lina performs alongside Crash Ensemble on Sunday 30th June 2024 for a performance at Sundays at Noon in the Hugh Lane Gallery.

Find out more about Ciara Geraghty at ciarageraghty.com.

With thanks to the Offbeat Ensemble and Cantaloupe Music.

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Music

Ed Bennett: - Accel

Donnacha Dennehy - The Last Hotel (Available on Cantaloupe Music)

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Host: Lina Andonovska

Guest: Ciara Geraghty