FolkWorld Issue 38 03/2009

FolkWorld CD Reviews

South Saturn Delta "Drink from the Well"
Label: Own label; 2007
Drink from the well, according to South Saturn Delta that means; ‘drinking from the reservoir of American roots music’. And that is exactly what this quintet does. This is their first full length album full of original material and their version of Malvina Reynolds God bless the grass. The CD has a fabulous start with The home where I come from. This blues song is powerfully sung by April Iorio on and old sailing ship out on the windy ocean. Strangely enough this great opening track is a stranger between the other songs. It’s dark and strong atmosphere is followed by easy going, well played and relaxed music from the ‘American well’. Nice is the jazz song Dragon clouds which has a ‘jazz nightclub’ approach and shows a more gentle and warm side of Iorio her vocals. The same in Cool jazz cats, very nice. Back to the blues again in Blues cliché, well the title says it all and Mistaken identity blues, which is straight on, well played blues-rock. Nice is the groovy, seventies sound of Chalkmarks on the pavement. South Saturn delta knows how to bring the blues/jazz and light soul-grooves alive. A strong album, with pure and honest music. And the opening track shows that this band has much more quality than it thinks and hopefully they throw all their doubts overboard and go mad on the next album. But, nevertheless, this first full length debut is already a winner.
www.southsaturndelta.com
Eelco Schilder


Jude Johnstone "Mr. Sun"
Label:
Bojak records ; 2008
Jude Johnstone started playing the piano and singing when she was only eight years old. Only eight years later she started to play in clubs and her song writing talent is discovered by famous names such as Emmylou Harris, Bette Middler, Stevie Nicks and Johnny Cash, who all sung some of her work. In 2002 she released her debut album called Coming of age and now Mr. Sun is her fourth solo album and this album shows a highly professional singer-songwriter which can compete with some of the artists that have sung her songs. Johnstone has a open minded, easy going jazzy style. Her singing got better in time, she now has a rich voice with just an edge of old-soul and warm early twentieth century jazz. Her best album until yet and with this Johnstone can easily please a bigger (worldwide) audience. Her music has a recognisable sound, but also enough own identity to get above the average. Definitely an album that helps me through the cold Dutch winter.
www.bojakrecords.com
Eelco Schilder


Hey Negrita "You can kick"
Label: Fat fox; 023; 2008
You can kick is the third album by Hey Negrita, a UK based band, playing Americana and southern rock with bluesy, country and even some rockabilly edges. All songs are written by lead singer Felix Bechtolsheimer, who shows to be a gifted songwriter, but also a singer who understands the genre. Beside him, four other musicians including guitars, dobro, banko, bass, drums etc. There is an additional Hammond player, to spice up some of the songs. You can kick is a solid album with some pure and honest music. Nice is the acoustic Pass you by, a song about the tears you cry when your love doesn’t want to see you anymore. Probably the oldest theme in music, but brought in a introvert and personal way. It even gets a bit darker in a song like Here I come. Beautiful harmonica intro (actually this album has more great harmonica parts) and nice, bit cynical lyrics about sticking some needles in your eyes. Another side of the band shows The last thing that I do, one of the best tracks on this album. Great horns, great lyrics about what to do when the gates in heaven stay closed or the train you want to jump doesn’t come. Sounds cynical again? Well, it’s all dressed in a feel good and sunny melody so don’t worry about that. You can kick is a strong album which reveals it’s quality slowly, but surely.
www.heynegrita.com
Eelco Schilder


Berit Opheim Verstro "Slåttar på tunga"
Label:
2L; 2L46SACD; 2007
Berit Opheim is one of Norway’s best known folk singer. She has made many recordings since 1990 and won many prices in her home country. The style she presents on this album is called Slåttetralling. It’s a folk singers way to perform dances and tunes, used when for example a dancing group couldn’t find a fiddler to play the dances. So no long ballades, no songs from the Norwegian mountains and valleys, but improvised vocal sounds on traditional melodies. It’s a style that many other recorded before, but mostly one or two tracks on an album only. This CD contains nineteen ‘Slåttetralling’. Beautifully sung by Opheim. Unbelievable how she brings the tunes a live. Sometimes fragile and soft, but on other moments fast and furious almost as if a whole folk band is playing. It’s Norwegian tradition at it’s best. Beautifully sung by one of Norwegians foremost singers.
www.2l.musiconline.no
Eelco Schilder


Groupa "Frost"
Label:
Footprint; FRCD 040; 2008
Groupa has been one of the best known Swedish bands ever since their start in 1980. The band was founded by violinist Mats Edén, who is a riksspelman since 1979 and has a impressive career in Swedish (more or less) traditional music. It has been six years ago since the last album, called Fjalar, was released. On this album some haunting folk with sometimes progressive and dark touches. Their new album Frost is the total opposite of this album. Groupa now excists out of three musicians including Mats Eden, Jonas Simonson on flutes and percussionist Terje Isunget. And their music is back to basic and reminds me more of the bands early years. On Frost nine original compositions by one of the band members and two rearranged traditionals. The songs taste like Sweden, but with some ingredients that makes Groupa the unique group they are. They use different patterns of rhythm than usually heard in Swedish music and the way they can prolong a small melody into an over six minutes tune, is typical for the band. The flutes that have the effect of a drone, the sounds of a cold and windy day that’s always part of the music and the feeling of improvisation. That’s my best description. It’s a kind of peaceful and instrumental extension of Imeland, the same atmosphere but a bit more modest. Frost is a typical Groupa album that wont disappoint any Groupa fan. It’s not as experimental as Fjalar but back to the solid foundation of the bands 28 year spanning repertoire.
www.groupa.se
Eelco Schilder


Gorka Hermosa "Tangosophy"
Label:
Xtranas; XGR4706004; 2006
Gorka Hermosa is a Bask accordionist and this Tangosophy is a compilation of his recorded work between 2003-2006. It shows Hermosa at his best, an exciting musician who knows how to bring traditional (more or less) styles and modern styles together. Once trained as a classical accordionist, now an all-round master on his instrument. He has been part of many projects, in as many styles. This CD is just the perfect introduction to his music. My absolute favourite combination is Hermosa with German Diaz, a hurdy gurdy player. Together they manage to create an exciting, dark kind of folk music. They open the CD with Ekia a song that slowly creeps up on it’s listener. Or what about the sad L’enfant perdu, beautiful hurdy gurdy with Hermosa a bit more on the background building a threatening pattern of rhythms. With the band Diaspora he plays ore easy going music like the traditional Albiztur. It starts almost elegant and slowly chances into a smooth and bit wilder dance. This combination can also be heard in Slalom, which has a more Bask traditional approach, mixed with flamenco and other Southern styles. This are just a few examples of an inventive, alternate, high quality album.
www.gorkahermosa.com
Eelco Schilder


Huun-Huur-Tu & Sainkho "Mother Earth! Father Sky!"
Label:
Jaro; 4281-2 ; 2008
Huun Huur Tu, the best known group from Tuva. The group who made the overtone and throat singing known far behind their country borders. For many years now they tour worldwide and their cd’s are appreciated by many. On this new album they work together with another legendary name in music; Sainkho. Her beautiful and very own style of singing comes also from the heart of Tuva. Since the early nineties she has build a strong reputation in music which reaches far into the Western world. Finally these two legends from Tuva can be heard together on this new album. And a great album it is, to my opinion one of the better albums Huun huur tu’s history. The band plays very subtle and gives all the space Sainkho needs. It’s an album that doesn’t tolerate any other sounds or other pursuits while listening. It wants fool attention and when you give your fool attention, slowly it reveals it’s beauty. The more I hear it, the more new sounds, new structures and new emotion I discover. I can imagine this music reflects the culture and landscape of Tuva at it’s best. It has gladness, sadness, peace and roughness. It has purity but also this light avant-gardistic touch, especially in Sainkho her vocals. A highly recommended album.
www.huunhuurtu.com
Eelco Schilder


Moscow Art Trio & The Norwegian Chamber Orchestra "Village variations"
Label:
Jaro; 4290-2; 2008
The Moscow art trio, one of the most modern and avant-gardistic folk related groups of this moment. Ever since their first performance in 1990, this band has been searching for new ways of interpretation and interweaving folk, classical and jazz music. They never hesitate to leave the beaten tracks and explore new sounds. On Village variations they cooperate with the Norwegian chamber orchestra. They perform music for an imaginary ballet in six scenes. Starting with 1 ½ hour after the wedding. A composition that starts calm and with a classical approach, but slowly changes into a more experimental piece of art with the raw sounds of reed instruments, the typical vocal sound by Sergey Starostin and some cowbells. Aria of the forgotten guest is, with over eleven minutes, the longest track on this album. A powerful piece with influences from Russian tradition, theatrical music and minimal music. In Introduction & wine variation the trio and orchestra go even a bit further in their urge to experiment. Followed by Dance of the yellow farm which has a more uplifting atmosphere and has a filmic character. This cooperation between the trio and the orchestra results in a inventive and intriguing CD. Sure that lovers of the genre will love this album and cant wait to see this performed live on stage (if that ever happens).
www.jaro.de
Eelco Schilder


Matt Elliott "Howling songs"
Label:
Ici d’ailleurs; ida049; 2008
Matt Elliott (alias The third eye foundation) is a musician/composer from Bristol UK. He has a history in experimental, psych and prog-folky music. This Howling songs is the third part of a trilogy. Earlier he published Failing songs and drinking songs. This album has nine tracks full of dark and experimental singer-songwriter music. The opening track The kübler-ross model is an over eleven minutes composition that starts intimate but ends with exploding electronics. A great track, Elliott shows to be a master in creating dark soundscapes that seems to come from deep within. Something about ghosts has the same structure. First his calm singing, with this subtle violin at the back, which reminds me of Leonard Cohen. But soon the noise takes over exactly at the right time, exactly the right way. I’m impressed by the way he interweaves an traditional sounding dance into this piece of psych-rock. On How much in blood he stays acoustic and shows a pleasant kind of sadness. His most dark side can be heard on the title song Howling song an explosion of sound as if were close to the gates of a dark and forbidden place. Howling songs is a strong last episode in Elliotts trilogy. For all dark-folk-singer-songwriters-experimental-psych-rock etc etc. fans.
www.thirdeyefoundation.com
Eelco Schilder


Phyllis Sinclair "Fathomless tales from Leviatha’s hole"
Label: Own label; 2008
Kim Richardson "True north"
Label: Own label; 2008
A few female singer-songwriters, starting with Phyllis Sinclair who has just released her second album called Fathomless tales from Leviatha’s hole. Her debut album Fence posts and stones got really good critics and she was nominated for several prices. Sinclair says that she writes so inspire hope to all those who listen. And somehow that description fits her. She composes and sings in the long tradition of American and Canadian singer-songwriters. She writes with a good political and social awareness but she also makes beautiful, small portraits of people, places and things. And for me as a Dutchmen the final song Four days in Groningen about a man who tells about his participation in the liberation of Holland during WWII. a great final of a intimate, personal and beautiful album. Kim Richardson is a singer-songwriter from Memphis and with True north she publishes her second solo album. Backed by four musicians on instruments such as guitar, bass, organ etc. Her music is easy going pop songs with light folk, country influences but most of all she gets her inspiration from the blues. Nice is Midnight MS where she shows her most bluesy side. She shows to be a nice vocalist but somehow she uses her voice the same way, no matter if it’s a uplifting or a more sensitive song. I do miss some nuances in her way of singing, it’s all a bit to safe after my taste.
www.phyllissinclair.com, www.kimrichardsonmusic.com
Eelco Schilder


Qntal "Purpurea"
Label:
Drakkar; E-wave 072; 2008
Purpurea is a new double CD by the German band Qntal. It’s a ‘best of’ CD set with twenty seven songs selected from their earlier studio albums. The band, started in 1991, focuses on connecting Mediaeval music with modern electronic sounds. Their music has a gothic, mystical atmosphere and shows the ancient musical roots the band is influenced by. The lead vocals of Syrah play a central role in the music. Syrah has a beautiful high pitched voice with classical elements. She is backed by two multi instrumentalists; Fil on Keyboards, guitars and programming and Michael Popp on violin, saz, ud, tar and schalmei. The band brings ancient lyrics back to life, lyrics often anonymous, but also from the Carmina burana, Vogelweide or from the Cambridge collection. This is a good overview of the bands career with beautiful music, most of the time well balanced between the ancient music and the modern electronic possibilities. Nice to hear the development the group went though since their first recordings in 1992. They found more rest and peace in their compositions and got this typical Qntal sound, instead of being one of the many groups in this style. A nice ‘best of’ for all those who doesn’t have any of the Qntal cd’s in their collection. This is your chance to get a good collection of their music.
www.qntal.de
Eelco Schilder


Olle Gällmo "Med pipan I säcken"
Label:
Tongang; AWCD 61; 2008
Olle Gällmo is a Swedish bagpipe player (Sackpipa) who has recently been awarded Riksspelman. Not many people know that Sweden has a very own bagpipe tradition, with their own national types of bagpipes. The tradition to play the instrument almost disappeared but since the eighties there is some kind of revival of the instrument which resulted in several groups with a sackpipa player and I have reviewed a few nice solo cd’s in the past few years. This one by Olle Gällmo is a very pleasant one. Gällmo plays the instrument on a high level and together with a few friends on guitar, hurdy gurdy, hummel and dulcimer, he recorded twenty five traditional tunes and songs. I like the combination of Swedish dances from several regions and the beautiful medieval ballads. It’s all played and sung in a authentic and pure way. An interesting CD for both those who like the sound of the Swedish bagpipe, which has a much softer and more subtle sound than many other forms of the bagpipe, and interesting for those who like music from the Swedish tradition.
www.olle.gallmo.se
Eelco Schilder


Sargasso Trio "Burnin burnin burnin"
Label:
Boy scout recordings; 008; 2007
The Sargasso Trio is based in Norwich UK and this trio unites three singer-songwriters ever since 2002. Burnin burnin burnin is their debut album, a collection of songs in many styles. Kicking off with Why do birds fall in love a nice folky song with some electronic sounds and latin atmosphere. The next song It’s hot in hell has a good blues-folk feeling with light rock elements. Than something completely difference, back to the early eighties with The drum, complete with the retro-eighties drum sound and all. In Baby I’m depraved they even take it into the seventies with a nice ‘jackson 5’ rhythm, but with eighties new wave style vocals. Just a few examples of the diversity of this album. So many styles, so many ideas, it’s an album full surprises and very inventive. But after a while I get the feeling they wanted to put too many ideas on this album. I think this album would have been more complete when the three artists would have been a bit more critical and saved some ideas for the next album. But, nevertheless this album shows a great trio, with tons of talent and a big promise for future.
www.boyscoutsrecordings.com
Eelco Schilder


Murat Coşkun "Rhythmystic Silence"
Label: Own label; 2008
Murat Coşkun is a percussionist who grew up in Germany with a Turkish background. His percussion is recorded many times and he worked with world music artists such as Giora Feidman, Ensemble fisfüz and many others. Rhytmystic silence is his latest solo work. Nine live recordings from a concert in Freiburg in 2007. Except for one, all the tracks are original. On six songs he plays solo, so percussion only. He shows to be a master on instruments such as the tamburello in Happy dervish, gaval and darbuka in The confused dervish and many other instruments. On three tracks he invited guests. On Le son du sable and Le danse du sable he plays with Cheikh Kane from Senegal on flute, on Didn’t you hear the sand singer Lori cotler and drummer Glen Velez is playing along. The CD is one with a good variation of styles, rhythms and atmospheres. From Arabic, African, Latin to more Western orientated compositions. Often CD’s with solo percussion get a bit boring after a few tracks but Coşkun has a melodic way of composing and playing and knows to keep the listeners attention until the last second.
www.murat-coskun.eu
Eelco Schilder


Zuzana Novak "Home brewed Mbira"
Label:
Indies ; MAM432-2; 2008
Zuzana Novak is an English born, but with roots in Czechoslovakia, singer and Mbira player. Mbira, a sacred plucked instrument, is deeply rooted in several African music cultures. Novak felt in love with the music from Zimbabwe and now is a solo artists who sings and plucks the Mbira. The recordings on this album are from a live concert in 2007. Eight hypnotising compositions with not only African influences but also sounds from central Europe. Novak has a powerful voice which blends perfectly with the soft sound of the Mbira. Her music is restful, powerful and intriguing at the same time. I seldom have heard a white, European woman singing an African tradition in such a strong and convincing way. You have to hear this to believe it!
http://www.myspace.com/zuzananovak
Eelco Schilder


Aufwind "Modne Welt"
Label: Own label; 2008
Aufwind is one of the best known German Yiddish/klezmer bands and this year they will celebrate their 25th anniversary. This is the bands seventh release and the first studio album in six years. In 2002 I reviewed their last studio album Inejnem. I liked the classical, fragile approach Aufwind choose for that album. Modne welt has a very different atmosphere. They choose a more “traditional” approach It doesn’t have this overwhelming and intense sound of Inejnem but a more uplifting and mainstream sound. Still a nice Yiddish group, but personally I find it a pity that this album got more ‘general’ sounding klezmer music. I miss some of the unique Aufwind identity.
www.aufwindmusik.de
Eelco Schilder


Sirma "La llave de tu corazón"
Label: DCL 125-2; 2007
The Spanish band Sirma was founded in 1997 and now, twelve years later, this sextet published their second album called La llave de tu corazón. It’s their first studio album in ten years. Sirma plays music from the Sephardic tradition. It’s the music originally sung by the Spanish Jews. Unfortunately all info about the band is in Spanish so I cant tell much about the musicians background. The CD includes 15 songs with Jewish, Arabic, Spanish, Greek and many other influences. It’s not so strange that this music is a blend of many styles. It comes from a time several cultures lived together in the country which today we call Spain. There even was a long period all these cultures lived in relative good harmony and influenced each others music, poetry and so on. La llave de tu corazón is a beautiful acoustic album which shows the richness of the Sephardic tradition. Nice female vocals, lute, viola, guitar, bass and percussion. The musical arrangements are simple, but effective. Beautiful is the sad Ondi stá la llava di tu Coraçon. Here, in this song with a sacral feeling, singer José Cordero is at her best. But also the musicians impress with their sober, efficient play. A nice album with music from an ancient and beautiful tradition.
www.legados.net
Eelco Schilder


Nadia Birkenstock "Strange new land"
Label:
Laika; 3510245.2; 2008
Nadia Birkenstock is a German singer/musician who started playing the piano at a very young age. She has always been interested in Classical music, but after hearing the Scottish group Sileas, she felt in love with the Celtic harp. She taught herself to play the Celtic harp and by following several master classes she refined her play. Her first solo album was published in 2001 and Strange new land is her fourth one. She recorded twelve self written songs, although a few traditional themes are used in a some songs. She accompanies herself on the Celtic harp (you might have guessed that) but is also backed by a few guest musicians on occasion. Her compositions are clearly influenced by the Celtic tradition although the theme’s of the lyrics are much more update and personal. For me the lyrics are a bit too dreamy, but Birkenstock sings them with her sweet, bit shy vocals straight from her hearth. It’s Celtic-inspired singer-songwriter music for people who love melodic, accessible folk music.
www.nadiabirkenstock.com
Eelco Schilder


Shelley Jones "Faithfully"
Label: Own label; 2008
Faithfully is the third album by singer Shelley Jones. She has experience in many musical directions including blues, gospel, jazz, R&B and contemporary music. On this album she collaborates with Andrew Glover, a Canadian musician/composer who plays the keyboard and piano on this album. The result is a ten tracks long album full with jazz-pop music occasionally some light latin and blues influences. It’s easy going late night music, good quality, nice compositions and perfectly fitting into the jazz-pop mainstream style.
www.shelleytime.com
Eelco Schilder


Winston Montgomery "Mozart on the road"
Label: Own label; 2008
Born in the New York state, but moved a long time ago to San Fransisco where he renovated houses for over 25 years. All this time he has been a songwriter and singer as well, but never released an album, always played in the local circuit. He has released a seven song EP before, and finally in 2008 his full length debut album Mozart on the road is released. Together with a bunch of fine musicians on instruments as the mandolin, organ, trumpet etc, he creates a kind of contemporary singer-songwriter style with country, blues and folky influences. Hearing the album, I got the idea that Montgomery is a live artist. A song like I like lunch might be fun live on stage, but as a studio recording, hearing it in my small Dutch living room, it doesn’t work for me. I like Why do mothers cry much more, this song has a good drive, well sung harmony vocals and sounds like a good old folk sing a long classic. Besides these two, some more rock orientated songs and easy going singer-songwriters music. Mozart on the road is a nice debut album. Montgomery has a nice, personal style, but I also find his songs lack some variation. He uses the same patterns, especially in his singing, which makes them sound a bit alike and halfway I notice that I loose my attention a bit. And I keep having the feeling that he is a real Live artist, somehow I got the idea he will make a concert a great event with humour and nice music.
www.wmontgomerysongs.com
Eelco Schilder


Polynushka "Authentic Russian folklore in urban culture"
Label: Own label; 2008
Polynushka is a German group founded in 2004 in Berlin. The band consists out of five singers, all from different countries. They are the first vocal ensemble of authentic Russian folklore music in Germany, so they say. They started the ensemble in order to save the ancient tradition of Russian vocal art. This CD is the result of a two year cooperation with the State Ethnological museum in Berlin. They used the Phonogram archive as one of their main inspirations. The songs origin from the many Russian regions and from Belarus and the Ukraine. The songs are learned by ear, the same way many of these songs were passed on to a next generations for ages. They tell songs about the Russian life, celebrations and season songs. The CD is a great document full with nice and beautifully sung vocal tradition. The booklet in English and German is a real treasure full of background information about the project, the songs, the singers, the regions and so on. This CD shows the passion everybody who is involved in this project has for this old tradition. A welcome addition to my CD collection.
www.polynushka.de
Eelco Schilder


Eric Carlson "The ship in the sky"
Label: Own label; 2008
Eric Carlson is an acoustic guitarist from Santa Fe. He plays both original material and folk songs. On this album he plays with five musicians on instruments such as violin, mandolin, dobro and so on. The CD kicks of with the Dylan song When the ship comes in. Somehow Carlson starts the song a bit to energetic but after half a minute he captures the right spirit. In Ms Bushee he shows to be a songwriter in the best American folk tradition. This song has the feeling of a folk song from the sixties. I also like his interpretation of the traditional Ship in the clouds such an uplifting sound, a real feel good instrumental with nice finger picking. The same in the other instrumental tune Upon the Baltic sea, really a fresh, well played tune. The CD ends with the traditional Sail away ladies again it’s the fine finger picking that makes this song a worthy final of a nice album. I’m mostly impressed by the simple but effective musical arrangements and the way the musicians play. It has the feeling of a sunny day in spring and somehow it brings me into a good mood.
www.myspace.com/theshipinthesky
Eelco Schilder


Martina Gassmann & Frank Wingold "In the backyards of our souls"
Label:
Wonderland ; 9060; 2008
Gassmann & Wingold is a German duo with vocals and guitar only. Gassmann has been singing in several bands varying in style from blues, gospel to jazz and rock. Wingold teaches jazz guitar in both Germany and Holland, won several jazz prices including on the famous North Sea jazz festival and has been playing with countless musicians. This In the backyards of our souls is the latest result of the collaboration between these two musicians and personalities. They co-wrote most of the songs, the result is an intense and personal album. Wingold shows his quality as a great guitarists with unexpected rhythms and melodies. While Gassmann sings direct from her soul. Her voice is not an easy one, when she sings, she is there. Impossible not to listen, her style almost feels like a direct confrontation with somebody who knows what she wants. One of the best examples is Broken this over eight minutes long track is a beautiful piece of acoustic, almost bit dreamy-psych folk. Listen how Wingold slowly builds a musical structure at the background while Wingold deludes you with her singing. Unbelievable that such a song is followed by the down to earth, straight forward song Paint your world. Well done, but not as existing as Broken. These two songs show the many sides of this album. Sometimes easy going jazz / blues influenced songs, but on other moments heartbreaking songs with a touch of darkness. An intriguing album by two fine musicians with a personal style.
www.gassmann-wingold.de
Eelco Schilder


6 australes "Eclips"
Label:
Oriente musik; RIEN CD 68; 2008
6 Australes is a Berlin band with Argentinean roots. The six musicians find them selves in their passion for tango music. On Eclips eleven compositions by singer Sergio Gobi, all composed in the tango tradition. Gobi has a warm voice and although a bit mumbling at moments, he brings his own composition in a sensual and convincing way. He is backed by five really nice musicians who manage to capture the warm atmosphere of the tango. They choose a free approach, so don’t expect traditional tango but nice acoustic music influenced by this style. Sometimes, especially in the slower ballad type of songs, there is just a hint of Flamenco sounding through the music. The 6 Australes shows on this CD to have their own vision on Tango music. The result is a warm, well played album made with passion.
www.6australes.de
Eelco Schilder


Grant Peeples "It’s later than you think"
Label: Own label; 2008
Grant Peeples is a US singer-songwriter who fell in love with music at the age of fifteen and never could stop the music inside him ever since. He picked up the guitar, studied songs he liked and wrote his own ones. He owned a nightclub where live music was played by many known and unknown artists. It was also a great place for his own singer-songwriting. When you read his bio, it’s almost as if he has been shy to show his music to a wider audience than family and friends. Unbelievable if you hear his latest CD It’s later than you think which has a pure kind of beauty. Grant Peeples (I have to admit that he is totally new for me) is often called a bluesman, but it’s not a title that comes to my mind while hearing his music. Sure I hear some blues influences, but also some country, alternative rock and folk influences. He shows sadness, fight spirit, humour and most of all a big talent as a singer-songwriter. I like his deep voice, it has a kind of resignation that is not often heard. Grant Peeples believes what he sings, it are personal stories written by a man who goes his own way. Maybe a bit stubborn, but sensitive, maybe a bit rough at first sight, but tender when are patient enough to give it the time his music needs. It’s later than you think is such an album that totally unexpected conquered a piece of my heart.
www.grantpeeples.com
Eelco Schilder


Gipsy.cz "Reprezent"
Label:
Indies; MAM430-2; 2008
YES! Is the first thing that came to mind when hearing this album by the Czech band Gipsy.cz. Finally a group that takes the Gypsy music to another level. In this time of balkanbeats, Gypsy-disco and so on, I got a bit too much Balkan/gypsy beats. But this Reprezent CD takes it out of the world of endless remixing and presents a real modern approach of this pure and versatile style. Gipsy.cz mixes pop, hip-hop, rap with Romany sounds. The result is a fresh sounding album with MTV-roots music of the best kind. Most lyrics and music is written by Radoslav ‘Gipsy’ Banga, who also is the bands rapper. I like the way he manages to have his composition sounding real 21th century but on the other hand constantly keeps the spirit of his Gypsy roots. He isn’t scared to tell his, sometimes confrontational, story about the life of a young Romany guy, the black and the sunny sides of his daily adventures. Gipsy.cz is for the Romany music, what Manau did for the French music. Some hate it, but a big (young) audience will be able to identify with this great music.
www.gipsy.cz
Eelco Schilder


Terne čhave "More, love!"
Label:
Indies; MAM426-2; 2008
Terne čhave was ones one of the best known Czech gypsy bands but now a days they are a bit lesser known band, but also a more international cross-culture orientated group. More, love! is their third album, a real party CD. Thirteen studio tracks, one remix and a video show a band with Gypsy and rock influences. Not very subtle music, just a lot of energy, dancing beats and fun. I think Terne čhave is a band that can build a great party and their live concerts must be a real experience. But at home, just me and the cd-player….it all sounds a bit to messy and sometimes even a bit uncontrolled. On the other hand sometimes the band surprises me with some great sounds from the many sides of Roma music. Highly recommended as a souvenir to all those who were at their concerts.
www.ternechave.net
Eelco Schilder


Plöckinger "Trial & error"
Label:
Leiselaut; LLCD 1-011; 2008
Othmar Plöckinger is a Austrian singer/guitarist and German/history/mathematic teacher. In 2005 his first single was released and since 2006 he has been working on the Trial & error project. Together with sixteen guest musicians Plöckfinger recorded a intimate, fragile CD which focuses on lyrics from the 19th century from writers such as Christina Rossetti, Henry Longfellow, Lord Byron and others. Half of the songs are written by the artist himself. The CD starts with Requiem a song with Celtic influences. Here Plöckfinger shows to fit perfectly into the “so called” dark-new folk movement. Introvert vocals, nice flutes, guitar and soft female vocals at the back. A wonderful song. Another spring is in the same vein, great recorders in this one. Crazy enough has a light touch of dreamy-blues, while Song (when I’m dead) is back to the dark-folk again with a good mystical atmosphere, great Rossetti lyrics as well. It continues like this, listen to the nice spacy The tide rises, the tide falls one of the best songs on this album. Strangely enough one song Coming into this city, somehow doesn’t fit on this album. It has a different sound, as if it was recorded in another studio or the vocals were mixed differently. Not that it’s bad, far from that, but this song break the beautiful mood this album brings me in. Trial & error is a fantastic debut album by a singer/songwriter who sounds new and familiar at the same time. It’s timeless music.
www.myspace.com/ploeckinger
Eelco Schilder


Mike Cullison "Blue collar tired"
Label: Own label; 2007
Blue collar tired is the second CD by USA singer songwriter Mike Cullison. He grew up in Atlanta hearing country western and Honky tonk. He claimed to be influenced by Hank Williams, Dylan, Beatles and many great storytellers, as he put it on his webpage. He has been on a European tour and collaborated with a few known musicians including Don Goodman. His style is straight on country-rock, a bit mainstream to my opinion. Cullison has a friendly way of singing and does remind me of the old country singers. His rock sound taste is more in the seventies country rock vein than in the 21st century style. Blue collar tired is a solid album with easy going music fitting perfectly into the many country rock albums from past, present and (probably also) future.
www.mikecullison.com
Eelco Schilder


Pistol Pete & the Dixieland Highgrass Band "Songs for Homefolk"
Label:
Flowfish; FF0010; 2008
Pistol Pete & the Dixieland highgrass band is a German band founded in 2004. a group of musicians found each other in their love for groups/singers such as Dylan, Cash and the Byrds. Now four years later the bands debut album Songs for homefolk is released. The lead vocals of Pistol Pete play a central role, backed by musicians on banjo, washboard, dobro, mandolin and so on. The band plays acoustic Dixieland/honky-tonk/blues kind of style. Their trademarks are simple compositions without any finery. Pistol Pete has a nice, easy going voice. I do miss a bit of depth in his voice that often is so typical for this style of music. Nice are the parts were he sings harmonies with female vocalist Judith. To my personal opinion the production of this album could be better. The interplay is a bit messy and not always in full balance. I find this a debut album with some good ideas, nice music but not more than that. It sounds a bit like a band searching for the right sound, maybe a bit torn between their own ideas and the music they love and like to play. But that’s only a feeling I have.
www.myspace.com/pistolpetethedixielandhighgrassband
Eelco Schilder


Carl Carlton & the Songdogs "Songs for the lost and brave"
Label:
Ferryhouse ; 420182; 2008
Carl Carlton is a known name in the (Dutch/German) history of music. He has been part of legendary bands such as Long tall Ernie and the shakers, Herman Brood, Nina Hagen, Peter Maffay and many others. This is his latest solo work called Songs for the lost and brave which he recorded with a fabulous band and ditto guest musicians. His band includes Moses Mo (Mothers Finest), Drummer Zack Alford (Springsteen, Bowie, Khaled etc) and as guests you will hear Tracy Bonham, Levon Helm and Eric Burdon amongst others. Besides original material the album includes For what it’s worth the famous Stephan Stills song High in a sweet release with lyrics by Eric Burdon. Songs for the lost and the brave is a nice rock album, well produced, well played and with a good solid sound. Not really a folk-related album (except for the Tracy Bonham appearance) more interesting for those who like good old rock with a light bluesy touch.
www.carlcarlton.com
Eelco Schilder


Gandalf and friends "Live in Vienna"
Label:
Prudence; 398.6748.2; 2008
This is the first live album by Austrian guitarist/keyboard and sitar player. He recorded five studio albums, often with influences from many parts of the world. His music is always a bit dreamy, almost ethereal music. On this live album he is backed by a huge group of musicians including Steve Hackett on electric guitar. I have to admit that it’s not my type of music. I find it often too much the same sound and I’m not a big lover of the ethereal style of music. But I have to say that on this live recordings Gandalf and friends sound stronger and spicier than ever before. Some nice roaring violin parts in for example The keeper of the old forest, Indian influences (esp. in some percussion parts) which I like a lot. But on the other hand keyboard sounds, long solo’s etc which are a bit too much for me. Nevertheless this album shows a master musician, the album is well produced and comes with a bonus DVD so… for all those who have a better taste in music than me, and like this style of music, it’s a must!
www.gandalf.at
Eelco Schilder


Dotschy Reinhardt "Suni"
Label:
Galileo; GMC030; 2008
Dotschy Reinhardt, a singer from the world famous Reinhardt clan. Dotschy grew up in Germany and was, no surprise, surrounded by music from a very young age. She claims to be an autodidact and she dedicated her life to singing. On Suni she sings easy going jazz in a nice old fashioned style. Most songs are original but she also recorded a Django composition, the Barbieri/Previn song Last tango in Paris and a few other cover songs. On a few occasions the nice gypsy swing influences the sound lightly, but most of all this album is just a warm and moody jazz record.
www.dotschy.com
Eelco Schilder


Eliana Burki "Heartbeat"
Label:
Suonix; 070101 0102; 2008
Eliana Burki is a young musician who plays the Alphorn. Her star has been rising and with her latest album Heartbeat she mixes jazz, funk, rock and dance into a hyper-modern Alphorn CD. The instrument has this beautiful deep sound and it’s terribly difficult to use it as a solo instrument in such a way that it sounds refreshing and up to date. Burki shows on this album that the Alphorn fits into modern music without any problems. But somehow the final product is a bit disappointing to my taste. Her choice of music is too much middle of the hit-potential-road and all this electronics, beats etc don’t allow the alphorn to show it’s full potential. In a few tracks she seems to take it a bit easier like in Matterhorn and suddenly the true beauty of the instrument and the real quality of Burki shows. This Heartbeat is a pop album in which an Alphorn accidentally got lost. To my opinion a missed chance, but maybe many others, much younger than me, love this music and get interested in the instrument somehow.
www.elianaburki.ch
Eelco Schilder


MadrugaFlamenca "Agua"
Label: Own label; 2008
MadrugaFlamenca is a German group founded in 2000 in Freiburg. Their goal is to develop a new concept in flamenco music. Agua is their latest CD and the third studio album by the band. The guitar, flute, percussion and (mostly male) vocals create a light kind of flamenco orientated music. Especially the sound of the flute is characteristic for their music which has a slight jazzy sound. Although the lead singer has a nice voice, I prefer a more powerful or voice with more age-wear for this type of music. The arrangements the band chooses to play are full of nice ideas but somehow I get the feeling that they approach the music too carefully. I hear nice melodies, technically spoken gifted musicians, but I don’t feel the passion, the fire from deep within which often makes Flamenco music so special. Personally after hearing this album a few times, I don’t hear what their new concept is. All I hear is a bunch of fine musicians who make nice and lovely Flamenco orientated music and there is nothing wrong with that, but their promo sheet raised other expectations.
www.madruga-flamenca.de
Eelco Schilder


Abraxas "Ruina Montium"
Label:
Legados; DCL 116-2; 2005
Already four years old, this CD by Abraxas but recently offered for review so here we go. The band has a Spanish webpage so I can't write much more about the band than that it was founded in 1998 and this is their first and only CD. Six musicians on several string instruments, accordion, percussion, gaita, saxophone and many other instruments. The music sound Spanish-Celtic orientated and, except for two traditional tunes, are all original. Hearing the music, the style of playing and composing I would guess this is music from Asturia, but it might be from Galicia or the Basque country as well. The band plays frivolous dance music. Sometimes acoustic, often with a light rock sound. The combination of instruments are sometimes surprising, but the arrangements are a bit messy now and then. A nice, almost sunny album with uncomplicated music for people who are in a good mood or who like to get into a good mood.
www.abraxasmusic.tk
Eelco Schilder


Whapweasel "Colour"
Label: Own label; 2008
Ten years after the debut album the English Ceilidh-rock formation Whapweasel throws a new release into the world of Ceilidh dancing. The bands previous cd's have been named in yearlists of much better magazines than this one. They even won the Radio 2 folkaward for being the best dance band! This new CD contains eleven original track composed by the band. Almost one hour of great instrumental folkrock of high quality. The leading instrument is the melodeon backed by many and mostly non-acoustic instruments such as saxophone, electric guitars, drums, keyboards and trombone. I find it a typical English folkrock album with musicians who are deeply rooted in the English (folkrock) music culture and know how to make their instruments swing. The album shows a group of musicians who love what they are doing, do it on the highest level and often surprise with some ska rhytms, a cheerful polka type of song, groovy brass or a more Celtic orientated tune. This is such an uncomplicated CD that it really makes my day. When a band sounds like this on a CD, it must be a real party to see them live on stage. Are you into Ceilidh-rock? Do yourself a favour and get this album. But most likely you already bought it the first day after the release date of the album.
www.whapweasel.com
Eelco Schilder


Johan Meijer "Tilsit"
Label:
Nederossi ; NOP070102; 2007
Johan Meijer is a Dutch singer who, together with a big bunch of musicians, has the dream to record and produce in the next few years a series of CD’s with Dutch/German translations of European folk and singer-songwriter music. This Tilsit with the subtitle Europeana is probably the best example of this dream. Together with Sergey Shurakov & Mikhail Ivanov (Vermicelli orchestra), Loek Schrievers & Henk Wanders (Palio-Parea) and a few great guest musicians (Jos Koning, Eugene Flören amongst others) Meijer plays Dutch translations by artists such as Attila Joszef, Wolf Biermann, Boulat Okoudjava and Vyssotski. The CD opens with a fabulous accordion intro followed by the Gerhard Gundermann song Gras. A nice song with memories about how it was when father was still alive. Rejtelmek from the Hungarian poet Attila and with music by Sebö Ferenc is a beautiful, bit dark, love poem. Both songs show that Meijer is a good singer and he is surrounded by top musicians. He approaches the songs in a careful way which works well in these first two songs or in a song like De fluit where he shows to be a real storyteller in a frivolous song. But he misses the power, the deep emotion to sing a song like De wedstrijd by Bram Vermeulen. This song is such a cry from a young boy to get his fathers attention, but Meijer sings it more as an observer than from the boy’s point of view. In Biermans song En toen wij bij de oever kwamen he does it much better. It’s like this song fit’s him perfectly. Tilsit is a beautiful CD from a good singer and a ditto group of musicians. I love the fact that Meijer sings in an understandable way, he focuses on the stories behind the songs, he wants to tell their story and did it in a convincing way.
www.nederossi.nl
Eelco Schilder


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