FolkWorld #60 07/2016

CD & DVD Reviews

Martin Barre "Back to Steel"
Garage, 2015

Article: Challenging the Audience

www.martinbarre.com

Back to steel indeed. Martin Barre’s steel stringed electric guitar has been deeply imbedded in my mind for over 40 years now, most of those with the legendary Jethro Tull. He is working as hard as ever with regular album releases and extensive touring. His live show was excellent as he has recruited an outstanding band to keep things rocking with guitars, bass, drums, and vocals. The full band is here, rocking hard and true. But he also adds some mandolin at times in fun and exciting ways such as in ‘Sea of Vanity’ and the Tull song ‘Skating Away’. Barre was often overlooked as one of the guitar greats, partially due to the other flamboyant Tull players (even beyond Ian Anderson). But then and now, Martin Barre is a great rock guitar stylist who maintains a blues base, but is exploratory of other forms as well. This album shows all his skills and is just eclectic enough to be fresh and appealing to rock fans of all ages.
© David Hintz


Robbie Basho "Bouquet"
Grass-Tops Recording, 1983/2016

www.robbiebasho-archives.info

Excuse me, while I take off the cloak of objectivity and revert to a child receiving sacrament at the altar. Robbie Basho is one of my all-time favorites and when I get to hear a rare (and unheard by me) reissue released 30 years after his death, I am giddy with delight. And with just a few notes of the opening cut, the magical acoustic guitar runs offset by his chilling voice meandering over under sideways down from the melody have me in heaven. There are songs I know from other LPs, but in alternate versions, still following his unique path toward musical enlightenment. There are some piano tunes as well, which is an underrated part of his music. Robbie Bash was a mystical folk artist who transcended the musical scene then and now. This is a free release due to some copyright issues, so there is no reason not to indulge.
© David Hintz


Robbie Basho "Live at Folkstudio 1982"
Grass-Tops Recording, 1982/2016

www.robbiebasho-archives.info

Grass-Tops Recordings have done us another fine service here. But I am an easy mark, as they do it every time they reissue anything by Robbie Basho. This obviously is a live recording and although there are the expected sonic limitations, it is still worth the experience for Basho fans as this show features many long extended raga songs that showcase Basho’s guitar by itself, working its usual magic (aside from the occasional haunting vocal). Folkstudio was in Rome and was likely the center of fine folk activity in Italy, if it ties in with the label Folkstudio and the band Folkstudio A, which it likely does. So I appreciate seeing the worldwide connection of key folk artists as they expanded from the 1960s through the 1980s and added so much psychedelic sounds and other progressive forms to the music. Basho had the music that inspired oh so many people. Here is further proof.
© David Hintz


Tir na nOg "Live at the Half Moon"
Mega Dodo, 2016

www.tirnanog-progfolk.com

It was welcome news for these ears when I heard that this fine Irish folk duo, who had some lovely psyche-folk songs on their first three albums from the 1970s, were back decades later playing live. I have yet to catch a show, but now have this fine live album to show where they are at in the 21st century. Sonny Condell and Leo O’Kelly still sound exquisite in harmony and their guitar playing evokes all the mysteries of a foggy island morning, even more than in the past. They add some violin and percussion, which add amazing textures and punctuation. The guitars are stinging throughout and these two work are quite inventive working together. The material is split between old and new and if you were not familiar with their material, it would be difficult to tell which is which, as they have simply grown from their early days without losing their core sound and abilities to create something unique.There are a few more cool rock moves than I remembered, such as in ‘Free Ride’. This was quite a treat and I can attest that even if this were some brand new band, I would really love this record, although I am not sure a brand new band could have this many fine songs to put into a set.
© David Hintz


Various Artists "Music of Morocco - From the Library of Congress" [4 CDs]
Library of Congress, 2016

www.paulbowles.org

This is just what the doctor ordered… a four CD box set of authentic Moroccan music. You get warmed up with a 27 1/2 minute opening piece by Abdelkrim Rais and Ensemble. What better way to cleanse the musical palate of all the Americana, Electronica, and neo-psyche variants that come in for review. Further, these are historic field recordings by noted author Paul Bowles, as he criss-crossed Morocco in the latter half of 1959. Maybe there is a spiritual connection for me as well, as that was when I was born. Also, Paul Bowles ‘The Sheltering Sky’ is a brilliant novel and one of my all-time favorites. Clearly, this is not for the casual listener, but it is something you can put and get lost in. The recordings are surprisingly clear and quite varied in terms of female and male singing and chanting with instrumental differences as well. Ultimately it is the whole effect that drones into your psyche where you either adjoin yourself to the spirit of the music or not. This is not something I get a hankering for every day of the week, but is something I regularly need. And this collection is quite effective to go back to on a regular basis.
© David Hintz


Marlon Williams "Marlon Williams"
Dead Oceans (Cargo Records), 2016

www.marlonwilliams.co.nz

After a strong opening, it turned out that there was a surprise around every corner of this album as this shifted from hard country rock to rock ballad to old time crooner to folk song, etc. There is even an indie rock feel in one song to remind you of the present day, which is helpful for this rest of this is a surreal dream with a powerful acoustic finish on pretty much all of Side B. This New Zealand artist has really connected with me here and I highly recommend giving this a thorough listen.
© David Hintz


Seheno "Hazo Kely"
Lokanga, 2016

www.seheno.com

This is quite a concoction of sound, as you might expect from a Madagascar born singer songwriter who is getting worldwide attention. There is a bit of the African blues style in here, but Madagascar is not Mali, and Seheno works in some pop and R&B moves in here as well. There are fresh percussive sounds throughout, which really give this a special feeling that you don’t get from so many other catchy pop albums this century. There is also much strength in her vocals making this album far more than a pop album. This is a great way for young people to take in worldly music, but us old folks can find plenty to dig into here, as well.
© David Hintz


M Toro Chamou (ek Bann Kreol) "Punk Islands"
Adami; 2016

www.mtorochamou.com

This French musician takes a reggae starting point and fuses in plenty of rock moves along the spectrum. There are some worldly moves here as well, but mostly it is bang on rhythms and strong melodies with powerful singing on top. I enjoyed some of the searing electric guitar leads, which always enliven the proceedings of music steeped in rhythm and excitement. There are some songwriting shifts, which is unusual for rhythmic music such as this, but M Toro Chamou does not appear to want to be too defined by one style. And that is good and has made for a successful and fun album.
© David Hintz


Sociedade Recreativa "Sociedade Recreativa"
Jarring Effects; 2016

www.sociedaderecreativa.com

Inspired world music is what this Brazilian band cooks up. It is not so much Tropicalia, but has European gypsy elements combined with some local flavors to land in a very foreign musical place. And that makes this a more interesting record than most. It is spirited with a trace of trippiness at various points. There is electronica here, but it does not dominate with accordions, guitars, and plenty of percussion taking more center stage. And the vocal work is strong throughout. This is a challenge, but a challenge I feel they met
© David Hintz


Jeremy Loops "Trading Change"
Kartel; 2016

Artist Video

www.jeremyloops.com

This is a gutsy folk–rock/indie-rock outing that has a bold sound and 16 hearty songs. If anything, there is too much here, as the Americana moves around here and there and there is even some rapping. If you like something modern sounding that has strength and conviction and still holds a mostly folk-rock approach, you may want to check out on this one. Although this has its charm, it is really not quite for me.
© David Hintz


John Moreland "High on Tulsa Heat"
Old Omens; 2015

www.johnmoreland.net

John Moreland offers up some variety in these ten songs, yet it is quite consistent. He divides the songs up between solo folk guitar and voice numbers with full band workouts. The solo songs should appeal to any folk fan as his guitar style has a strong plucking with plenty of space in between to work up the drama for his vocal story telling. His voice is rich and smooth, until the whole band gets involved, where he roughs it up a bit. There is deep westernized American sound here somewhere between California and Appalachia. Well, this was recorded in Oklahoma unsurprisingly. More surprisingly that the mastering was done by Steven Egerton of Descendants, All, and Flag fame (he lives in Tulsa). Good record.
© David Hintz


Yael Meyer "Warrior Heart"
KLI Records; 2014

www.yaelmeyermusic.com

This is nice, not terribly folk oriented, but nice in a dreampop manner that maintains a slightly rooted presence. There is a fair amount of piano taking the lead in the arrangements, although of course the vocals are the focal point. Yael Meyer sings her songs with a delicate airy sort of voice that has a slight otherworldly quality to it. That is enough for me to recommend this along with the solid melodic approach. Just don’t expect too much in the way of folk, although it will fit into a listening session with other folk acts. It is also nice to hear someone from Los Angeles sound like they are from another country as opposed to having a ‘California sound’.
© David Hintz


Wim Claeys "Een Schuune Bende"
Appel Rekords, 2016

Artist Video

www.wimclaeys.be

From Ghent, Belgium, comes this intriguing accordionist/singer/songwriter. He brings in elements of English and continental folk music into his songs, which he takes from mysterious psychedelic planes to rousing pub music. There is quite a composure to the proceedings as this music is rich with ethnic charm and pulsating with interesting sounds. This also manages to match an ancient vibe with modern sounds in a more clever way than most. It is quite original and a great little album that can attract a number of music lovers from many walks of life. So much great music has come my way from Belgium in recent years. This is just one more.
© David Hintz


Floatstone "Skipping Over Damaged Area"
Own label; 2015

www.floatstone.be

This Belgian folk artist also known as Brick de Bois has a very strong style with well-struck acoustic guitar and vocals that can carry a song. He is a bit more prosaic than poetic, but that actually aids in the stories he conjures up. And musically, there is a lot of interesting things going on from lounge jazz rhythms to more classic solo guitar ventures. The way a breezy atmosphere contains intensity is where Floatstone shows that he has a big bag of tricks at his disposal. His cover of Joni Mitchell’s ‘Big Yellow Taxi’ is a nice bonus, too. It is pretty hard not to enjoy this album.
© David Hintz


Big Little Lions "A Little Frayed, A Little Torn"
Riptide; 2016

www.biglittlelions.com

This band has a great blend of old and new folk rock forms. At times, they have found that connection between sixties hippie rural rock and urban soul. Some of the more intriguing bands in the 1960s and early 1970s found the connection as well, but it is less frequent today. But more often they jump far forward with vibrant music full of fresh and sounds and exquisite harmonies. No time for nostalgia here, just a lot of positive thoughts and musical prowess coming together. These folks know what they want and have delivered something that almost all Folkworld readers can find something to connect with.
© David Hintz


Benjamin Dakota Rogers "Strong Man’s Address to the Circus Crowd"
Own Label; 2015

Artist Video

www.benjaminrogersmusic.com

If you want a warm and comforting voice atop your folk music, Benjamin Dakota Rogers can deliver that. And he does for all twelve songs here. It can be a bit much at times, but he keeps me alert throughout with lovely varied arrangements. This is not often a showcase for extreme musical chops, but he does show creative uses of a variety of instrumentation. And there are some brisk tempos that sneak in at times, which helps round out this album nicely. Also of note, this Canadian artist plays guitar, fiddle, mandolin, and violin and only gets help from two others on this album, so he is definitely a talented guy and has mad a fine album here.
© David Hintz


Courtney Yasmineh "Red Letter Day"
Own label; 2015

www.courtneyyasmineh.com

This is much more in the indie rock category with strong nods to the hard rock days of the early 1970s. This album really cooks and the guitar sounds are a blast of fuzz and fury at times, while restrained and tasty during other songs. The vocal meter is quite modern, almost hip hop at times, but more bluesy rock throughout. There are a lot of tasty flourishes from the band and some good songwriting with plenty of hooks. Lots of talent here and a very fun album for those about to rock.
© David Hintz


Geronimo "Introvert"
Trad; 2015

Artist Video

www.geronimomusic.be

Nothing introverted about the guitar playing of Geronimo aka Jeroen Geerinck. This Belgian guitarist strengthens his sound with percussion on his guitar and layers his sound with a bit of organ in the background at times. Otherwise, there are gutsy acoustic guitar runs that weave into fine melodic patterns that make you want to move. There are gypsy and Irish elements, basically anything with a tempo and assertiveness to it all.
© David Hintz


Lion D "Heretical Soul"
Bizzarri Rcords; 2015

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If the band name didn’t have you thinking reggae, then songs from ‘The Rules of Babylon’ to ‘Ruff Inna Dub’ will certainly plant the appropriate seed. And this is from Jamaica via Italy where Lion D is based. But he recorded in Kingston and has plenty of traditional reggae moves within along with some soulful backing vocals and a snappy upbeat style that is fun on record and likely better still in a hot sweaty club. But this is reggae music and it is well done.
© David Hintz


Poor Nameless Boy "Bravery"
Chronograph Records; 2016

Artist Video

www.poornamelessboy.com

Joel Henderson is the name behind the Poor Nameless Boy moniker. His songs are worthy of being named and being lifted out of poverty. They are warm and both his voice and lyrics resonate with a delicate touch. The arrangements are also full with acoustic guitar, bass and drums holding down the middle while a tasty electric guitar works up surprising fills on one side, and a violin works the other. The Canadian landscape seems at the heart of his personal stories and a rootsy folk is at the core of the sound. He nicely varies the tempos and volumes from lighter folk to a more assertive folk rock. Good album.
© David Hintz


Afro Celt Sound System "The Source"
ECC Records, 2016

German CD Review

Artist Video

www.afroceltsoundsystem.com

As the name clearly indicates, this band takes on the challenge of integrating traditional African instruments and style with Celtic music. You clearly can hear both sounds and styles at work and they surprisingly sound quite integrated. Maybe not so surprisingly, when you realize this band has reached many ears already with album sales and Grammy nominations. What is particularly strong to me are the vocals, which carry a lovely dreamy quality yet have a core strength to stay with this active music underneath. This is a lively enjoyable album and as a bonus for me, the artwork is by Jamie Reid who did some famous work for the Sex Pistols many years ago.
© David Hintz


Kelly Richey "Shakedown Soul"
KRB; 2015

www.kellyrichey.com

When someone is on her 16th album in 35 years, I expect a bit of quality. Yes, that is here. But I don’t necessarily expect fiery youthful energy, yet that is here as well. Kelly Richey takes the blues into hard rocking electric territory. Yeah, it all has been done before, but when you do it well and have that deep energetic approach that keeps things fresh, then you should all means keep going. She also has a throaty voice that is tough, but expressive. This LP is also fully based on original songs by Kelly Richey and a couple of co-writers. So fresh, invigorating, what is not to like?
© David Hintz


Honor Finnegan "Roses and Victory"
Own label; 2016

www.honorfinnegan.com

Now here is a resume that leads you right into this album. Honor Finnegan was a child actress and did improv comedy in Chicago before moving to Ireland and playing folk music. That leads us into this excellent folk album that has sharp comedy and strong dramatic stories. Finnegan strips it down to voice and her ukulele or expands it out into full band arrangements, sometimes aided by brass. It sounds excellent enough, but the lyrical quality is as good as anything you will hear. It is funny, but smart. The lyrical stories are like a good novel in that you really focus on them and either want to turn the page to have more, or dread turning the page if the emotions are deep and powerful. There is complexity and intelligence throughout and you should challenge yourself with this fine album.
© David Hintz


Ashia Bison Rouge "Oder"
Jaro, 2015

www.ashiabisonrouge.com

This is a bold record, sort of as if Kate Bush took a rootsier approach. This is cello music with loops, fades, wide ranges, and power. While there is a definite down to earth strength at the core, there are incredible bursts that soar into the atmosphere. These are in the forms of powerful vocals, layered strings of various sizes and tones attacking their way into the melody. Some songs are even more thickly orchestrated, but even with sole vocals and strings, the strings have a way of building and receding in strange dynamic patterns. This is a gutsy record that is quite lovely at times. I would say delicate, but it is just too edgy and dramatic for that even when it pulls back. I will be spending more time with this.
© David Hintz


Sten Fisher "The Mystery Tree"
Own label; 2015

Artist Video

www.stenfisher.de

With all the sonic variations I get, it is necessary to get something resembling a straightforward folk album once in a while. Sten Fisher qualifies with his style brought forth with vocals, acoustic guitar, and a bit of bass, piano, or percussion as he sees fit. There is a storytelling in his lyrics and a range of emotions covered. It is relatively simple, quite direct, and should be able to make some quiet noise in the folk scene.
© David Hintz


Scott Bricklin "Lost ‘til Dawn"
Blue Rose, 2015

www.facebook.com/...

I just do not care for prettying up the blues. That is done here way too often. Bricklin is more successful when he goes for more of an acoustic sound, but even then, this is much too mainstream for my liking. The best cut is co-written with a band member, so this may say something. This is way too safe, but if you like it warm and comforting, you may want to try this.
© David Hintz


Caroline Aiken "Broken Wings Heal"
Soft Butter Records; 2015

www.carolineaiken.com

This was recorded in Athens, Georgia and has that sort of southeastern roots feeling within. There are a lot of post-REM bands from all parts of the country and Aiken does not quite follow that sound, but the atmosphere is similar. She has a full band rock sound that works well for her rootsy folk based songs. She offers some lounge moves, some bluesier runs, and just moves to the beat of her muse. It all connects together with her assured vocals on top. Good solid record here.
© David Hintz


Dubioza Kolektiv "Happy Machine"
Koolarrow Records; 2016

www.dubioza.org

Put on your Balkan dancing shoes and get up or down with the dub. This is assertive dance music with some great ethnic folk moves off to the side of the thrust of the beats. There is plenty of heavy guitar and bass to propel this along with a punk attitude when the song heads that way. It’s heavy machine as well as a happy one and it is a fun listen.
© David Hintz


Lontalius "I’ll Forget 17"
Partisan/Knitting Factory, 2016

www.facebook.com/...

There is a folktonica element here with electronic percussion and warm synthesized sounds in the backing. But it is all pretty delicate with soft vocals, haunting backing vocals, and a steady melodic delivery. There are more droning guitar led songs as well such as ‘Kick in the Head’, which is my favorite. There is even some power pop and ambient moves. This sounds more eclectic than it is as the steady easygoing voice is there throughout to calm the waters. But it is different and this New Zealand youngster may be worth a listen to the more adventurous ears out there.
© David Hintz


Shred Kelly "Sing to the Night"
Own label; 2014

Artist Video

www.shredkelly.com

No, this is not the latest shred metal guitarist, but rather a five-piece Canadian band that specializes in roots rock or folk rock. The instrumentation is bright and brisk with plenty of rock moves, even as they are handled with a certain precision. That is always a great start, but the real bonus is that the songs have more interesting twists and turns while maintaining likeable hooks and attractive vocals. It all adds up to a bright but powerful album. They have succeeded in Canada and I would like to see them branch out into further territory (so I can catch a live show some time).
© David Hintz


Kate Campbell "The K.O.A. Tapes (Vol. 1)"
Large River Music; 2015

www.katecampbell.com

These are simple living room recordings as the title implies. But there are fine musicians including Spooner Oldham on keys. There are also some additions from a Nashville studio, so you are not looking at anything overly lo-fi here. Some of the vocals come through with room echo ambiance, so it is noticeable during some songs. The playing and Campbell’s vocals are solid throughout. There are sparse folk arrangements and a few that offer more of a band feeling. There are many original songs as well as key covers by Paul Simon, Richard Thompson, and others. And someone must’ve yelled out ‘Freebird’ and for once, it is actually played right as this album comes to a close.
© David Hintz


David Francey "Empty Train"
Laker Music; 2016

Artist Video

www.davidfrancey.com

After beginning with the title cut, David Francey fills his train with some interesting passengers. He specializes in story telling folk with rich lively characters to spend a few minutes with. Musically, this works nicely as the instrumentation is mostly acoustic and quite warm to the ear. There is a fair amount of banjo, along with mandolin and fiddle to give this a rustic feeling (and after hearing this album, I read that it was recorded in a rustic cabin in Ontario). And there is one cover of ‘False Knight (on the Road)’, which connects to the traditional English folk scene. And it would be remiss to avoid mention of his warm inviting vocals that make this an album so easy to indulge in.
© David Hintz


Bill Price "I Can’t Stop Looking at the Sky"
Grass Magoops; 2015

www.billprice.info

Before I hear the first note, I compliment Bill Price on taking a bold approach with this release. There are 33 songs running over two hours that are accompanied with a 120 page travel journal and 160 page book of short stories, along with other artistic items. I cannot judge the whole release as I “only” have a 16-song sampler to review. But from that alone, it is easy to see how the literature included in the package would be worth a read. Bill Price has some of the better lyrical phrasing I have heard recently. His topics are interesting and there are even a few songs about writing, so this is very arts oriented throughout. Song-wise, this is a brisk effort with folk-rock and even some lounge-jazz tossed in with a rock sound that is most dominant. It moves with a brisk sense of fun and adventure, so this is something very interesting by design, whose execution appears to live up to the bold idea.
© David Hintz


Moulettes "Preternatural"
Craft Pop; 2016

Artist Video

www.moulettes.co.uk

There is a wee bit of folk in here, but the Moulettes are big and bold and don’t confine themselves to any genre rules. There are some powerful dance style beats, although they don’t go into the usual clichés. There are also dreamy atmospheres with lush keyboards and soaring vocals. So let’s dispose of the genres and just keep this shown as a modern rock album with a big sound and some fine hooks. The album does not quite sustain its strong opening for me, but I don’t see anything particularly wrong, other than maybe the songwriting can be as interesting as the arrangements. But there is a lot to take in, just don’t wait for the acoustic moves.
© David Hintz


Fiji Condo Chief "Condo Island"
Ongagloo Records; 2016

Artist Video

www.facebook.com/...

With a name and cover that looks like an island record, perhaps leaning to reggae or south Pacific drum songs, it is quite a surprise that instead there is something much more mysterious inside. The lead vocals make me envision Nick Cave impersonating a lounge singer at times, while going into a softer blues on other occasions. The music is rhythmic with a lot of Pere Ubu ambient synthesizer doing strange things in the background. The female back-up singers (occasionally in the lead) work more conventional territory and brighten up the songs considerably, yet still adding to the mystery of where this all is coming from. Well aside from Germany, this must come from strange industrial island pop paradise.
© David Hintz



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