FolkWorld Issue 36 07/2008
Label:
Grace Note;
GNPCD0001; 2007; Playing time: 39:08 min
Label:
Grace Note;
GNPCD0002; 2007; Playing time: 12:49 min
Margaret's rendition is so delicate and fragile that it makes me shiver
and feel that live is not infinite and all so endangered.
Margaret is the mother of the late Martyn Bennett,
who was very keen in the fusion of traditional and contemporary music
(-> FW#6,
FW#30).
"Love and Loss" is a three track album in memory of her talented son,
who passed away much to early. "Fhir an Fhuilt Dhuinn" is a piobaireachd,
composed by Martyn's grandmother to the 17th century piping tune
from Padraig Mor MacCrimmon's "Lament for the Children".
The EP is completed with the Robert Burns song
"Laddie Lie Near Me" and the lament "John MacLeod of Raasay".
The benefits will be used to set up a scholarship for a student
at The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.
www.margaretbennett.co.uk
Walkin' T:-)M
The DADGAD tuning on the guitar
had been popularised by English guitar player
Davey Graham,
who employed it with great effect to traditional Irish instrumental music.
Today it is probably the most common tuning with Irish guitarists,
because it facilitates the use of moveable chords which retain open strings
and act as a drone.
And, of course, it has to be a Martin guitar.
Sarah McQuaid has been
born in Madrid, raised in Chicago, and discovered traditional music while in France.
She moved to Ireland in 1994, now she lives in Cornwall as a base to tour mainly
the UK folk circuit. Sarah came across traditional Irish music as a teenager
and began playing jigs and reels on the guitar. She is best known as the
author of "The Irish DADGAD Guitar Book". In 2007 Sarah re-released her album
"When Two Lovers Meet" from 1997. As they say, it's never too late,
especially when it's good. And indeed it is excellent.
There are instrumental tunes featured, but it mainly is a song album.
Songs are from the Irish, Scottish and English tradition, such as
"Sprig of Thyme" and "Johnny Lad".
"The Parting Glass" is a duet with Niamh Parsons (-> FW#34).
"Taim Cortha o Beith im' Aona im' Lui" from the Elizabeth Cronin collection
is sung a capella. It is a macaronic song, i.e. with alternating Gaelic and English
verses. There are a couple of interesting differences -
in the Irish version the woman is 29 years old,
whereas in the English translation she's only 19.
What does that tell us about the Irish and the English race?
Sarah's voice is smooth and warm, she is furthermore
helped out by such luminaries as Trevor Hutchinson and John McSherry,
both playing with Lunasa in 1997 (-> FW#5).
"When Two Lovers Meet" is still worth seeking out,
and good news is she already recorded a new solo album,
due to release somewhere later in 2008.
Probably the first guitar players who used the DADGAD tuning in traditional Irish music
were Mícheál Ó Domhnaill
(-> FW#25,
FW#32) and
Dáithí Sproule.
Dáithí spent most of his musical career playing accompaniment,
but he did always compose intrumental music. Now he showcases his ability and talents
on a solo album titled "The Crow in the Sun".
All tunes are originals, except the
traditional song tune "Johnny Seoighe" (he once did a vocal version on a Trian CD)
and Carolan's (-> FW#20) air "Young Catherine". Dáithí's
tunes are named after people he played with,
such as Altan's Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh or Ciaran Tourish
(-> FW#31,
FW#31),
or places where he lived, things that happened to him.
Some tunes have been played before, such as
"The Lady from York/Angela's Jig" performed with Skara Brae
(-> FW#5).
"The Crow in the Sun" is featured on Liz Carroll's (-> FW#24) "Lost in the Loop" album.
The cover reads file under: Celtic / New Age.
New Age? Well, damn it ... nonsense ...
It is traditional and folk music to the core, earthy and unpretentious.
It is damn good to listen to, but not to meditate.
Welsh musician Ceri Rhys Mattews is a piper
(-> FW#33).
He also is known for his production skills, as in these
two excellent albums from the fflach:tradd label.
Pigyn Clust is featuring
singer Ffion Haf, fiddler Idris Morris Jones,
Cass Meurig on the crwth
(-> FW#28,
FW#28,
FW#31)
and guitar players Endaf ap Ieuan and Wyn Williams.
Their music is according to the words of the church hymn "Ar fore dydd nadolig awn i fethlem,"
which says to Bethlehem leaping with joy, dancing and singing, we'll go.
It is first-rate music, skillfully played, more joyful than the average Welsh
traditional music, but yet with a characteristic medieval feel.
Some Welsh language songs have been written by guitarist Endaf ap Ieuan,
"Neges Gabriel" is a traditional song from the Basque country.
Sild is a young folk duo presenting
their second album.
Sille Ilves from Estonia plays the fiddle and the traditional Estonian
instrument called hiiu-kanndled, a bowed harp.
Martin Leamon from Wales, formerly with Boys From The Hill,
plays the guitar. They both sing.
Sild is Estonian for bridge, tro means journey in Welsh.
This is a marriage of both musical cultures, featuring both
16th century Welsh poetry and Estonian invocations.
a song in the extinct language of Livonia and Shakespearean sonnet.
The outcome is both Welsh and Estonian, and it is not. Maybe it is best compared
with Scandinavian music: dark, magical and spellbinding.
Martin and Sille are both excellent musicians, I should emphasize
Sille's fascinating voice. Once and for all it must be said
that East and West are not too far away,
at least when building bridges like this.
What's next?, he yells near the end of the Leitrim Fancy.
I don't know, he shouts back, then remembers: Drowsy Maggie!
The key is agreed and both musicians turn into the next tune.
Who's drowsy? At least not the music of English
singer and guitar player Martin Carthy
(-> FW#18,
FW#20)
and fiddler Dave Swarbrick (->
FW#26,
FW#29).
Their live recording at the Folkus club in Newark from June 1966
has eventually been re-released.
Their program then was based on Dave's tune repertory
and the songs that Martin had recorded on his self-titled debut album,
such as "High Germany" and "The Wind That Shakes The Barley,"
plus new material recorded some time after
("Fair Maid on the Shore," "Newlyn Town").
It is an honest and unadulterated representation of what we did and how we
sounded back then, says Martin. They did enjoy themselves for sure.
Martin again: I'm reminded by this of what an exciting time it was altogether
and what a good time we had when we were on stage. Some of the music is great,
I think. You're right.
Another very welcome re-release is
The Watersons'
(-> FW#23)
"For Pence and Spicy Ale"
from 1975. Several years after their last recording
siblings Mike, Lal and Norma Waterson teamed up with Martin Carthy,
replacing original member and the Watersons' cousin John Harrison.
"For Pence and Spicy Ale" had been English folk album of the year then.
Now it is on CD for the first time. Starting with the high-spirited "Country Life"
until the closing hymn "The Good Old Way", the Watersons make a time trip through
rural England. Their a capella singing is strong, the harmonies are gorgeous.
Indeed, they became the role model for a generation of English folk singers.
And not only English, but all across the world.
"For Pence and Spicy Ale" has been maybe their best effort ever,
and still it is a great album. It is pure joy, even 33 years after.
Sturla Eide (fiddle and hardanger fiddle),
Øvind Farmen (accordion) and
Håvard Sterten (percussion) are
Flukt
(-> FW#26,
FW#30).
Four years after their last CD,
all the while touring and bringing their music to the public,
they release their third album "Stille før stormen" (calm before the storm),
featuring three traditional tracks, four written by Sturla Eide and two
by Øvind Farmen.
They blend traditional Scandinavian music - halling dances, pols and polkas -
with the rhythmic power of world and rock music, being remarkable performer
deeply rooted in the music of the past.
"Stille før stormen" reaches
from tranquil waters to swinging waves into raging storm.
Sometimes it seems to get lost in experimentation and improvisation,
but always finding back into navigable waters.
Sturla Eide is playing the fiddle
for 25 years, he's being a member of Flukt for 10 years, now he also
set out on his own. "Murru" features a bit accompaniment of guitar, accordion,
piano, and - yes - electronics. This indicates it is not too traditional in
a puristic sense. Indeed, from fourteen tracks only four are traditional tunes,
the rest are original compositions. However, "Murru" is a straight-forward
Scandinavian fiddle album. Sturla is a mature and confident performer, not
antsy and fussed, though "Murru" translates as "Ants in Your Pants".
It rather refers to the high energy that Nordic music may have.
You are facing a daunting challenge, but you go for it,
says Sturla, you succeed, and you feel
a tremendous sense of accomplishment. Well said, well done.
Dusty Rhodes and the River Band "Dear Honey" (EP):
Three track single EP. Dusty Rhodes and the River Band is a septet from
Southern California, blending folk rock and surf pop, cabaret and progressive rock.
Rather bizarre than straight-forward.
V/A "Experience the Nordic Tradition!" (Sampler):
Compilation of Swedish Nordic Tradition Records, featuring the Mattias Pérez Trio V/A "Indies Scope 2007" (Sampler):
Compilation of the Czech Indies Scope label, featuring, among others, Czech and Slovakian artists such as
Tara Fuki (-> FW#33),
Hradistan (-> FW#33),
Yellow Sisters (-> FW#33),
Taliesyn (see review above),
Prosti dumi (see above),
Jaromir 99 (see above),
Kocko Tomas (-> FW#32), and
Iva Bittova (-> FW#33).
Label:
Own label; SMQCD001; 1997/2007; Playing time: 47:39 min
Label:
New Folk Records;
NFR0122; 2007; Playing time: 44:34 min
www.sarahmcquaid.com,
www.daithisproule.com
Walkin' T:-)M
Label:
Own label; EOFCD 01; 2007; Playing time: 72:40 min
The first solo album of Belfast singer
Éamonn Ó Faogáin
is dedicated to the wild game played in Erin go brath:
seven Gaelic and thirteen English songs from the 17th century to the present day.
From 20 tracks only a few have a familiar ring to me:
the well-known "Aird a' Cuain"
(recorded on -> FW#5,
FW#27)
features the (Gaelic) lines about
many's a Christmas I would be in Cushendun, hurling on the white strand.
There also is a reference in
"An Buachaill Caol Dubh" (The Dark Slender Boy, the tune has been recorded as
instrumental by FW#24) about the boy, with his hurl readied in his grasp for sport, and "Priosun Chluain Meala." The rest is a journey into the unknown.
But what about Éamonn's singing and arrangements, well,
faith they made hurling music, the best you could hear.
The digipack comes with two illustrated booklets with notes, song lyrics and
English translations.
When at last the whistle is blown, and I stand 'neath God's great judgment throne,
May the Great Referee, when He calls out my name, say
You hurled like a man, you played the game.
www.eamonnmor.com
Walkin' T:-)M
Label:
fflach:tradd;
CD309H; 2008; Playing time: 48:32 min
Label:
fflach:tradd;
CD307H; 2008; Playing time: 48:19 min
www.pigynclust.co.uk,
www.sildmusic.com
Walkin' T:-)M
Label:
Own label; 2001-2007; Playing time: 49:31 min
www.hunterrobertson.com
Walkin' T:-)M
Label:
Topic;
TSCD572; 1966/2007; Playing time: 48:00 min
Label:
Topic;
TSCD574; 1975/2008; Playing time: 45:00 min
www.topicrecords.co.uk
Walkin' T:-)M
Label:
Nordic Tradition/Westpark;
NTCD11/WP87156; 2008; Playing time: 53:28 min
www.svanevit.com
Walkin' T:-)M
Label:
Own label; 3DM6; 2008; Playing time: 54:01 min
www.3daftmonkeys.co.uk
Walkin' T:-)M
Label:
Own label; 2008; Playing time: 54:06 min
www.roymette.co.uk
Walkin' T:-)M
Label:
Marmita;
MMV-005; 2007; Playing time: 55:22 min
www.kramagrup.com
Walkin' T:-)M
Label:
Amiata;
ARNR 0108; 2008; Playing time: 77:33 min
www.whiskytrail.it
Walkin' T:-)M
Label:
Own label; SHMCD01; 2008; Playing time: 52:06 min
www.skyhookmusic.com
Walkin' T:-)M
Label:
Union Station; USP001; 2008; Playing time: 93:35 + 65:44 + 63:52 min
www.themanisalive.com
Walkin' T:-)M
Label:
GO' Folk;
GO0308; 2008; Playing time: 44:22 + 79:00 min
Please read Morten's essays about Danish bands in
English
and German.
www.hhduo.dk
Walkin' T:-)M
Label:
GO' Folk;
GO0508; 2008; Playing time: 40:09 min
www.balticcrossing.com
Walkin' T:-)M
Label:
Le Roseau;
2008; Playing time: 45:51 min
www.gabrielyacoub.com
Walkin' T:-)M
Label:
Coop Breizh;
CD 998; 2007; Playing time: 43:35 min
www.davidpasquet.com
Walkin' T:-)M
Label:
Etnisk Musikklubb;
EM45; 2008; Playing time: 44:33 min
Label:
NORCD;
0768; 2007; Playing time: 36:57 min
www.flukt.org
Walkin' T:-)M
Label:
Shoeshine;
SPIT035; 2008; Playing time: 42:21 min
www.emilysmith.org
Walkin' T:-)M
Label:
Own label; CG5; 2008; Playing time: 45:41 min
www.carmelgunning.com,
www.cygo.ie/tradmusic
Walkin' T:-)M
Label:
Kopito; KR 006 CD; 2008; Playing time: 53:16 min
www.kries.info
Walkin' T:-)M
Label:
Javelin;
JAV-A0108; 2008; Playing time: 39:00 min
www.johngrahamleslie.co.uk
Walkin' T:-)M
Label:
Dunach Records; DUN 0701; 2007; Playing time: 49:38 min
www.facebook.com/griogairmusic/
Walkin' T:-)M
Label:
Greentrax;
CDTRAX322; 2008; Playing time: 65:25 min
www.dickgaughan.co.uk
Walkin' T:-)M
Label:
Pavee Point Travellers Centre;
PPCD004; 1983/2007; Playing time: 52:32 min
www.paveepoint.ie
Walkin' T:-)M
Label:
Celtic Crossings;
CC2007; 2007; Playing time: 59:01 min
www.paddymurphy.eu
Walkin' T:-)M
Label:
RTE 280CD; 2008; Playing time: 63:09 + 60:18 min
www.rte.ie
Walkin' T:-)M
Label:
Strictly Country;
SCR-66; 2008; Playing Time: 67:29 + 64:53 min
www.strictlycountryrecords.com
Walkin' T:-)M
Label:
Cold Spring;
CSR84CD; 2007; Playing time: 76:54 + 79:23 min
www.coldspring.co.uk
Walkin' T:-)M
www.dusty-rhodes.net,
www.sideonedummy.com
www.nordictradition.com
www.indies.eu
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© The Mollis - Editors of FolkWorld; Published 07/2008
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