Flook – Sanju (Flatfish Records, 2025)
Flook has entered its fourth decade with Sanju, an album that reaffirms their distinct, deeply-grounded, engaging and dazzling flute-driven Celtic music sound and unwavering musical evolution. Notably, Sanju was recorded in just three days in North London with producers Stevie J Jones and John Calvert
With Sanju, Flook refine their role as musical storytellers. Each track carries a deep emotional imprint, shaped by themes of resilience, love, loss, and cultural reflection. The compositions range from moving tributes to the maritime connections between Northern Ireland and Scotland to reflections on personal and global struggles such as mourning the loss of friends, standing in solidarity with Ukraine, and celebrating life’s fleeting joys. Tracks such as “Timewaver” explore creativity’s elusive nature, while others evoke the carefree warmth of summer or honor the wisdom of elders.
Formed in 1995, Flook defied categorization from the start. Neither strictly Irish nor English, the highly talented musicians embraced a fluid, borderless musical identity. Their distinctive lineup, initially a trio, later solidified as a quartet, crafted a sound that resonated beyond traditional boundaries in the Celtic music circuit and beyond. Over the years, they have built a reputation for technical brilliance and emotional depth, releasing four acclaimed albums: Flatfish (1999), Rubai (2002), Haven (2005), and Ancora (2019).
Flook are: Brian Finnegan on whistle, wooden flute; Sarah Allen on alto flute; Ed Boyd on acoustic guitar; and John Joe Kelly on bodhrán.
Additional musicians: John Calvert on ukulele bass, electric bass, shaker; Stevie J Jones on piano, synthesizer, synth bass, tambourine; Patsy Reid on fiddle, viola.
Release Date: March 21, 2025.
Buy Sanju.
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.