Issue 20 12/2001

FolkWorld CD Reviews

Dog

Cian "The rolling Wave"
Label: Cianmusic; 2001; Playing time: 50.08 min
This is the second album of Cian, a young band from Ireland. Their debut, "Three shouts from a hill" I had praised in my FolkWorld review as a "masterpiece of Irish traditional music" and a "must for every lover of Irish traditional music". Can their follow-up keep up to the high standards set with Cian's debut?
Musically, Cian has the same drive and quality as on their debut, although bodhran player Damien Quinn's departure from the band leaves a bit of a gap, their guest percussionist can not really fill this on the album. Yet, Tim Murray on guitar, Brian Duke on flute and Padraig Rynne on concertina are doing quite a good job. A major difference to Cian's debut is that this time they have invited guest singer Margaret Moloney for four songs, while on the debut Tim Murray himself contributed two songs. I must admit, I preferred Tim Murray's songs; especially as Margaret's choice of songs is not too successful - especially the song "Greensleeves" was really not necessary. Another criticism from my side is the addition of a guest keyboard player in nearly all numbers; I am sure that many Irish Trad fans will be rather horrified by this.
Sorry lads but for me the second album can not keep up what you have reached on your debut. Yet the talent is definitely there and is tremendously high.
E-mail Cian cianmusic@eircom.net
Michael Moll


Croft No. Five "Attention All Personnel"
Label: Footstampin' Records (Tartan Tapes); ; 2001; Playing time: 67.32 min
Croft No. Five is a wonderful proof that the Scottish scene is still alive and kicking: A new exciting young band, featuring a line-up of mostly internationally unknown artists, full of innovation and power. In their music they combine traditional Scottish folk music ideas with modern influences, creating a new kind of folky funky dance music.
Folk instruments and folk melodies stand clearly in the centre of Croft No. 5: The fiddle of Adam Sutherland, Misha Somerville's whistle and John Somerville's accordeon are the backbone of the music. The modern bits come from a funky bass played by Sonhairle MacDonald, Guitarist Barry (Spad) Reid and the talented percussionist and drummer Paul Jennings (also drumming with the Old Blind Dogs). There is also a bit of sampling on this album. The quality of this band is that they are keeping the folk instruments in their sounds just as they are, and the groovy dance music comes only in addition to that, woven around it. Most of the tunes are written by band members, yet most of the tunes are steeped in Scottish traditional music.
This is a wonderful blend of folk and modern music, yet Croft No. 5 are still on their way to develop their very own individual style. One of the most promising and exciting new bands that has come out of Scotland for ages.
Contact Croft No. 5 via marticoull@aol.com
Michael Moll


Lisa Ekdahl "sings Salvadore Poe"
Label: BMG/RCA Victor; 74321 796812; 2001; Playing time: 51.22 min
Lisa Ekdahl is in her home country Sweden well known as a Jazz and Pop singer. Since recently she has teamed up with Brazilean Bossa Nova guitarist and composer Salvadore Poe. On the album they are joined by Swedish Jazz musician Magnus Lindgren on flutes, saxes, clarinet etc., by Fredrik Jonsson on acoustic and electric bass and by Jonas Holgersson on Drums and Percussion.
As you might have guessed already, this music cannot exactly be called Folk; probably best filed under Jazz. Still it is enjoyable stuff. Lisa Ekdahl has a light warm, very young voice, singing herself through the English love lyrics of Salvadore Poe. This is light music between Jazz and Bossa Nova, at times going towards easy listening, yet pleasantly arranged and calming. Probably the perfect CD to listen to on a warm summer's evening - and in winter you can look forward to those summer evenings while listening to it...
Lisa Ekdahl's Homepage: http://www.lisaekdahl.net
Michael Moll


Token Women "Elsa"
Label: No Masters; NMCD18; 2001; Playing time: 52.24 min
This is the third album of this superb all-female band based in England, and what a great album it is! The Token Women combine perfectly brass instruments with folk fiddles and percussion, playing traditional and contemporary folk tunes from England, Scotland, France Denmark, America, Shetland.
Token Women exist already since 10 years; their current line up features the four original members Fi Fraser (fiddle, clarinet), Jo Freya (sax, clarinets, whistles), Jackie Allen (fiddles) and Heather Vigor Horsley (Keyboard, flute) plus newer members Alice Kinlock (trombone, tuba, euphonium) and Jo May (percussion). Along to that comes the title star of the album, dog Elsa, although she is only seen on the cover, but not heard on the CD. Even without Elsa it is a great line-up, blowing as much groove into these folk tunes as seldom heard before. This is happy, powerful, grooving, funky exciting New Folk music, music that cheers you up. Full of inventiveness and innovation, full of talent, music from the heart.
Since this album has arrived on my reviewer's table, it has found again and again its way into the CD player, and will do so in future. A highly inspiring CD, one of my definite favourites of this year.
Contact via Georgina Boyes: georgina@nomasters.co.uk
Michael Moll


Fenja Menja "Katten i Saekken"
Label: Go Danish Folk Music Production; GO 0301; 2001; Playing time: 58.29 min
Denmark has not many bands in the folk music genre that are also internationally known. Fenja Menja are one of the bands that have the potential to become well known beyond Denmark's borders. This young band mixes tastefully Nordic folk ideoms with rock and pop and other music styles. The result is exciting Scandinavian New Folk music.
Fenja Menja is first and foremost an instrumental band, with an always present folk instrument in the centre - either violin or flute, both played by Katja Mikkelsen. This is melted with a modern line-up of (often electric) guitar, bass, keyboard and drums. All of these instruments are skilfully played inside the folk ideom - especially the electric guitar gives some exciting inputs. But there is also a fine song side of this band - while often the Danish language seems (at least to non-Danish ears) not like a beautiful singing language, Fenja Menja somehow do not have this problem. Their three songs sound attractive, featuring both male and female vocals; well arranged and enjoayble. Main criticism of this CD is the lack of information - the inner side of the CD booklet features no text at all, and you would not be able to find a listing with the full names of band members. But this is the only thing where Fenja Menja can still considerably improve...
The whole album swings back and forward between more folk and more rock ideoms, creating Fenja Menja's very own music style. A highly successful blend. Definitely recommended to any friend of modern Nordic music.
Band Homepage: www.fenjamenja.dk, band contact: katjapm@post8.tele.dk; label contact: go@folkmusic.dk
Michael Moll


Dremmwel "Glazik"
Label: Own, distribution: Coop Breizh; DREM02; 2001; Playing time: 55.10 min
If it comes to the choice of the ugliest CD cover of this isse, the first choice has to go to Dremmwel and their CD "Glazik": It shows a cow with sun glasses and the Breton lilies (in white on black) as cow pattern; the cow has a neon-coloured flower in its mouth, and the background features an overpowering green and a strong not too pleasant orangy-brown sky. It is just a joy that the music meanwhile is not bad at all!
Fest Noz have enjoyed during the last years a huge popularity in Brittany. On these dance parties, plenty of young and old people dance those typical trancy group dances, often well into the mornings. Plenty of bands focus these days on Breton dance music, and Dremmwel is one of them. This four-piece band features guita, celtic harp, accordeon/binou (Breton bagpipes) and bombarde/piston/veuze. On Glazik, their second CD, the music is dedicated mainly to the region around Quimper, featuring traditional Breton tunes along to a few self composed ones. They have invited for the recording of the CD several guests, with a couple of them at home in Jazz music (clarinet and trumpet/bugle), and this makes the CD interesting. Especially the trumpet gives some welcome spice into this more traditional Fest Noz CD. Another guest on one number is singer Louise Ebrel, all other numbers are instrumental.
This CD is pleasant enough, although just on a few occasions really exciting. Often you can hear that this is music for dancing, becoming a bit boring when just listening. They have been on the right track with experimenting, but they would do well with some more of that. For the cover meanwhile it would do very well with much LESS experimenting...
Band Homepage: perso.wanadoo.fr/hanternoz/dremmwel/, contact: dominique.leguichaoua@wanadoo.fr
Michael Moll


Máire Ní Chathasaigh & Chris Newman "Dialogues: agallaimh"
Label: Old Bridge Music; OBMCD14; 2001; Playing time: 50.18 min
One of the best duos of Irish Music around these days has finally come up with a new album together - their first since 1995. I can well remember that we have had in the first issue of FolkWorld (1997) an interview with these two musicians, with them telling us that they wanted to do both solo albums and a new duo album - the solo album of Chris came out the next year, and this is now the awaited duo album. We are still waiting for Máire's solo one. They must be really busy musicans - but no wonder, highly talented musicians are always in request. Just recently Máire's talent was honoured by her selection as the Musician of the year 2001 in the TG4 National Traditional Music Awards (see news item).
It was definitely worth waiting for this new duo album though; it is a beautiful piece. Máire's harp and Chris' guitar work extremely well together, each instrument stands at times in the centre of the music, with the other then contributing and emphasing it. Chris' guitar playing is simply terrific, while Máire's harp playing extents often the borders of what usually harp playing is about. They get some valuable help from CD guests Nollaig Casey (Máire's sister) on fiddles, viola and fine backing vocals, Liz Hanks on cello and Roy Dodds on (if at all then subtle) percussion. The material has its base in lesser known traditional Irish plus a few Scottish tunes, enriched by some more experimental tunes: A traditional Bluegrass tune; then two exciting compostions by Chris Newman - Banana Yellow takes us into the relaxing atmosphere of the Carribean, while Swinging the Lead swings us jazzily towards the end of the CD. Máire sings also four songs; her clear light voice reminds a bit of a classical music style, yet it suits perfectly the Irish style of singing. The choice of songs is of course tasteful as well.
There is nothing to criticise of this album - it is beautiful and well done from the first to the last minute; it offers a balanced and tasteful choice of traditional Irish music and song, spiced up by a few numbers wandering far away from Irish music. A wonderful showcase of the two masters on harp and guitar.
Homepage: http://www.oldbridgemusic.com, contact: mail@oldbridgemusic.com
Michael Moll


(BUB)
Label: Wildboar Music/Alea; WBM21020; 2000; Playing time: 46.24 min
Flanders is at the moment blessed with plenty of new and exciting New Folk bands. (BUB) are in my taste one of the best if not the best of them all. Combining beautiful sounds of traditional instruments with brass and rock instruments, they create a highly inspiring lively and happy music. (BUB) have developed their very own style, yet it is unmistakenly a New Flemish Folk sound.
In the melody section, the combination of (continental) bagpipes, diatonic accordeon, soprano & alto recorders and soprano & tenor saxophone creates an exciting and new soundscape, whlie the rhythm is made by percussion, electric bass guitar and electric and 12-string guitar. All music is self composed, a lot of it is based in continental Western European folk ideoms, while there are also obvious inspirations of brass band music, jazz, rock. The ensemble playing is very tight; there are enough solos left for all melody instruments. The bass, percussion and e-guitar but also the saxophone give a fine groove to the sound.
All music is very melodic, often has earwig chracter, with just one exception: Baby Yin Yang is a terrible noise featuring speaking-singing and diverse noisy inputs from all instruments. If there would not be this one number, this CD would be perfect.
A highly enjoyable very pleasant CD; another one of my favorites!
Band Homepage: http://www.bub-bub.be , e-mail: bub_haakjes@hotmail.com
Michael Moll


Vin Garbutt "Word Of Mouth"
Label: VG; HR CD013; 1999; Playing time: 54.55 min
First, let me nail a lie. It is commonly thought that Vin Garbutt was born in the Teesside area of North-East England. Not so. He was born in Outer Space. And I often think that only the Stars and other Heavenly Bodies are his true peers.
Much about him smacks of the Other World. Whether it be the striking physical appearance; the unique voice (the man must gargle daily in a mixture of paint-stripper and coarse sand!); or the stream-of-consciousness surrealist humour that takes off into the stratosphere when projected there by the full force of the belly-laughs of a packed audience. But there is one thing that is very much of THIS world. And that is his HEART.
And what a heart it is. So he wears it on his sleeve occasionally. So what? At least he has got one to wear!
And he continues to show the sheer PASSION that only a real heart can. He shows it in his own song writing and in his selection of songs from some of Britain's lesser-known songwriters. On this CD for instance, I was delighted to see him choose a song from one of Britain's finest "undiscovered" songwriters. Dave Evardson's "Forty Thieves" is a song that sets out to "right a wrong": it is a natural choice for Garbutt. One hopes he will choose more of Evardson's output: several of his songs seem almost "made" with Vin in mind.
Mind you, Garbutt is not infallible. He does not always choose well. Sometimes one suspects he likes a guy and so tries to give him a "leg up" by recording his song. There is at least one example here.
And sometimes his OWN song writing is, let's say, distinctly AVERAGE. Yes, his "unremarkable" songs are raised by the quality of his performance, but, in other people's hands, these songs would invariably forgo memorability. Take one such on this CD viz. "The Truth Is Irresistible". The lyrics are decent enough, but seem to be married to the wrong melody. Thus the track is all-too-resistibe!
But with any Garbutt album, you don't despair for long. With fine self-penned songs like "The Troubles of Erin" and "Waits and Weeps", one realises that one is in the presence of a very considerable talent indeed. And that VOICE! The CD is worth the purchase price just to listen to the way his voice absolutely SOARS on the third line of every verse of that latter song.
"VIN EXTRAORDINAIRE"? Indeed!
www.vingarbutt.com, Home Roots Music, PO Box 6, Skelton,Saltburn, Cleveland, TS14 4YT e-mail homeroots.garbutt@cwcom.net
Dai Woosnam


Tom Paxton & Anne Hills "Under American Skies"
Label: Hypertension (under licence from Appleseed Recordings); 1211 HYP; 2001; Playing Time: 58.45 min
The liner notes to this CD start with a recollection by Jim Musselman, boss of Appleseed, about the genesis of the album. Apparently he met Anne Hills at a festival, and they both lamented how the great writers of the 1960s and 1970s were now often forgotten.
So what is their answer? Apparently to produce an album where no fewer than EIGHT of the 14 tracks are either written by Hills, or by Tom Paxton (needless to say, a man HARDLY forgotten!) Sometimes one pinches oneself to hastily check that this whole LIFE is not some bizarre dream.
Now Hills, may sing like an angel, but she does not write like one. That is not to say her songs are tosh: they all just about "pass muster", but no more. One of them, "Follow That Road" was - seemingly - what Paxton says was "the most wonderful song " to emerge from a week where a bunch of professional songwriters just sat around at Christine Lavin's place in Martha's Vineyard, with the main purpose of writing new songs. Well, if THAT was the most wonderful of the songs, then heaven help the others.
What this disappointing album does, more than anything else, is make one think of one man. And, golly, HOW we miss him. And that man was the late Bob Gibson.
Gibson, Hills and Paxton made up the short-lived "Best of Friends". I don't think there has ever been a musical threesome where the CHEMISTRY was SO right. Hills and Paxton, fine voices though they have, are just "not at the Races" without Gibson. His plaintive tenor and his banjo blended sublimely with Hills's pitch- perfect purity of tone, and Paxton's baritone harmonies. And as if to remind us what we have missed, the 14th and last track is an unreleased Best Of Friends number called "And Lovin'You". It is by some distance the best track on the album.
It is now over 5 years since Bob died from a terminal illness that ravaged the nervous system. It is incredible how he has become a "forgotten man" in Europe. We already cannot remember that Gibson was the co-writer of a song I honestly believe to have been in the top three of ANY EVER WRITTEN in the Folk Idiom. I of course refer to his inspirational "Let The Band Play Dixie".
Now, were I Jim Musselman, and reading this, I would go back to the drawing-board. There is a great CD to come out of these personnel, but this is not it. Why not raid the tape archive and release a Best Of Friends album? It was a crying shame that no CD of their work was ever released. But hearing here this last track of BoF in action, well, it makes me realise what we are now missing.
Artists' homepages: http://www.tompaxton.com - http://www.annehills.com Label: Hypertension, St.Benedictstr.5, 20149 HAMBURG, Germany; hypmusic@aol.com
Dai Woosnam


Tam Lin "Back On The Road Again"
Label: none (self-produced); 2001; 56.36 min
I take the very act of reviewing very seriously. Whether it be books, movies or CDs, I have always down the years endeavoured to speak the truth as I see it. One has a duty to the potential PURCHASER of the product; a duty to the CREATOR of it; and above all, a duty to oneself as a reviewer, NOT to go for a cheap joke at someone's expense, nor (conversely) to lavish fulsome praise on the off-chance one can then be thought of as a nice chap by the artiste(s) in question. One has to look at oneself in the mirror, the day after the review.
So having got that "credo" of mine out of the way, let me get down to business. I want to quickly state that I really hoped to ENTHUSE over this CD. After all, it is only Tam Lin's second album, and one does not want to knock artistes on the way up. Particularly 3 guys who have already made a favourable impression on such Folk luminaries as Dave Swarbrick and Alistair Hulett.
And to be fair, there is much about the album I rather like. But golly, I wish I could have liked it a whole lot MORE. But somehow, after playing it three times all the way through, I am left with a feeling that they need to have a good re-think about their choice of material and maybe - just maybe - the whole raison d'ętre for their existence as a group. Let me explain.
What they do in LIVE performance and what they do on CD, should not necessarily be synonymous. It is all very well to do Folk Standards like "She Moved Through The Fair", "Arthur McBride", and "The Galway Shawl" on stage, but for someone to buy a CD with these songs on, when they already have about twenty versions of EACH in their CD collection (as I have) .….well, the artiste needs to entice the potential buyer, by producing versions that have a DISTINCTIVE STAMP on them.
These three guys are pleasant enough singers, but that's about it. And I am not sure that the TOTAL effect of the three voices in harmony is greater than the sum of the parts. Au contraire: they actually seem to me to need a FOURTH voice, probably female.
But two of the group members are clearly very accomplished musicians. Sav Malbaski is a formidable flautist, and James McGee's fiddle succeeded in really moving me with his version of Tom Anderson's Shetland tune of haunting beauty, "Da Slockit Light". That was the high spot of the album.
Sadly I must end this review by saying that the lads should take to heart the title of this CD, and get BACK ON THE ROAD AGAIN, where I know they are well appreciated in LIVE performance. And don't go back into the recording studio until they can get a clearer rationale as to their aims. I suggest when the third CD comes around, they look for the many good songs in the Tradition that are crying out for life to be breathed back into them, and not go for the ones that are close to having been sung to death.
They must to some extent already be aware of what is desideratum. Here they bravely set to music a rather obscure poem by William Ogilvie: it fails only in as much as the tune they composed for it is formulaic and a bit on the sterile side. But better to go down FIGHTING, chaps. Please look for more poems, and some might manage to induce the composition of more memorable melodies.
Well, I guess that is ME now not on their Christmas Card list! But honestly fellows, I do sincerely wish I could have been MORE positive.
alan@madnanny.co.uk , Mad Nanny Music, 9, Lister Avenue, Hitchin, Herts, SG4 9ES, England. Tel: 01462 438373
Dai Woosnam


The Scottish Stepdance Company "Sole Music"
Label: Foot Stompin'; CDFSR1710; 2001; Playing time: 51.32 min
Many moons ago, when Scotland was still engulfed in the mists of time, the natives of many far-flung parts would often be caught doing a few steps to an old fiddle tune or two - be it in a local village hall or at a kitchen ceilidh. These customs almost completely vanished when the Highlands were "cleared" in the 19th century to make way for sheep grazing. But considering the Riverdance & Co craze, it was only a question of time when Scottish dancers put their soles to the ground. Thus, the Scottish Stepdance Company is committed to the promotion, performance and re-integration of Scottish stepdance. The pieces vary from traditional and modern solo dances, to routines with up to four dancers. All of the dancers are also musicians: Keri (low whistle), John Sikorski (double bass), Donal Brown (smallpipes, flute), Alison MacLeod (footing only). Plus fiddler Adam Sutherland of Croft No. 5, Gaelic singer and whistler Sandra MacKay of Tannas, and guitarist Kevin Mackenzie of Keep it Up. A rich bunch of instrumental music and song is the crop on a bed of step dancing. And it works even on a CD, since stepdance is as much percussion as it is a form of dance. Michael Flatley has already retired. He must have heard of the coming Scottish gale.
Foot Stompin' Records
Walkin' T:-)M


Tom Landa & The Paperboys "Postcards"
Label: Red House Records; RHR CD 150; 2000; Playing time: 44.14 min
Folkrock oftentimes works not very well and is quite boring. So it's always a delight to introduce the exception that confirms the rule. Fresh but not brash, as they say, that's the Paperboys and singer and guitarist Tom Landa. Tom is born in Mexico City and went to Vancouver to team up with his Paperboys and -girls in 1992. A city that attracts foreign elements: Accordion/fiddle/bass player Shannon Saunders is he only native British Columbian. Fiddler Shona Le Mottee hails from the Channel Island of Jersey, flutist Hanz Araki from Japan, banjo/bass player Cam Salay from Winipeg. English drummer Paul Lawton counts De Dannan and Genesis as influences, so it's no small wonder that the Paperboys mix Celtic music with Latin idioms and almost any roots and world music they came across. Celtic, Flamenco, Bluegrass, Zydeco, Country, traditional tunes inbetween pop and folk rock plus three songs in Spanish. A postcard from Spain's flamenco region or Ireland's rich musical tradition. A New Orleans souvenir and a photo of Kentucky's bluegrass. A greeting from Mexico ... But instead of a mere greeting, they wrote some songs and a a soundtrack for the global village.
The Boys will come over to Europe for the German St. Patrick's Day Celebration Festival in 2002. Watch out!
Red House Records
Walkin' T:-)M


Dan Milner & Bob Conroy "Irish In America"
Label: Folk-Legacy Records; CD-129; 2001; Playing time: 52.35 min
Says Dan Milner: Through a very odd set of circumstances, I was unable to get back to New York City on Monday evening. Under normal circumstances, my wife and I would have been walking in the general World Trade Center area at about 08:45 on that Tuesday ... An older name for New York City was `America's Melting Pot' ... Men and women from every nation were surely killed ... Dan is still with us and I'm glad to write a CD review and no obituary. The traditional singer and folk song collector teamed up with five-string banjo player and singer Bob Conroy (son of John Joseph Conroy who in 1935 co-founded the first union officially recognized by the City of New York) to produce the kind of record I always immediately fell in love with, a mix of history and song (see e.g. the 1798 ballads). Fourteen songs and four dance tunes celebrate the Irish who built the great American cities, who toiled in factories, laid rails, dug coal, quarried stone, rustled cattle, shuffled cards and played baseball, who fought for their new-found land, who washed and cleaned and kept for their `betters' as well as their own, and who made America laugh and cry on the vaudeville stage. There are excellent notes given in the booklet, but unfortunatly no song lyrics. People who truly love traditional songs understand that they are testaments chronicling the heights and depths of real people and that they, the singers, are in communion with these long dead men and women every time they bring their songs to voice. Need I say more?
Folk-Legacy Records
Walkin' T:-)M


Jez Lowe & Jake Walton "Two A Roue"
Label: Tantobie Records; TTRCD 101; 1986/2001; Playing time: 55.11 min
"Two A Roue" is a reissue of the 1986 LP of Jez Lowe (guitar, cittern) and Cornish Jake Walton (hurdy-gurdy). Jez Lowe is said to be one of the only two full time professional singers from Northeast England (the other is Vin Garbutt). Born into an Irish family in the coal-mining community of Easington in County Durham, he is best known for his songs describing the mining culture, society and people of his native country. His songs have been recorded by Fairport Convention, the Tannahill Weavers and the Dubliners. Cornish-man Jake Walton was one of the first to help with the Hurdy Gurdy and Dulcimer revival in Britain in the 1970s. His attraction to the Arthurian legends and Donovan's later albums led him in to the world of Celtic myth. Both Jez and Jake toured Europe and North America numerous times in the mid-80s and subsequently recorded "Two A Roue", which was one of that year's biggest sellers in the British folk scene. When both drifted apart in 1988, the LP was deleted. The title derives from the French word for hurdy-gurdy (vielle a roue), but "roue" is also an Old English word meaning wastrel or vagabond. The duo offers British roots music with the odd influence from France or (Celtic) Spain. Self-penned songs and original and traditional dance tunes. Three bonus tracks were newly recorded. And it's suited for children because none of the 7 forbidden words, as defined by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission appear on this CD.
Tantobie Records
Walkin' T:-)


Saw Doctors "Villains?"
Label: Sham Town; SAWDOC 008 CD; 2001
In which the Saw Doctors become guitar heroes and take on the rock world. It's hard to remember now just what a phenomenon their 1989 debut album "If this is rock'n'roll I want my old job back" and the two smash singles from it, "N17" and of course "I useta love her", still the biggest-selling single in Irish history. Those days the stage show was a shambling rambling tour-de-force of Irish laddyness, and though it's all got a bit sharper over the years the songwriting partnership of Leo Moran and Davy Caton can still turn a phrase, and for all the big sound the melodies are still drenched in Guinness.
Having failed to make the big breakthrough in the USA the band decided to form their own label in 1994 and since then have toured and released various albums and singles with varying degrees of success. Part of the problem is that the Saw Doctors have always been at their best on stage in front of their audience rather than in the studio, and any album of theirs is a poor relation to the live show. They tour a lot, so do go and see them and then you'll know for sure if you want this or not. If you've already seen them, then I suspect you'll already know.
Saw Doctor's website
Colin Jones


Blackmore's Night "Fires at midnight"
Label: SPV; 088-72430; 2001; Spielzeit: 67.49 min
The new album of ex-Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore and the american singer Candice Night reveals a fascinate mixture of rock, pop, folk and medieval music. The influence of old music passes through their whole work, sometimes as a new arragement of an old song, sometimes als part of or merely as inspiration for self-written songs. And although the records sounds not at all like medieval music, they always succeed in giving their songs a special flair of mystic and romantic of minstrels, knights and ladies. The music impresses with the warm and clear voice of Candice Night and the brilliant playing of Ritchie Blackmore, who uses accoustic and e-guitars and old instruments like mandolin and hurdy-gurdy. Altogether an excellent CD, that invites to sit beside a fire-place, drink wine and tell old tales or do some fantasy role-playing.
SPV, www.spv.de, P.O. Box 721147, 30531 Hannover, Germany
www.ritchieblackmore.com
Tom Kamphans


More English CD Reviews: Page 1 - Page 2 - Page 3 - Page 4 - Page 5
More German CD Reviews:
Page 1 - Page 2
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