FolkWorld Issue 41 03/2010

FolkWorld CD Reviews

Oliver Schroer "Camino"
Label:
Borealis records; 0601; 2008
The Canadian violinist Oliver Schroer might not be known as a solo musician to a big audience, but I think many of you will have some of his music in your CD collection. He has a passion for Canadian, Scandinavian, Balkan and Asian (traditional) music and has recorded with artists such as Loreena McKennitt, Maria Kalaneimi and the Canadian folk band La bottine souriant, just to name a few. It shows his open mind towards music and cultures. On this new album he walks a path, thousands have done before him and thousands will do so in future. He follows the Santiago trail through France and Spain and played in 25 different churches which he passed on his two month long tour. The result can be heard on this album, twenty solo pieces with a sacral, mediaeval and Southern European approach. An intimate album of a fantastic violinist who is able to capture the spirit of each of those churches and gets inspired by its unique atmosphere. The album is far from easy listening, Schroer keeps it small and close to his heart. Sometimes the violin is so soft that I have to concentrate to hear it, while at other moments he shows the rich sound of the instrument. As if he wanted to express every emotion he went through during this two month trip on this ancient trail. This Camino is one of his more personal albums recorded in unique surroundings and during an intensive period, and that can be heard.
www.oliverschroer.com
Eelco Schilder


Watermelon Slim "Escape from the chicken coop"
Label:
Northern blues; 0054; 2009
Victor Wainwright and the Wildroots "Beale Street to the Bayou"
Label: Wild roots records; CD2009 ; 2009
Peter Cooper "Cautionary Tales"
Label: Corazong records; 255101; 2007
Mike Brosnan "Another Song for the Road"
Label: Flying kiwi records; 091; 2009
Watermelon Slim released his latest album called Escape from the chicken coop on which he recorded thirteen new songs. Since his debut album he has released a lot of music and this new work fits perfectly in his existing discography. Nice blues/folk/country-rock which Watermelon Slim and his band bring with so much fun that it is impossible not to get in a good mood. It’s uncomplicated music that entertains and shows the best of mainstream blues/folk/country rock. Next is Victor Wainwright and the Wild Roots with the album Beale street to the Bayou. And now for something completely different, that is the feeling I get when reviewing Wainwrights album. What a power, what an energy! You might find some traces of folk, but mostly this is fabulous blues-rock with the powerful vocals of Victor backed by a bunch of great musicians on drums, acoustic and electric guitars, mandolin, mandolin etc. Wainwright rolls over the piano and hits the organ in a swinging way. But in a song like Sold down river he proofs to be a great singer of traditional blues as well. Although Sold down the river is self composed, this feels like a song from the early years of blues. Wainwright and the Wild roots recorded an convincing album with some raw and pure blues(rock). Sometimes with a touch of soul, country, bluegrass, folk or jazz. But always intriguing and top quality. The next singer songwriter comes from Nashville Tennessee, just like Victor Wainwright, and is called Peter Cooper. In the last Folkworld edition I reviewed an album he did with Eric Brace (FW#40) and wrote that his solo album got good critics and now this album landed on my doormat. It’s already three years old and includes twelve (mostly original) songs. Cooper plays a nice mixture of blues, Americana, some bluegrass etc. This solo album is a open minded, accessible album by a talented singer/composer. His music is made to please and all the rough edges are cut away. On Mission door he is backed by Nanci Griffith and Fayssoux McLean, who also appears on other songs. The critics were right, this is a nice album that has the right feeling to be embraced by a big audience. Mike Brosnan is a singer-songwriter and guitarist from New Zealand, based in Europe at the moment. This new album contains seventeen live recordings from 2007, recorded in Germany. He plays live with Gerd Vogel on guitar and vocals and Heike Morbach doing the female backings. Besides being a nice singer-songwriter, Brosnan impresses me mostly with his great guitar-play. His fluent way of playing sounds like it just roles out of his instrument, but the sometimes complex techniques proofs that a real master is at work here. His voice is powerful and he knows how to tell his story. Nice live output from this respected musician.
www.watermelonslim.com, www.myspace.com/petercoopermusic, www.victorwainwright.com, www.mikebrosnan.com
Eelco Schilder


Ballroomquartet "Ballroomquartet"
Label:
Munich records; 2009 001; 2009
The Belgian band Ballroomquartet is such an unpredictable band, each project might be very different than the last one. Their debut included Sufi influences while their second album was experimental and an outburst of creativity. Now the third album is released and again the band takes a different direction. They bought an old captains log from the eighteenth century in the Dutch city of Leiden and used it as their inspiration for their new album. After an easy going intro on piano, a Belgian lady recitals a part of the log, backed subtly by the band. More outspoken is Farewell sounding like an old Dutch/Belgian sailor’s tune, strong composition ending in a wild dance. The tunes slowly build up to The storm one of the more experimental and electronic songs on this album. Great how the band captured the dna of a storm in sounds, really well done. After the storm a calm sea and a Single malt waltz in which the narrator tells what the captain wrote when he was drunk backed by a dreamy accordion and a percussionist who had a few drinks as well. Than the captain gets homesick, sees a dream eating island and finally met his destiny. After this the band ends the album with two nice theatrical tunes called Cosmic ballet and Guided by the stars II and a new strong album by the Ballroomquartet ends great with a mixture of traditional sailors music from the lowlands and the modern possibilities of today. Well done, great album!
www.ballroomquartet.be
Eelco Schilder


Soname "Plateau"
Label:
World village; 450006; 2009
Soname has a story to tell. When she was sixteen she left her home country Tibet and risked her live by leaving her country and cross the Himalaya in the hope to find a better live. After six years she arrived in England where she lives until today and from there she is spreading her story in an impressive way. I heard quit some music from Tibet the past ten years and I’m always surprised about the richness of the music. It’s hardly ever just an ordinary song, but somehow the singing techniques and the structure of the compositions moves something deep in the body. The same with this second album by singer Soname, a beautiful record with thirteen new songs, breathing the ancientness of her culture. Soname does this in such a way that the music is authentic, but also suitable for the untrained Western ears. She mixes gentle songs like Sun and moon and Fresh spring with up tempo songs like My horse an almost unavoidable theme in music from the Tibet region. In Holy lake she suddenly mixes her music with Celtic rock, the result is a fresh and catchy song. It’s really nice how she brings two worlds together but always puts her own roots up front.
www.soname.com
Eelco Schilder


KTU "Quiver"
Label:
Rockadillo; zencd 2125; 2009
KTU brings together three musicians who are known for their experimental and progressive style of playing. First there is the Finnish accordionist Kimmo Pohjonen, who is always searching for borders to cross and who I have high on my list of best concerts ever. Then there is Trey Gunn, known guitarist from the legendary King Crimson band and finally Pat Mastelotto, the King crimson drummer. Together this trio released their second album together with recordings from 2007 and 2008. After a peaceful start with Fragile sun the band really hits it with the loud and heavy tune Kataklasm which has links to the King crimson style, while the third composition Nano reminds more of Pohjonen solo works. It’s amazing how the rough sound of the Crimson members perfectly fit with the more experimental and electronic sound of Pohjonen. This new album combines mystical melodies with threatening war guitar, beats and noises. I think this album is even better than the trio’s first output, it feels more organic and they certainly improved their attunement. Great new album by three passionate musicians with powerful music and strong compositions.
www.myspace.com/ktuband
Eelco Schilder


Kahiba "Global Dialects"
Label:
Intuition; 3429; 2009
Kahiba is a dynamic trio including musicians with a folk, jazz and electronic music background. On this album they play nine compositions by the bands sax and flute played Heinrich von Kalnein. The saxophone is also one of the most prominent instruments on this album. Backed by smooth electronics, nice piano, subtle percussion and a (heavy sounding) accordion. For a folk magazine this album is a bit out of style. This will be filled under jazz with occasionally some roots influences. Well played, nice laid back atmosphere but I think to less folk to be interesting for all those folkies. But for those who don’t mind a good, solid jazz adventure, this might be very interesting for you.
www.kahibamusic.com
Eelco Schilder


Matt Flinner Trio "Music du jour""
Label:
Compass records; 74503 2; 2009
A trio around multi instrumentalist Matt Flinner who is known for his fabulous banjo and mandolin work. On this new acoustic album he takes the mandolin and plays twelve new compositions in an impressive way. Together with Ross Martin on guitar and Eric Thorin on bass, Flinner reaches a high level in acoustic contemporary folk music. It has elements of bluegrass, country, Canadian and American folk and it is all of the same high quality. This trio’s music has a welcome, peaceful sound. This is music from experienced musicians who still enjoy what they are doing and that can be heard.
www.myspace.com/mattflinner
Eelco Schilder


George Papavgeris "Looking both ways"
Label:
Wild goose; 369cd; 2009
It has been five years since I heard an album by George Papavgeris, originally from Greece but now living in the UK. It was his Ordinary heroes album that impressed me and this new album Looking both ways does the same thing to me again. Papavgeris is such a singer that gives me the feeling of being part of the family. His personal lyrics, his down to earth way of making music, his beautifully aged voice and simple but honest composition make this album another great one. His music is deeply rooted in the UK folk history, but of course some Greek influences are unavoidable and naturally integrated in his music. I didn’t listen to his music for a while, but now I have to review his new album I immediately feel what I have missed. Papavgeris sings from his heart and soul and doesn’t need any artificial tricks; his music has enough to offer in its pure form. A warm album.
www.folk4all.net
Eelco Schilder


Duo Topolino "Swiodeschka"
Label:
Westpark; 87178; 2009
Duo Topolino exists out of violinist Nina Leonards and guitarist Norbert Scholly. They play together since 2007 and both have a strong musical background. Leonards studied violin in Maastricht (Netherlands) and focused on music from Hunray and Romania while Scholly is an experienced jazz guitarist. On this debut album the duo presents sixteen compositions, mostly traditional but five original ones as well. They invited Nicolas Simian on saxophone and clarinet as a special guest. The violin of Leonards is the instrument that plays a central role on this album. Her way of playing is indeed deeply rooted in the East-European folk tradition, but she also knows her way with Mediterranean and English/American folk styles. While the violin is often energetic and a bit restless, the guitar by Scholly is peaceful and brings rest to the restless violin. Beautiful jazz arrangements with sometimes an almost classical approach. The addition of the sax and clarinet is nice, but even without this album would be strong enough, this duo has enough to offer. Swiodeschka is a nice acoustic roots album with this typical East-European fire and the down to earth sound of the (jazz) guitarist. A great combination.
www.myspace.com/duotopolino
Eelco Schilder


Haig Yazdjian "Amalur"
Label: Libra Music; 2009
Haig Yazdjian is a composer/oud player from Greece and one of the countries best known world-jazz musicians. Besides several solo projects he has played with artists such as Djivan Gasparyan and Loreena McKennitt. On this new solo album Yazdjian mixes traditional music from Arabic/Mediterranean cultures with own compositions. He is backed by thirteen musicians who all bring their own identity to some of the songs. The album starts nice with Fog el-nakhel, a traditional song from Iraq. In this one Yazdjian sings the lead vocals in a modern interpretation of this song. The poem by Nikos Moraitis that follows is beautifully sung by Eleftheria Arvanitaki, who makes of this poem a real melancholic Greek ballad. Funny how Yazdjian changes styles, this Greek song is followed by a nice, funky-jazz instrumental part with strong rhythms and a warm trumpet solo. This instrumental piece is very different than for example the more tradition orientated Amalur but together they show the many sides of the composer and musician Yazdjian. Intriguing is another instrumental part, a traditional piece this time, called Mogats shougen with the sharp sound of the Zourna as main ingredient. Yazdjian shows on this album his multi-talent as a composer and musician and brings together several traditions and styles. Each recording is of high quality and has a personal and unique identity. It’s not an album that fluently leads you from one to the other song, but more a gathering of good ideas and ten individually strong masterpieces.
www.myspace.com/haigyazdjian
Eelco Schilder


Ustad Ali Ahmad Hussain Khan & Party "Serenity"
Label:
Felmay; 8146; 2009
Lalgudi Vijayalashmi, Mala Chandrashekar & Jaishree Jairaj "Vadhya Sunadha Pravaham"
Label: Felmay; 8152 ; 2009
Two albums from India in this review, two times from respected and known musicians. Starting with Ustad Ali Ahmad Hussain Khan, a musician with a long history in Indian traditional and classical music. He is probably the best known player of the Shenai, a wind instrument that plays a big role in the Indian culture, especially on joyful moments. Hussain Khan has released dozens of albums with all types of music, many other known and lesser known musicians. This new album is with eight other (Indian) musicians and contains three compositions. Two raga’s and a dhun (a composition based on a folk song) starting with Raga Jhinjhoti which is an over twenty minute long, warm and serene piece of music. Subtle rhythms and chances in melody make this a comfortable Raga and a joy to listen to. Second is Raga Madhumad-Sarang in a lesser open minded style as the first raga. It has a kind of sadness and loneliness that is beautifully expressed in the more raw play on the Shenai. Finally Mishra Bhairavi the most energetic piece of the album. Together a nice combination which form a warm and accessible album by this master musician. The second album is by a trio of musicians; Lalgudi Vijayalashmi, Mala Chandrashekar & Jaishree Jairaj three women who are not as known as Hussain Khan, but whose star is rising fast. Each of these three musicians has proofed their quality and on this album they bring it all together. Six compositions on violin, flute and veena, backed by two musicians on percussion (Mrudangam and Ghatam). I think their music would be typed as the cliché Indian folk music by many. The sounds, the melodies and the rhythms. Joyful, virtuoso and recognisable. The differences between the compositions are subtle and need time to be discovered. Behind the joyful sounds, a complex web of melodies and rhythms is hidden, played in the interesting combination of the violin, flute and Veena this trio brings a refreshing interpretation of several Indian traditional styles.
www.aliahmadhussain.com
Eelco Schilder


Berg- und Talfahrt "A Night in Sana’a"
Label: Own label; 2004
Berg und talfahrt sounds very German, but the music from this group is far from that. Unfortunately no webpage or biography was added, so not much background info is available. A central role in this band for saxophonist and clarinettist Peter Brötzmann, a German experimental-jazz musician. Together with six musicians he recorded this album live in 2004. The music is based on Arabic traditional compositions and it stays far from the experimental-jazz, actually sounds rather traditional. Although a song like The 3 back 3 for procedure has a freaking, improvised saxophone part. Nice how this band keeps the traditional vibe and is renewing in small details mostly but sometimes just has to freak out on their instruments.
www.talklang.de
Eelco Schilder


Julian Gaskell and his Trousered Philanthropists "Here the brute harpies make their nests"
Label: Own label; 2009
I love it when I’m about to fall asleep after listening to a few standard (not to say little bit boring) albums and a band wakes me up again with bloody good music. This is the second album by Julian Gaskell and his Trousered Philanthropists and is called Here the brute harpies make their nest. The band comes from Cornwall and they make some energetic, raw, mixture of folk, rock, punk, progressive, underground style folk with influences from almost everywhere and everything, Ska rhythms, a far-east melody, French muzette and some (more or less) traditional English influences. I love the accordion led up tempo songs, the sound of the Hammond organ starting its own life in a song, the unexpected melodic interruptions and a singer who sings his brains out of his nose. If you think this is a messy review, don’t buy the album as the music is even ten times as messy and I love it.
www.raggedtrouseredphilanthropists.co.uk
Eelco Schilder


V/A "Beyond Istanbul 2"
Label:
Trikont; 0398; 2009
All lovers of progressive rock of the seventies know that Turkey had a few fantastic folk-related progressive groups. The band Mogol(lar) is legendary, but also a singer like Selda recorded a few albums that are highly collectible. The German Trikont label proofs with this sampler album that Turkey is still full of known and lesser known pearls of progressive-folk. This second album in the Beyond Istanbul series is full with danceable, rocking, groovy modern Turkish prog-folk. Sometimes solid rock, sometime with modern beats, hip-hop and even some classical influenced songs or dreamy neo-folkie singer songwriter. It shows the richness and many sides of the Musical cultures of Istanbul.
www.trikont.de
Eelco Schilder


Martina Eisenreich "Wundergeige"
Label:
Fine Music; FM141-2; 2009
The German composer and violinist Martina Eisenreich is not, like most violinists, a classical or traditional music specialist, but got fascinated by film music and composes and plays soundtracks. On this new album called Wundergeige she recorded fifteen compositions including the known traditional The water is wide, klezmer music and some original material. Backed by musicians on drums, , guitar, bass, clarinet, harp and many others and with the nice vocals of Valeri McCleary and Irena Madzoski, she takes the listener on a journey through different styles and cultures. Eisenreich is a great violinist and although this is not a soundtrack, her way of playing betrays her love for creating pictures with music. Her play is warm, her musical arrangements open minded and suitable for a wide audience and her album well produced, every note she plays, every sound you hear is well thought over. Her choice of material is very safe, this is music that proved to be loved by many and with recording this she definitely will please many.
www.martina-eisenreich.com
Eelco Schilder


The Klezmatics "Wonderwheel"
Label:
Frea records / Music & words; 4064; 2006/9
The Klezmatics are probably one of the best known klezmer bands on earth. For almost 25 years the band has surprised us with nine albums in several styles, but always with the Klezmer music as the basic element. They worked with many famous (American) (folk) musicians, won several prices and toured successfully worldwide. This album Wonderwheel isn’t a new album, it has been released in the US in 2006. This is the European release with four bonus tracks. I think it’s one of the less Klezmer releases of the band with sixteen recordings of Woody Guthrie songs. Nicely done and great to hear these songs in a very different interpretation than they are normally recorded. Of course there are still some Klezmer influences left, but some Latin, Celtic styles can be heard and of course the different subgenres of the American folk are represented on this album. A nice album with good folk music with an extra touch.
www.klezmatics.com
Eelco Schilder


K.C. McKanzie "Dryland"
Label:
T3 records; 0020-2; 2009
Singer-songwriter K.C. McKanzie from Berlin is slowly but surely getting one of the best European based singer-songwriters. With her new album Dryland continues where she left us on her former album. This album contains music of a consistent high quality and McKanzie shows an up going development. Although I liked her former albums, this is the most balanced one. She has a better control over her vocals, sounds more self-confidence and created n album that has enough variation, but always stays in the same vein. The songs fit together and make this a real pleasure to listen to. Nice banjo, smooth accordion, great bass and a bit shy guitar create a world of modern acoustic Americana music with bluegrass and soft jazz/blues influences. A refreshing album that will find its way to old and new fans.
www.kcmckanzie.com
Eelco Schilder


Danny O’Flaherty "He believes in me"
Label: Own label; 2009
Singer-songwriter Danny O’Flaherty is an Irish born, but now living in the USA. Since 1994 he has released many albums with Celtic inspired music including Christmas and children albums. He believes in me is the first album I hear from him and it’s a real pleasure. His music has a melancholic atmosphere with some romantic touches. In the song I’ll be back (and in some others) it are the orchestral strings that creates this melancholic feeling. But in other songs it’s the combination of O’Flaherty’s warm vocals, his personal lyrics and the gentle way the musicians play their instruments, sometimes almost like a whisper. It’s nice how he combines influences from the Americana traditions with those from the Celtic culture. This is an album that somehow touches me. It’s beautiful, sensitive and spiritual at the same time.
www.dannyoflaherty.com
Eelco Schilder


Galant, tu perds ton temps "Chansons traditionnelles a cappella"
Label: La tribu ; 7290; 2009
Galant tu perds ton temps, you might think it’s the title of the album, well..it’s not. It’s the name of a Canadian female a cappella quintet and their percussionist. The band brings together five musicians, all with a different background. There is a lead singer of a rock band, a country-folk musician, a theatre artist, accordionist and a flautist. Their love for the traditional music from Quebec brought them together, they left their instruments at home and started singing together. The result is this debut 2-cd set with 24 recordings of traditional songs. Listening to the first album the energetic start with the song Les promesses du gallant surprises me. This sounds fresh, uplifting and happy. Strong harmonies with the typical Quebec percussion, great start which continues on this first album. The vocals fit nicely and in solo parts the soloists show to be decent solo singer with all their own characteristic vocal nuances but without having big differences in style and approach. When listening to the second album of this debut, I got a bit disappointed. I hoped that they would show a totally different approach of the music but the style of the first album continues. The same quality, but to my personal opinion one album would have been enough to show the power and the quality of the band. A strong, refreshing debut in quality but a bit too much in quantity.
www.galanttuperdstontemps.ca
Eelco Schilder


Lupa Luna "Le ciel est au bout"
Label:
Appel rekords; apr1318; 2009
Lupa luna is a new Belgian trio founded by the known accordionist Greet Garriau who is part of the band Fluxus. She is joined by Greet Wage man on violin and mandolin and Sam van Ingelgem on bass. All three musicians sing on this album as well. Lupa Luna reflects exactly what is going on in the Belgian world of folk. The past few years many Belgian bands have grown from (more or less) traditional (acoustic) folk groups into innovating collectives. The folk and traditional music might still be a main influence, but more and more it’s mixed with chanson, theatrical sounds, world, jazz and new acoustic music. This new trio does it exactly that way. They sing in several languages, create new worlds in which they blend Balkan with Celtic, Belgian and French music styles. They show their quality in the recordings, although I find the compositions a bit predictable and superficial, they keep repeating the same melodic basic structures and I noticed that halfway the album I lose my attention. Lupa Luna shows some nice ideas, has a few great musicians but somehow I find that the album is too much a variation on the same theme.
www.myspace.com/lupalunatrio
Eelco Schilder


Valkyrien Allstars "Valkyrien Allstars"
Label:
Heilo; 7220; 2007
Well, this is a bit strange, they released their second album in august 2009, but instead I get their debut album from three years ago for review. So you might find the information I give you a bit out of date and you probably already have this album in your Nordic CD collection. This trio was founded in 2002 and released their debut album five years later. The album was a big success in their home country and the band is nominated and awarded several times in the past three years. The sleeve shows three young musicians with the Hardanger violins in their hand. I expected a new acoustic, traditional fiddle album, but what I get is an energetic and more than interesting album. It starts with two acoustic tunes. Both traditional and original, but what makes them so interesting is that they are not played in the ‘traditional’ way but have the structure of good solid rock songs. This gives a new dimension to the music which works for me. Nice is also the folk-rock song Hvis jeg var deg with the nice, bit raw female vocals, followed by a surprising and full speed version of Knepphallingen. It shows the variety of the album which is incomparable to the Norwegian Folk(rock) albums that I know, or maybe I should put it this way; this is rock on folk instruments and not folk with rock influences. Strong debut and I’m very curious to their second album.
www.valkyrienallstars.com
Eelco Schilder


Linda Griffiths "Storm nos"
Label:
Sain; 2617; 2009
Linda Griffiths is a known singer from Wales who is known for her great passion for traditional songs. Griffiths loves singing them, arrange them into modern sounding songs and writing new songs with the soul of the ancient Welsh culture. On this album she brings a mixture of traditional and original material, beautifully song and backed by her two daughters. The album breaths the beauty of Wales, strong harmony vocals, gently backed by Maartin Allcock and Chris Leslie amongst others. Eleven peaceful songs, sung in a calm and self-confident way. Good choice to let her daughters do the backings, it’s a beautiful combination.
www.sainwales.com
Eelco Schilder


Trio Aubergine "Neglected violet"
Label: Own label; 2009
Trio Aubergine is a Dutch trio from the Sealand region, playing the Jew’s harp. The trio is unique in its sort and had several successful TV appearances and radio performance in the Netherlands. This album is a kind of Anthology, taken from a series they recorded in the past few years. Twenty-one compositions, all improvisations on a theme. The album starts with the Ouverture in red which is surprisingly heavy and dark and different than most of the tracks, which heave a more airy and subtle sound. The compositions all have their own atmosphere including worldly rhythms, surprising twists and sometimes complicated and unexpected melodic patterns. It’s an interesting album by a trio that apologizes in the booklet for the fact that it’s impossible to compare their style of music with any other style. If you find the right listening-dosage this is a remarkable album with interesting, sometimes avant-gardistic music. Not an album that I can listen to for a full hour, but a few songs at a time. Curious? Send an email to order the album: phonsbakx [at] antropodium.tweakdsl [dot] nl !
www.antropodium.nl
Eelco Schilder


Werner Lämmerhirt "Zeitreise"
Label:
Bcb records; 09-0042; 2009
As being a lover of old vinyl as well, I do have a few Lämmerhirt albums in my collection and I never wondered if this master on guitar is still recording music. This new album Zeitreise shows how he is close to his forty years anniversary as a recording artist. And after having listened to this album over and over again I can’t conclude otherwise than that he was and is a guitarist that I love. His first recordings were with Hannes Wader in 1971 and since then he has recorded with Wader many times, but also with the great Alex Campbell, Davey Arthur and others. His first solo album is from 1974 and already than he surprises with strong finger picking and compositions that are interesting for a wide audience. On Zeitreise he plays twenty of his best compositions from the past forty years, a lovely journey with strong acoustic music with influences from so many (folk/world) styles that it’s impossible to describe them all. For me Lämmerhirt proves to be one of Germany’s finest musician of the past forty years
www.werner-laemmerhirt.de
Eelco Schilder


Rashanim "The Gathering"
Label:
Tzadik; 8144; 2009
Last year I reviewed various albums which were released on the American Tzadik label and almost all got good reviews. It doesn’t happen often that a label is so consistent in its quality, but this label certainly is. This new release is called The Gathering is the new project by guitarist and composer Jon Madof. Together with Shanir Ezra Blumenkranz and Mathias Künzle, he brings together the ancient styles of the Middle East, the Jewish culture and today´s rock sound. This trio impresses with their strong compositions and compact sound. Soulful guitar, solid bass and percussion, a perfect addition to Madof´s discography and to the world of) more or less Jewish’ music in general. It´s really about time I´m going to write a long article about this label and it´s musicians I think. Stop reading this stupid review, go to the webpage and order the whole Tzadik catalogue starting with this new release.
www.jonmadof.com
Eelco Schilder


Dan King "Western color"
Label: Own label; 2009
Dan King is a Singer-songwriter from Massachusetts, US with an interest in any good folk, rock and progressive music. His new album isn’t a solo output as such, but an album as a quartet in which he is joined by David Brown on guitars and dobro, Wolf Guinandes on bass and Dave Mattacks on percussion and keyboards. Together with an occasional guest, King and friends recorded eleven new songs, a live, alternative and a demo recording. The album has a laid back rock sound with influences from the American folk styles and just a bit of blues now and then. Well produced, top musicians and friendly songwriting make this an album that brings people in a good mood. The musicians know how to create a strong sound together, very well in balance and always under control. Western color has all the ingredients to be liked by many.
www.danielscottking.com
Eelco Schilder


Vic Chesnutt "Skitter on Take-off"
Label:
Vapor records; 2-521680; 2009
Only shortly before his death, I received the new album of US singer-songwriter Vic Chesnutt. A long time ago I got one of his early albums and kind of forgot about him, I know, I feel ashamed. Together with Jonathan Richman on guitar and harmonium and Tommy Larkins on drums, Chesnutt impresses me from the first until the last second. His both powerful and fragile way of singing seems to come direct from a deep, and slightly dark, place of his soul. The way Richman and Larkins join him is close to perfect. In a sober, sometimes almost minimalistic way, they support Chesnutt’s way of singing and bring it to a higher level. What a fantastic last album, music in a seldom heard pure form. This is not an album to write about, this is an album to listen to.
www.vicchesnutt.com
Eelco Schilder


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