FolkWorld Issue 39 07/2009
Label:
Own label; BMCD005421; 2009
www.seamusbegleyandjimmurray.ie
Walkin' T:-)M
Label:
Yukka Records; YRCD04; 2009
www.uiscedwr.com
Walkin' T:-)M
Label:
DAT; 2007
The line-up includes Svein Schultz (bass, programming), Herman Rundberg (vocals, programming, percussions), Stein Austrud (keyboards, vocals), Karl Oluf Wennerberg (drums, percussions) and Björn Charles Dreyer (guitars, vocals). Additional guest appearances on bass, percussions, keyboards and flutes complete the stirring sound.
Sofia has written three songs in English, translated by herself in Sámi; all the other songs are in the original language with English translation by Jannok, Marja Skum or Katja Anttonen. Starting off with the pulsating bass and Sofia’s crystal clear singing “Boade mu mielde” (come with me) invites us to join the hypnotising electro-pop that seems to be rooted to the wide and frosty plains of the north. Following up we can hear Sofia’s romantic ballads like “Manu Manna” (child of the moon), melancholic memories of her youth like on “Gahkkor” (the black-throated diver) as well as the terrific groove of Buljo’s “Mu moras” (my sorrow), which reminds me of Capercaillie’s less traditional period of the late nineties. Jannok and Buljo co-wrote the intoxicating rhythmic “Bahkka” (heat) followed by the beautiful a Capella performance on “Nastecalbmi” (star eye). Finally Sofia sings another co-composition with Buljo, ”Ija Salas” (in the arms of night). Smooth electric sounds, terrific rhythms and beautiful choir singing literary strokes your tympanum before, after a short break, Sofia performs some spellbinding a Capella Sámi singing.
Jannok is a beautiful young woman with an angelic voice and a brilliant songwriter. Together with her band and a few guests Jannock has recorded an album full of the most beautiful harmonies, great rhythms and hauntingly beautiful singing. I can’t wait to hear her new album
(FW38).
www.sofiajannok.com
Adolf 'gorhand' Goriup
Label:
Red Sky Records; 2005
His latest album “The Winding Stair” is named after the famous second hand bookshop in Dublin which unfortunately closed its door when the CD was released. The album features five compositions by Coppin, two traditional Irish songs and six cover versions.
The CD starts with “Reunion Hill”, a beautiful song by the American songwriter Richard Shindell. John Neilson on accordion, Phil Beer (Show of Hands) on violin and Mike Silver on guitar and backing vocals accompany Coppin’s wonderful singing. Silver also wrote the words for two songs. One of them, the rhythmic “Survival” is one of the highlights and features a brilliant acoustic guitar solo by Mick Dolan. The title track, written by Coppin, is a melancholic ballad to honour Kevin Conolly’s unforgettable bookshop and is brought forward by Coppin on guitar and Paul Burgess on recorder. Another melancholic song is the Irish traditional “Lakes of Coolfin”; Coppin plays piano and is accompanied by Burgess on recorder again. My favourite is the intoxicating “Susanna Martin” by John Allison and Claudine Languille, a song about the Salem Witch trials of 1692. Neilson on bouzouki, Burgess on violin as well as Silver and Coppin on guitars create a stirring rhythm and the singing is just breathtakingly beautiful. Add Scotland singer Karine Polwart’s tender song “The Sun’s coming over the Hill”, Gloucestershire based Martin Graebe’s ballad “From Severn by the Somme” and Coppin’s “The Fire kindled”, a poet by Gloucestershire born Ivor Gurney brought to music, and you’ll get a brilliant set-list for your living-room gig.
Johnny Coppin has released a hauntingly beautiful collection of songs from the British Isles to the New World. His singing is awe-inspiring and his song writing amazing, together with a bunch of gifted musicians he has recorded a brilliant CD.
www.johnnycoppin.co.uk
Adolf 'gorhand' Goriup
Label:
White Crow Records; 2008
Label:
White Crow Records; 2008
Zig Zeitler is an excellent musician well known in the Blues and World music scene, for example with the Zydeco Cajun Band. It might be due to his influence that O’Rourke who usually makes Irish music recorded an Americana album, „The Usual Suspects“.
Siusan has a wonderful rich alto voice and plays guitar and Zig accompanies her on mandolin, banjo, bouzouki and harmonica. On a few selected tracks of the Americana album Jeff Schrems adds his upright bass.
But first about the Irish album, which offers six traditional songs and one tune, three original tracks and two cover versions. The melancholic title track and the stirring rhythmic “Stonewalls“ are brilliant samples of O’Rourke’s song writing. She sings the two cover versions a Capella; the tender „Hard Times“ has been written by Stephen Foster in the 19th century and the stirring „Lovely Agnes“ comes from Connecticut based songwriter Sally Rogers. These two performances are perfect showcases for O’Rourke’s hauntingly beautiful and perfectly trained singing. She also has an extraordinary feeling for rhythm and harmony. But we can also hear traditional ballads like „Auld Lang Syne“, rhythmic songs like „Fare thee well“ or the intoxicating instrumental track „Devil’s Dream“.
„Immigrant Heart“ is a great album offering traditional as well as modern Irish music, clearly bearing O’Rourke’s signature. Nevertheless I even prefer „The Usual Suspects“ which stands out with Zeitler’s more accentuated musical presence. Though he doesn’t upstage O’Rourke at all; far from it! His stirring Americana rhythms incite the singer to give her very best.
He dedicates the magnificent Bluegrass tune „Pasta Western“ to Siusan’s Italian Food loving father Joseph and proves that you can’t slow down a banjo player when he’s on the groove. In addition to Zeitler’s instrumental the duo recorded two traditional songs and nine self-crafted O’Rourke tracks. „One Meatball“ sang father Joseph to his little daughter Siusan as a lullaby; Siusan and Zig interpret the traditional song as a jazzy Blues track with harmonica, mandolin and guitar. „Softly and tenderly“ is a Gospel song, starting off as a soft ballad and later transforming by brilliant rhythm changes to an intoxicating spiritual. Faith is for Siusan, who recently finished her chemical treatment, an important theme. „Another Day“ she sings gratefully and 50 % of the income of the beautiful and thought provoking single goes to other survivors of cancer. „Everything you need“ is a catchy Country Blues, which urges us to frugality and „Purgatory Blues“ stands out with perfect playing together of guitar, upright bass and mandolin as well as with lyrical and passionate Blues singing. In „Up on Saginaw Bay“ Siusan sings about life in her home area where winter lasts eleven months.
The duo O’Rourke/Zeitler have released two albums that safeguard their leading position in Irish music and puts them in the limelight of the Americana scene.
www.myspace.com/zigandsiusan
Adolf 'gorhand' Goriup
Label:
March Hare Publishing; 2007
The CD starts with “The Singer” and Hart’s wonderful a Capella singing; later the Breton Baka Beyond fiddler Paddy Le Mercier and Glasgow Fiddler and harpist Fiona Fiddler join in to create a hypnotic performance. Two Baka members join in when Su sings the Lindisfarne song “United State of Mind”. Singer Eleanor Churchlow and African kongoma player Ayodele Scott accompany Su on guitar and Martin on mandolin. African rhythms are followed by the Caribbean groove of “Zombie Jamboree”, Leon Hunt’s terrific banjo playing and Stevie Holder on double bass. A romantic song by Captain Beefheart with Mercier on violin leads us back to Europe. Tim Edey on accordion and Ed Boyd on guitar create the mesmerizing sound of “Power of Prayer”, a sad song about the Vietnam boat people by Ged Beasley. Another Flook member, Brian Finnegan, plays the flute on the hauntingly beautiful Silly Wizard song “The Lament of the Fisherman's Wife”. Reggae rhythms (Listen to me), Calypso music by The Mighty Terror (TV Calypso) and Hart’s rhythmic title track, recorded live with some Baka friends to celebrate Nelson Mandela’s release complete the musical journey around the world.
The album is an outstanding collection of songs from all over the world and from different periods of time. Hart is a great singer and the musicians as well as the songs are all first class. It’s a different approach to world music than that of the Afro Celt Sound System, but certainly not a less intoxicating sound.
www.myspace.com/singerpainter
Adolf 'gorhand' Goriup
Label:
Matty Grooves Records; 2009
“Fame and Glory” is a compilation from Alan Simon’s song trilogy “Excalibur” and two other concept albums about the Arthurian legend. From the first album “Excalibur, la légende des Celtes” to the latest release “Anne de Bretagne” the Breton composer Alan Simon has worked with Fairport Convention and some of today’s greatest musicians. The ten songs and five instrumental tracks have been recorded between 1998 and 2008 in different studios or Live all over Europe.
From the initial instrumental “Castle Rock” with Dave Mattacks on drums to the final song “The Soldier”, a solo performance by Chris Leslie on mandolin, the listener dives deep into Simon’s evocation of Celtic mythology. Leslie who also plays bouzouki and violin and Simon Nicol (guitars) sing “Pilgrims” together and Martin Barre (Jethro Tull) adds a beautiful guitar solo. Gerry Conway on percussions and Dave Pegg on bass create the intoxicating groove of “Celtic Dream”, another brilliant instrumental track recorded Live; Brian Finnegan on whistle, Alan Simon on flute and Ric Sanders on violin play the hauntingly beautiful harmonies. British folk singer Jacqui McShee enchants with her brilliant singing on “Morgane”, accompanied amongst others by fiddle player Didier Lockwood, Dan Ar Braz on guitar and Simon on flute, and “Sacrifice”, the latter featuring Andreas Vollenweider’s glamorous harp playing. John Helliwell (Supertramp) on saxophone and clarinet as well as the members of Flook are playing together with the band on the instrumental “Dragon Breath”, another highlight. John Wetton (King Crimson) sings the melancholic rock ballad “Lugh” featuring solos by Helliwell on clarinet and Barre on guitar. The title track is a hush and romantic song recorded Live by Nicol, Leslie and Lockwood and “Marie la Cordelière” a rhythmic song about a disastrous sea fight, sung by James Wood.
Simon’s music is a perfect showcase for these brilliant musicians headed by one of the most remarkable bands of the folk-rock scene. Unlike some other music veterans Fairport Convention manage to combine their own style with the innovative compositions of the visionary Breton composer. Without going astray from their musical roots they reinvent themselves and create a spell binding new sound.
www.fairportconvention.com
Adolf 'gorhand' Goriup
Label:
Greentrax Recordings; 2009
This year they release their third album “Lost in this Song” with five instrumental sets, a traditional song and four cover versions, again produced by Phil Cunningham. Cunningham also adds his fine whistle playing and together with Ross Hamilton on bass and electric guitar and a three piece string section with Marie Campbell (viola), Robert McFall (violin) and Sua Lee (cello) they support the four charming ladies as guest musicians.
The CD starts with the romantic title track written by the Canadian songwriter Eric Angus Whyte. Kirsty has a crystal clear voice that seems to float over the musical background and the beautiful backing vocals like a butterfly. Mairi adds her lovely piano playing, Kirsty the accordion and Fiona plays the acoustic guitar. Vivien Scotson’s “This one’s on you” and Gerry O’Beirne’s “Western Highway” are beautiful samples of Scottish respectively Irish song writing brilliantly brought forward by the band. Although Kirsty’s singing is gorgeous and the songs well chosen I even prefer the instrumental tracks.
Fiona is a brilliant fiddler and wrote several of the tunes like the melancholic slow air “Violets” or the stunning “Flipperfoot the Mugger”. The instrumental set “Lofty’s” is a perfect showcase for Fiona’s fiddling and Kirsty’s accordion playing backed by the intoxicating rhythm of Amy and Ross. “Zander the Salamander” includes two stirring reels by Donald Shaw (Capercaillie) including the famous “Rob Roy Reel” and is my favourite instrumental set. The “Beginning Set”, a pure Scottish set with tunes by Sandy Brechin, Phil Cunningham and Allan MacDonald, stands out with funky rhythms by Amy, Hamilton’s groovy bass and Kirsty’s virtuoso accordion playing.
The final traditional song “The Water is wide” is a melancholic song featuring Cunningham on whistle and the string section. Thus ends an album full of the most beautiful harmonies, brilliant singing and inspired instrumental sets. Have a listen, I’m sure you gonna like it.
www.givewaymusic.com
Adolf 'gorhand' Goriup
Label:
Red Earth Records; 2009
Soothsayers - A group of musicians playing a fusion of nu Afro beat and dub; a cultural collision created by movement of people; music with vision and a message; music for all people from all cultures and nations.
You can read when you go to the homepage of the Soothsayers, a bunch of brilliant musicians from Brixton. There’re Idris Rahman (tenor sax, vocals), Robin Hopcraft (trumpet, flugel, vocals), Zoe Rahman ((Keyboards), Phil Dawson and Derek Johnson (guitars), Kodjovi Kush (bass), Patrick Illingworth (drums), Flink and Satin Singh (percussion), Julia Biel and Lucky Ranku (vocals). Together with exquisite guest singers and musicians they have recorded their new album “One more Reason”, a mix of 14 excellent Raga, Reggae, Dub and Afro Beat songs and tunes.
A short instrumental Dub intro leads us to the first rhythmic Raga song with great saxophone, trumpet and piano sounds, “Music”. And that’s what you’re gonna hear if you listen to the CD. Rahman and Hopcraft keep playing terrific solos and the perfect rhythms underlay their beautiful voices. Jamaican legend Johnny Clarke sings “Bad Boys” and five excellent voices distinguish “Slow Down”; Julia, Idris, Robin, Adesose Wallace and Mellow Baku go for a incredibly jazzy Raga. Michael Prophet sings the soulful ballad “Tears of Sorrow” and “Irie” is a perfect showcase for Mellow Baku’s breathtaking voice; Jazz meets Wica chanting to African Beats. Reggae sound by Bob Skeng and Djina Jones like on “Mama said” is followed by “River Effra”, an instrumental bluesy Raga Beat, and Linval Johnson’s chant “History”, accompanied by terrific African beats. And finally the CD ends with two more extraordinary jazzy Dub tunes.
For me this is one of the best Reggae/Raga albums I’ve heard for a while. You will hear tremendous beats, beautiful singing and jazzy sounds and you will relax and slow down.
www.soothsayers.net
Adolf 'gorhand' Goriup
Label:
North C Records; 2009
Currie sings with a hauntingly beautiful whispery voice about love, peace and daring acts as well as about daily troubles, loss and the horror of war; starting off with “Rain”, a tender and thoughtful ballad about the Iraq war with Lange’s fine piano playing. “Don’t run with Scissors” she demands the listener and with a twinkle in the eye and the awesome sound of fiddle, Irish flute, and acoustic guitar she finally admits to be a mocking bird with a sensational voice. She’s pondering about loneliness and sings “Hello Silence”, accompanied by the soft bass and guitar playing, wonderful cello and fiddle harmonies and rhythmic percussion sound. Her timbre and her technique sometimes remind me of Karan Casey, the great Irish singer; especially when she sings about a great loss on “After”, a pretty Irish tune. “Kaleidoscope” is a playful song about being a singer/songwriter with great playing together of cello and guitar and “Hot for a House” a bluesy, sexy and humorous song about a couple’s life. Another favourite is “Rolling Thunder”, a dramatic anti-war song with fine percussion and subtle electric guitar work.
The new album is a terrific collection of beautiful self-crafted songs of the now again in Maine based singer/songwriter with the lovely voice. Beautiful arrangements by Lange and excellent musicianship make her music a real gem.
www.carolyncurrie.com
Adolf 'gorhand' Goriup
Label:
Own label; 2008
It starts off with Michael on Irish flute and the tender song “Faces of Friends”. Deirdre has a rather low pitched voice and sings mostly lyrical traditional ballads, perfectly accompanied by guitar, piano and bass with excellent interludes on accordion, flutes, whistles or fiddle. The simple but perfect arrangements are the hallmark of Scanlan’s music, so the Irish song “Deoraiocht” stands out with soft accompaniment on accordion, guitar and piano while “The Banks of Feale” is a perfect showcase for McGoldrick’s gifted playing. “The Legend” is brought forward by Scanlan with dramatic singing and “The Scholar” is the only really rhythmic song with inspired percussion work and Deirdre’s great singing. Soprano saxophone and piano play the introduction to the second Irish song “Sean o duibhir a ghleanna”, a hauntingly beautiful melancholic ballad.
The album is a beautiful collection of songs and ballads, brought forward by some of Ireland’s and England’s most gifted musicians and one of Ireland’s best singers. I can recommend it to all who love Irish songs with authentic arrangements and interpretation.
www.deirdrescanlanmusic.com
Adolf 'gorhand' Goriup
Label:
Little Secret/Vitamin Records; 2009
With her warm and beautiful voice Thorne whispers “As you find it”, a soft ballad featuring Abrahams on keys. Beautiful guitar picking, stunning bass lines and cool rhythms accompany her wonderful singing. “Alice”, a stirring Rock ballad, stands out with heavy guitar licks by Magnusson, great drum playing and Thorne’s hypnotising singing. Then again Thorne sings a tender ballad accompanied by three guitars and piano, “Northern Town”. “Under the Night” combines elements of rock music with jazzy and bluesy influences, certainly one of the highlights. Another one is “Please don’t let’s begin”, a ballad with great finger picking and jazzy bass lines. “The basic Rules” is a rhythmic song with Hunter on keys and the final melancholic “Open Sky” is a hauntingly beautiful solo performance.
Lucie Thorne’s 8th album is a terrific sample of Indie-Folk-Rock featuring excellent musicians. She has a breathtaking voice and her fine guitar playing is a feast for the ears.
www.luciethorne.com
Adolf 'gorhand' Goriup
Label: Hobemian Records; HB013; 2008; 54 min
www.stevejames.com
Gabe McCaslin
Label: Rootsy; 2008; 40 min
www.myspace.com/littlegreenswe
Gabe McCaslin
Label: Own label; 2009; 60 min
www.ballycotton.at
Gabe McCaslin
Label: Own label: DM3704; 2008; 35 min
www.randygranger.net
Gabe McCaslin
Label: Own label: QF0108; 2008; 42 min
www.trinitude.ca
Gabe McCaslin
Label: Own label; RC2006; 2008
Label: Own label; RC2008; 2008
In contrast to “Rural and Cosmic Bluegrass” (2006), Spring Creek’s “Lonesome Way To Go” (2008) keeps slightly more to the traditional sound of bluegrass. Again, all four bandmembers have written tasteful songs and arrangements for the album, and don’t fail to convince alongside the old standbys. Another impeccable bluegrass bonanza from Spring Creek.
www.springcreekbluegrassband.com
Gabe McCaslin
Label:
Oriente; RIEN CD 69; 2008
The CD starts powerfully with the Carpathian drum, the following songs are in a quieter fashion with cimbalom and fiddle. What I like most, is the Hasidic musar nign, sung by special guest Michael Alpert together with the thirteen-year-old son of the singer and fiddler of the band with its typical chorus. The booklet contains nice pictures of the band.
www.dinayekapelye.com
Christian Zastrow
Diskreetse Mango Trio "Mehed mis te mind meelitate" (Single):
Ancient Estonian runo song "Guys, Why Are You Flattering Me" by a band from Tallinn (-> FW#34).
Both in the D.M. Trio's characteristic 1970's rock music style and as 'death-beat' remix.
Dan Milner "Irish Pirate Ballads and Other Songs of the Sea" (Smithsonian Folkways, SFW40553, 2009):
Dan Milner (-> FW#20), Irish-American singer, scholar
and member of The New York Packet, the official maritime song group of New York City's South Street Seaport Museum,
presents Irish sea songs. He assembled an impressive crew to undertake the voyage from the west coast of clare to shores of Amerikay,
including Joanie Madden (-> FW#10),
Tim Collins (FW#31),
Brian Conway (FW#37),
Mick Moloney (FW#32),
and Susan McKeown (FW#29).
V/A "The Navvy's Wife" (WildGoose, WGS3601CD, 2008):
Album acompanying the folk opera by Mick Ryan, celebrating the men and women who built Britain's canals, railways and motorways.
The story is carefully researched, the songs work best in the context of the musical instead standing for themselves.
While mostly original tunes you might notice some traditional borrowings (e.g. "I'll Tell Me Ma").
V/A "Fairy World V Part. 1":
Compilation of the French Prikosnovenie label (->
FW#35),
featuring Faroese Valravn (-> FW#39),
Bulgarian Irfan (FW#37),
German Sava (FW#38),
and 10 other tracks from all over Europe.
The weird, beautiful world of fantasy folk for Tolkien fans.
V/A "This is Navigator Records":
Compilation of the British Navigator label, featuring
Lau (-> FW#38),
Bellowhead (FW#38),
Heidi Talbot (FW#35),
John McCusker (FW#26),
Faustus (FW#28),
Spiers and Boden (FW#36),
Aidan O'Rourke (FW#37),
Kris Drever (FW#33),
and others. Folk, trad, songwriting from the British Isles.
A very recommended record label.
www.diskreetsemangotrio.ee
www.myspace.com/geomusicology,
www.folkways.si.edu
www.thenavvyswife.co.uk,
www.wildgoose.co.uk
www.prikosnovenie.com
www.navigatorrecords.co.uk
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© The Mollis - Editors of FolkWorld; Published 07/2009
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