Uilleann Pipes and Fiddle are considered to be the sweetest of duets in Irish traditional music.
The two instruments have a very similar sound as the fiddle can tune and adapt to the uilleann pipes.
Uilleann Pipes are the pride of Irish Traditional music and the Fiddle is the most expressive.

Both brothers respect the note carriers past and present who nurture a great tradition. Their medium is the vibration of horse hair on string and air on lips of cane; the strain of the soundpost and the pressure of the bridle. The biggest influence on the Neff Brothers is the music itself nurtured in the fullness of a great tradition. Instrument and tradition are one in the musician.

As they said on their debut album Soundpost and Bridle :
“Musicians of traditional Irish music are bearers of a living heritage which passes temporarily into their guardianship. Each generation in turn influences this heritage, without them our music would not have survived. While listening, let us appreciate past generations' gift to us.”

HotPress, Oliver P. Sweeney
“... a duo which reminds me from the off of the casual but drumtight interplay between Paddy Keenan and Tommy Peoples in the early lineup of The Bothy Band. ... The brothers' trademark as players is a wildness that infuses even the slowest, most measured tunes with passion ...”

Irish Music Magazine, John O'Regan
“... rhythmic shades of Planxty and the Bothy Band.... The combination of travelling style piping and fiddle playing that walks on the wild side of all things traditional alludes to a distinctive and personalised form of music ...”

Muse, Mic Moroney
“... some of that heads-down, hard-knuckles Paddy Glackin/Paddy Keenan chemistry of the early Bothy Band ... “

Irish Examiner, Pat Ahern
 “... there are nods in the direction of the Bothy Band and other luminaries of the past ...” 

Clancy's Irish Music Radio, Austin Kenny
“... The playing is stunningly accomplished, exuberant and dynamic and the two brothers play together with the empathy and instrumental equivalent of the glorious sibling vocals of the Everlys or the McGarrigles ... the real killer punch is Eoghan's fiddle playing. He plays with a syncopated attack and his phrasing and bending of notes, like rock/blues guitar, add incredible drive and power to the dance tunes ...”

TRAD Magazine, Philippe Cousin
“... pas sans évoquer par moments celle de feu Planxty ou Bothy Band  [is not without evoking the fiery moments of Planxty or Bothy Band] ...”

Greenman Review, Pat Simmonds
“... Comparisons are inevitable: some things are Lunasaesque in manner, others are very Liam O'Flynn with orchestra. Other young pipes and fiddle oriented bands (Calico, for example) get the nod as do old warhorses like The Bothy Band ...”

The brothers' trademark as players is a wildness that infuses even the slowest, most measured tunes with passion a cosmopolitan world view - - - sweeping melody - - - intricate counterpoint

Flaithrí and Eoghan work hard to produce a professional presentation for audiences of all genres everywhere. Music dances from their finger tips, exploring the music's own energy, and the listener is taken to a realm of Irish music that is full of imaginative and dazzling skill. Both Flaithrí and Eoghan are highly seasoned performers whether it is with Riverdance, orchestra or intimate venue. Comparisons made by critics will give an idea of what to expect.

In an 'Arts House' interview for radio Flaithrí remarked, “We really enjoy a concert situation because people are listening attentively and appreciate what we’re doing.” Their approach to music offers a great opportunity to see an act that is at the cutting edge of Irish traditional music performed in an informal yet professional setting. A Neff Brothers performance is an enriching experience and unique. Traditional music is a delicate balance, but the Irish tradition is a living tradition. “... the standard of sheer virtuosity, the musicians move effortlessly through a most interesting programme ...” The Scottish & Irish Traditional, Bob McDowall.

They are an unique duet with a wonderful wealth of traditional music and are proficient and exciting talents. As a duet “there's something unassailable in the pair's rock-hard unison”, it is an awesome force of melodious and rhythmic energy, embodying spontaneous musical passion with tight, intricate arrangements. This combination of a solid, unwavering yet furious and fiery performance by NeffBros leaves audiences gasping and shouting for more. They are “marvels of their craft.” (Quotes from Muse, Greenman Review)

Their virtuoso performance is quite simply “where traditional skill and high art meet” as Celtic Beat agree. Dance tunes are given a brilliantly sparky treatment to produce a rich and varied powerful music with piping pyrotechnics and fiddle fireworks. As ElectricScotland put it “it’s their drive and enthusiasm, backed up with the accuracy of their playing that grabs you and makes you want to listen (at least) or dance (more likely).”

Be prepared to lose time while consumed by a Neff Brothers performance, as Alex Monaghan, Living Tradition, commented in reviewing their second album, “... and then it's over, and you're wondering where the time went. These two brothers from Cork, have put the universe on hold for an hour ...”

Slow airs are an emotional aspect of music, Flaithrí renders “heart-stopping slow airs on the pipes” and Eoghan’s delivery “is exquisite to say the least”. Their creative arrangements and enthusiasm for the tradition is very evident and illustrates their love of music, “old and new tunes alike sparkle atop Flaithrí's highly articulate piping and Eoghan's ferocious (and betimes precocious) fiddle”. (Quotes from Trad Magazine, Greenman Review, The Irish Times)

The Neff Brothers art form is music and is pursued with relentless passion and energy. The music is traditional and at the same time reinvigorated with Irish music’s long history of creative experimentalism. This experimentalism produced a sophisticated bagpipe in the Uilleann Pipes. It also enabled Irish Traditional Music to accept and remodel imported tune types as well as other instruments. Their performance is the creative richness of Irish character and goes right to the heart of its rhythm and melody.

Their quest is to awaken audiences to new and ancient soundscapes and to this end have been critically acclaimed for their virtuosity and depth of musicality, as well as their creative arrangements and compositions. Flaithrí and Eoghan are part of an Irish tradition which itself is an innovative continuum of the Gaelic character, never inward looking nor stagnant but bold and all-encompassing. This is the living pulse of a vibrant music and its performance is the creative richness of the Irish character and goes right to the heart of rhythm and melody. “... It's obvious they know their stuff; it oozes from every track ... the delights of two who have very obviously a lot more to give, and a long way to go - and the going is UP ...” The Scottish & Irish Traditional, Ronnie Simpson.

Flaithrí and Eoghan's involvement in music of many genres illustrate that they are musicians of tremendous versatility, and it shows pride and confidence in their own tradition in that it will still hold its strength in the midst of other genres. This is traditional Irish music in all its glory and boldness. Siobhán Long of The Irish Times commented “ ... Flaithrí and Eoghan wear their instruments with an enviable lightness. Old and new tunes alike sparkle atop Flaithrí's highly articulate piping and Eoghan's ferocious (and betimes precocious) fiddle ... cosmopolitan world view, married with sweeping melody and intricate counterpoint on pipes ... this is virtuoso playing from start to finish ...”

Oliver P. Sweeney writing in HotPress commented “The brothers' trademark as players is a wildness that infuses even the slowest, most measured tunes with passion, but it never threatens to get out of control; there is at all times a soul-deep mastery of instruments and conduct in evidence.” Detail is also part of their trademark with “tunes in perfect metre and synchronicity” Fintan Vallely, The Sunday Tribune. “They are like two parts of the same instrument - tight, together, yet distinct.” was Pat Ahern’s critique in The Irish Examiner.

Assured of the stability of their cultural music and of their own creative liberty they are not afraid to absorb, remodel or compose.  “It is this delightfully oblique angle at which the Neff Bros view traditional music as well as the speed and alacrity with which they attack their craft that renders them among the most imaginative” John O Regan, Irish Music Magazine.

As musicians their talent is unquestionable, it “is virtuoso playing from start to finish” “sheer virtuosity”. “Consummate musicianship, expressive playing, music with taste, colour, flavour”. As creative artists they are masters and “gloriously inventive” and “the creativity and musical artistry ... is magnificent and ... amazing”. Their music is “blatantly experimental and different”. “They rock and roll through tunes twisting them inside out and upside down yet replenishing their melodic hearts each time.” “The real talent of the Neffs shows itself in fine accurate, often exhilarating, playing.” As performers they execute a presentation which lends professional authority and experimental thrust. “Two of the most exceptionally talented and exciting Irish traditional musicians in the country”. (Quotes from: The Irish Times, The Scottish & Irish Traditional, Irish Music Magazine, Celtic Beat, Evening Echo)

Siobhán Long wrote in The Ticket of the Irish Times in 2003 “After their genteel début, Soundpost and Bridle (2000), Cork brothers Flaithrí and Eoghan Neff could so easily have settled into the “seriously talented and enormously respectful” back row where they'd be guaranteed accolades for their virtuosity but might have died from the boredom of it all within jig time. Instead they've ricocheted due north, south and east, bouncing off a plethora of styles and cultural tics en route. Eoghan's convulsing fiddle traces shadows where few fiddlers deign to venture on his own Clockworx, and while the itinerary is utterly unpredictable and downright precocious, their willingness to stretch and bend while they've got the elastic in their pants is something to revel in - for listener and player alike.” Yes, not only do audiences revel in their musical energy but fellow musicians applaud their performance and this is something special as Living Tradition put it, “the brothers are a class act”. The brothers Neff have something very special to give to music, lets hope they get the canvas to work on.

Described as giving listeners a feast of rich and powerful music adorned with musical gems and jewels of “wonderfully innovative arrangement” as Alex Monaghan says. And as Paul Dromey put it earlier “anyone with a finger on the pulse of traditional music ... will be aware of the musicianship of the Neff Bros”. From the beginning people with a heart for music recognised what they were hearing from fine musicians. Flaithrí and Eoghan have been totally immersed in music and have accumulated a vast repertoire of tunes.

Taking into account their unquestionable talent, there is nothing certain in any art form. As a writer in the Irish language is writing for a limited audience so is a performer of a traditional music. To have musical efforts recognised is a great encouragement and a début album to be received with international critical acclaim brings encouragement for the future. Recognition at competition for their talent and further recognition with academic awards for their performance was a great confidence building measure. However as they comment themselves “Achievements at competition or awards of any kind are great but receiving encores for solo performances in a group situation on stage are very special. Communicating with an audience through music is like being fluent in a foreign language – you work at attaining a level and when you reach it it’s a great feeling.”

There is a long history of creative experimentalism in Irish Traditional Music. As witnessed in the Uilleann Pipes and the acceptance and remodeling of imported tune types as well as other instruments.

The Neff Brothers walk a musical tightrope, giving their music 'rock 'n' soul', characterized by strong traditional rhythm, an emphasis on the melody, and importantly an impassioned improvisational delivery.

This makes for a performance of emotional energy and artistic intensity. They challenge and demand of themselves and this excites audiences of any genre. Pleasure in listening to virtuosity is not limited by genre. The fact that the music is traditional is irrelevant when the performance is this powerful.

This approach and feeling for their music gives Irish traditional music a new platform. Their art, creativity and expression is music. The tension on that tightrope makes the music thrive in its risk-taking.

The tradition in Irish music itself is living and vibrant; its performance is its blossom. Flaithrí on pipes, with its authentic position in the tradition, will guide the shoot towards the light and Eoghan on fiddle will burst into colour and stretch the kaleidoscope. Flaithrí now on low whistle joins in and we have two cutting edge entrepreneurs of sound challenging the traditional ear and even the avant-garde.

The future of Irish traditional music is in no doubt, the basic melodies will live for ever, what each generation wraps around the melodies is a passing impulse but is a great attraction for new listeners and empowers the tradition itself for a new generation awakened by exciting sounds to rediscover the roots. Traditional music is also very much a living pulse and always has had contemporary composers. The tradition itself will decide which contemporary compositions will be brought along by its river of sound. The Neff brothers have paid respect to past generations, however today has another generation.

Pat Ahern in The Irish Examiner wrote “... The basic stock is traditional but there is a clear determination to seek out new angles. Experimentation is vitally important in every branch of music. Traditional music does it on a micro scale. It sees change as a continuous process where progress is measured in barely perceptible increments, rather than in bold quantum leaps. The Neffs challenge that attitude. Experimentation carries responsibilities; the Neffs show an awareness of this. The lazy experimenter, for example, hears both reels and reggae as sharing a 4/4 time signature and attempts to superimpose one on the other without regard to the fact that the result compromises both musical forms.”

“The Neffs bring an internal, more subversive approach. They slice the tune apart and reconstruct it in unexpected, and occasionally inspired, ways. ... The Neffs may not be the first to use samples in traditional music, but they have certainly done it with most imagination. They have used recent advances in music technology to create a broad and deep soundscape for themselves, but have not allowed it to overshadow the music itself. ... if you're looking for what's happening at the innovative edge of the traditional music continuum, look no further ...”

John O'Regan writing in 2001 observed “ ... create a complex yet accessible web of sound ... a sound that is exciting, energetic and above all different ... There are three qualities these brothers have in abundance, an immersion in the tradition, a penchant for experimentation and boundless energy. The result is powerfully dynamic music ...”. In 2004 he commented “... the music is still played with the same enthusiastic abandon but a more experimental side exists ... incorporating technology into the realms of traditional accompaniment. Flaithrí and Eoghan freely employ programmed synths for backing as much as regular backing instruments like bouzouki bodhrán and double bass. The African Thumb piano adds a simple yet attractive background to 'Asturias' and Adrian Curtin's cello adds a sombre Classical intro to “Promenade” ... Elements of Jazz, Rock, Hip-Hop, Classical and World music cruise through the mix yet the result is a uniquely Irish sound each time. 'Ar Scáth a Chéile' is a blatantly experimental and different look at traditional music seen through the eyes of young yet quickly maturing visionaries ...”

“... these lads are fully rooted in the Irish tradition, even when expanding it, so watch out these jewels! ...” FolkWorld, Tom Keller

“... With this album [Ar Scáth a Chéile] they seem to have fully entered the experimental stage, employing a variety of sounds. Everything from thumb piano to cello, tablas, synthesisers and electric bass make an appearance to support the musical vision these two lads quite clearly have ... The brothers Neff display some fearless chops and are not shy of putting it out there ...” Greenman Review, Pat Simmonds