FolkWorld #70 11/2019

CD Reviews

Iontach "Cuan"
Siúnta Music, 2019

Artist Video www.ion
tach.de

German CD Review

Iontach is a trio founded in 2003 and based in Northern German, which can be located in the vast field of reinterpreted traditional Irish music.[32] Born in Dundalk in the north-eastern Irish Co. Louth, Siobhán Kennedy plays flute and violin; she won the All Ireland Championships with the céilí band Siamsa and played together with Gerry O'Connor and Eithne Ní Uallacháin in the group Lá Lugh.[55] Jens Kommnick is a jack-of-all-trades and plays more instruments than the average person is familiar with; but in particular he is a respected Celtic fingerstyle performer on the guitar and may also call himself All Ireland Champion.[57] A few years ago they began A New Journey,[61] when founding member Angelika Berns left and English accordionist Nick Wiseman-Ellis joined the group. Their fifth album and second in this lineup is simply named Harbour, "Cuan". Not only do they live in a small fishing village and Jens' fine composition "Lights on the Ocean" sets a musical monument to it, its whole music conveys reliability and security - as the safe haven for the fishermen and sailors! Their three-part harmonies is as soulful as it produces goose bumps: 250 years old is the well-known "Slán Le Máigh" by the poet Aindrias Mac Craith, less the Gaelic lullaby "Éiníní". Englishman Richard Lovelace wrote the poem "To Althea, From Prison" in 1642 with the lines Stone walls do not a prison make, nor iron bars a cage, which Dave Swarbrick set to music in the seventies for folk rock band Fairport Convention. More recently, Harold Saunders Blackham (gaelicized: Aodh de Blácam) sang "Cooley Shore" to the melody of the "Lowlands of Holland", but Siobhán and Jens composed a new air, and singer-songwriter John Spillane paid a visit to the ferry port "Passage West", which brings us back to the harbour topic. Iontach's arrangements of instrumental Irish dance music spice up things: a few long-forgotten jigs and hornpipes can be found next to the compositions of Charlie Lennon, Paddy O'Brien, Josephine Keegan, Karen Tweed, and of course Siobhán, Jens and Nick themselves.
Last but not least, in the words of American singer-songwriter David Roth,[58] Iontach confirm that they are still at the beginning of their journey and that there is no end in sight: Until We Meet Again! Yes, please!
© Walkin' T:-)M


Pons Aelius "Fire Under the Bridge"
Own label, 2019

Artist Video www.ponsaelius
music.com

Pons Aelius (Latin: Aelian Bridge, Aelius was the Roman emperor Hadrian's family name) was a military camp on the River Tyne close to today's Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the north of England. It is also the name of a folk rock band comprising six young musicians performing traditional music in contemporary style. Pons Aelius have toured all of Europe for half a decade, and their sophomore album, "Fire Under the Bridge," shows the present state of their crossover from traditional roots to the future of Celtic music. As it says: fiery, fervent and flamy! The music is driven by bagpipes (Jordan Aikin), flute (Sam Partridge), banjo/mandolin (Tom Kimber) and supported by guitar/bouzouki (Alasdair Paul), double bass (Bevan Morris) and bodhrán (Callum Younger). Both northern and southern side of Hadrian's Wall have been inspected, with a one-off raid across the Irish Sea. Think of the Treacherous Orchestra, Flook and Cúig and you will get an idea. From the very first tune medley, Pons Aelius deploy pyrotechnics. "Fury / Fire Under the Bridge / What a Treat" - all three tunes have been written by Jordan, and the individual names say it all, isn'it? But I'm also impressed when they step on the brakes. Tom's "Elinor's" is a poignant slow air, whereas Jordan's "Rafa Benitez" crosses seamlessly from waltz to jig time. So after all, a safe passage is assured and the boys will get to the other side in good order.
© Walkin' T:-)M


Socks in the Frying Pan "Raw & Ríl (Live)"
Own label, 2019

Artist Video www.socksinthe
fryingpan.com

Socks in the Frying Pan are a traditional music trio from Ennis in Co. Clare in the West of Ireland. Aodán Coyne (guitar and vocals), Shane Hayes (accordion) and Fiachra Hayes (fiddle and banjo) started playing in pubs together, meanwhile they have dealt with audiences all around the globe; I have personally seen them at Tønder festival for example.[65] After three critically acclaimed studio recordings[50][58][63] they wanted to capture the music, the energy and the craic of their live shows. "Raw & Ríl" has been recorded at the Glór theatre in their hometown before an enthusiastic crowd. The Socks are frying a..., sorry, firing away with hot-blooded sets of jigs and reels and hornpipes and barndances. The songs are showcasing the vocal abilities of Aodán (who has a solo album out as well)[70] and the trio's fine harmonies. The selection is from all over the place: Cyril Tawney to Phil Ochs, Aberdeenshire to Kentucky, and last but not least 1994 Eurovision Song Contest winner Charlie McGettigan's "Feet Of A Dancer" which had been sung by De Danann's Maura O'Connell in 1988 who incidentally is from Ennis as well.
© Walkin' T:-)M


The Sandy Brechin Trio "Polecats and Dead Cats"
Brechin All Records, 2019

The Sensational Jimi Shandrix Experience "Foxy Laddie"
Brechin All Records, 2019

www.brechin-all-records.com

Artist Video

Sandy Brechin from Kirkliston in the vicinity of Edinburgh is one of Scotland’s most illustrious accordion players, not because of employing a small-sized accordion in a fancy red, but his nimble fingering and his unparalleled bass syncopation. His musical CV is worth mentioning as well. For a couple of years Sandy was a member of folk rock band Bùrach, whose final album titled "Unstoppable"[32] proved to be the true description for his following career in various outfits.[38][46][56]
"Polecats And Dead Cats" is the debut album from The Sandy Brechin Trio, featuring Jimmy Johannsson (fiddle) and Christopher Bång (double bass). Both Swedes are well versed in Celtic and Nordic music. The three already met in 2006, but it took nearly a decade to join forces and play Scottish tunes the Swedish way (harmonies etc). Besides, they share the same humour (which is pitch-black, just have a look at the sleeve notes). Both Sandy and Jimmy are gifted composers in a neo-traditional vein; some of Sandy's have already been featured on previous recordings. There is some trad, both reels and polskas, and the Penguin Café Orchestra's showstopper "Music for a Found Harmonium". It is unorthodox and exceptional, at times lighthearted and cheerful, at others soulful and brooding.
Already in the early 1990s, Sandy had formed his own ceilidh band, The Sensational Jimi Shandrix Experience,[34] which as the name suggests is an ensemble playing traditional dance music with an attitude of sex, drugs & rock'n'roll. It is a big band with 18 people on this recording, including smallpiper Gary West,[40] fiddlers Greg Borland[34] and Ronan Martin,[38] as well as saxophone and pedal steel guitar. The selected tunes are a Best-Of of every Pipe Major there is, and the result is a feast of passion and panache.
© Walkin' T:-)M


Tradish "Handmade Tales"
GO' Danish Folk Music, 2019

www.tradish.dk

Denmark based trio Tradish once admitted that their hearts beat for Irish Music.[51] After two albums by now,[42][51] John Pilkington (vocals, guitar, bouzouki), Louise Ring Vangsgaard (fiddle, viola) and Brian Woetmann (bodhrán, mandolin) celebrate their 10th anniversary with another set of "Handmade Tales". They've came across their narratives in "High Germany" (well, a broadside ballad written by a Scot or an Irishman about the wars over here) or the southern Irish Co. Cork ("How Can I Live at the Iop of a Mountain") or let Brian make up an emigration story from the Blasket Islands off the Irish west coast. Tradish toured Greenland at least three times where they uncovered the lovely song "Nuilersup Qilaap Seequinersuata". They've also made good use of European Irish Stepdance Champion Gunilla Odsbøll's foot percussion on one of the instrumental medleys. By the way, a tune also written by Brian, just as John and Louise added their fine original tunes to the traditional Irish compound.
© Walkin' T:-)M


Shantalla "From the East unto the West"
Own label, 2019

Artist Video www.shantal
lamusic.com

Twenty years ago, a Scottish singer and some Irish instrumentalists formed a traditional music band in the Belgian diaspora. Apart from a break in the second half of the first decade of the 21st century, Shantalla were a reliable player on the Celtic music circuit.[10][46] They were never frequent guests in the recording studio though,[8][21][46] and 2019 marks only their fourth album altogether. The current line-up is made up of vocalist Helen Flaherty,[68] the front-line of Kieran Fahy (fiddle), Gerry Murray (accordion) and Michael Horgan (uilleann pipes) and the rhythm section of Joe Hennon (guitar) and Simon Donnelly (bouzouki). "Paddy goes East" is one of Gerry’s own with an Eastern-inspired groove, also inspiring the album's title. The rest takes place in the West of Europe packaging compositions from Michael McGoldrick and Charlie Lennon with more originals from Gerry and Michael. The later's "Farewell to Charlemagne" is a gorgeous slow air (it is a parting song for a small bunny, not the great medieval emperor). Furthermore, there is a splendid Breton tune taken from German folk group Faun, "Ynis Avalach,"[46] which merges an An Dro with a Hanter Dro. The song selection is equally colourful: a Child ballad about ravens conversing about which slain knight they should eat ("Twa Corbies") and a 17th century song about a notorious pirate ("Captain Ward") meet colliers ("Midlothian Mining Song"), deportees ("Jamie Raeburn") and peasants ("War of the Crofters"). A traditional and pseudo-traditional song repertoire with significance for the present age; in equal measure a collection of old and new dance music which is state of the art.
© Walkin' T:-)M


Blackwater Céilí Band "Music in the Valley"
Own label, 2019

Artist Video www.blackwater
ceiliband.com

The valley in question is the Clogher Valley in Co. Tyrone in Northern Ireland, criss-crossed by the River Blackwater. The Irish clochar means a stony place (there probably was an ancient ringfort or a medieval monastery), this music here is neither stony-faced nor fossilised but flowing along like a stream pushing debris. The Blackwater Céilí Band was formed in 2015 and became the first Tyrone band to win the All Ireland championships at the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Drogheda in 2018. This ten-piece ensemble of 4 fiddlers, 2 flutist, 1 button accordionist, 1 piano accordionist, 1 pianist and 1 percussionist is dedicated to the musical traditions of counties Tyrone, Monaghan, Down and Leitrim (that means both sides of the border between the Republic of Ireland and the remaining part of the UK), spawning a mighty céilí band sound which becomes quite groovy at times. The tunes are old favourites, in addition the band's piano accordionist Ryan Hackett composed the good and solid "Blackwater March". They are joined by Dermot Mulholland, Emmet Mulholland and Cathal O’Neill for a couple of songs, a deeply moving "England's Motorway" from the pen of Ewan MacColl and a dizzying "Ballyronan Maid," as does the River Blackwater when it pushes its way through the valley.
© Walkin' T:-)M


Steve Crawford & Sabrina Palm "two"
Own label, 2019

Artist Video www.crawford
palm.com

German CD Review

Steve Crawford is a singer-guitarist from Aberdeen known from Ballad of Crows,[59] Sabrina Palm is a German fiddler who has fallen in love with Irish music. In a couple of years they have become one of the most creative duos on the German folk circuit. Their debut album introduced their harmony and reliability,[59] their sophomore album, augmented by uilleann piper Conor Mallon (of Connla fame), bodhrán player Robbie Walsh (Four Winds, Daoiri Farrell Band) and viola player Paul Bremen, offers a lush and contemporary representation of traditional and not-so-traditional Irish and Scottish tunes. Just sample the boisterous jig set "Three Little Steps," for example, featuring Brian Finnegan's composition of the same name, Gordon Duncan's "Soup Dragon" and Allan MacDonald's "I've Got It Here Somewhere". Sabrina Palm penned two tracks herself, one very touching, the other quite turbulent. Steve Crawford is the singer of the two. His rendition is rather Middle American and his choice of Tim O'Brien and Gary Nicholson's "More Love" may easily be desginated as a pop song. Apart from that he selected the traditional "Heather on the Moor" (possibly of Northern Irish provenience) and Robert Burns' pro-Scottish and anti-British "Such a Parcel of Rogues in a Nation" (could it be meant as a comment about the current Brexit debate?). Eventually, Steve gives a great account about "Scapa Flow 1919," the sinking of the German navy fleet from the pen of Orcadian singer-songwriter Kris Drever.
© Walkin' T:-)M


Natalie MacMaster "Sketches"
Linus Entertainment, 2019

Artist Video

www.natalieanddonnell.com

Natalie MacMaster[11][24][27][44] is regarded as one of Canada's foremost traditional fiddle players. In recent years, Natalie delighted audiences alongside her husband and fellow fiddler Donnell Leahy,[61] now "Sketches" is her first solo albums in 8 years. It is an exquisite selection of traditional and contemporary tunes looking back on the course of her musical career from her first steps until the present day. She muses, "I have something to say through my fiddle. It’ll be a moment of joyous appreciation inspired by years of parenting, marriage, life, friendships, and music. It is a moment during my 47th year of life, my 37th year of fiddling, my 16th year of marriage, my 13th year of parenting." Particularly it is a showcase of the awesome fiddle tradition of Cape Breton: James Scott Skinner, John Morris Rankin, Jerry Holland, all these great performers and composers, last but not least Natalie's original music. English guitarist Tim Edey plays a vibrant backing throughout; Natalie's own "Morning Galliano Waltz" (named for French accordionist Richard Galliano) comes alive with Tim's accordion in such a way that she finally liked it. 17th century composer Thomas Connellan's "Killiecrankie" is her favourite fiddle tune ever, and it kicks off an epic medley in four admirable parts. The final song, "Can’t Make You Love Me," is a sad adieu. I swear I will get back to Natalie again and again because I really love this.
© Walkin' T:-)M


Paul Brennan "Airs and Graces" [Double CD]
Carrig Music, 2018

www.carrigmusic.org.uk

I'm a canny gaun man and a piper by trade, he claims in the music hall song "Jock Stewart" (aka "I'm a Man You Don't Meet Every Day"). Indeed, Paul Brennan is an Irish uilleann piper. Born and raised in Co. Down, Northern Ireland, he co-founded the Belfast School of Piping. He is currently living in London as a City of Westminster Guide. Over the years he founded the groups Carrig (traditional Irish music), Orchestrad (Irish Baroque music) and the Paul Brennan Band (Celtic rock). He has been a session musician for commercials, TV and the movies, e.g. he acted as a bard in Ridley Scotts' "Robin Hood" and played the wedding jigs in the final Harry Potter picturisation. The double album "Airs and Graces" features a collection of recordings from the 1960s onwards – unaccompanied and accompanied songs, solo pipes and whistles tunes, duo and ensemble pieces from the three aforementioned groups. Come Along With Me, as the title of the old jig (#337 in O'Neill's) has it, Paul Brennan invites us into his musical world. There are tunes from the pen of Sean McGrath, Brendan McGlinchey and Willie Hunter. Six tunes are his own. With the exception of the final track, which is a state-of-the-art arrangement and production of "The Pikemen March", this is mostly old school showcasing his instrumental skills on pipes and whistles. There are a couple of songs as well, I personally would recommend to listen to the Northern Irish song "Green Grow the Laurels". Paul recalls that his mother and his grandmothers sang snatches of it; he had completely forgotten about it until Maurice Leyden recorded it[62] and sings it ever since.
© Walkin' T:-)M


Phil Hardy "WhistleWorks"
Own label, 2002/2019

Artist Video www.kerry
whistles.com

The penny whistle has been around for centuries, its big brother, the low whistle, though has altered the soundscape of traditional Irish music since the late Mr. Overton designed its first modern type in the early 1970s. Two decades later, Phil Hardy started crafting whistles and founded Kerrywhistles, manufacturer of Kerry and Chieftain Whistles. Being a fine performer himself, 2002s's "WhistleWorks" had been his second album, re-released on CD at last. In the sleeve notes he claimed this recording a departure from his debut album being more acoustically orientated and not relying on programming. Well, no, it is surely not the pure drop. There are rather complex arrangements, and even featuring considerable bass and drums. Less than the half of the tracks is traditional fare, Phil composed telling tunes such as "The Whistlemaker" or "Wet the Whistle" (:-) with Mike McGoldrick ("Farewell To Whalley Range") and John McSherry ("Lady Lane") thrown in for good measure. He plays most of the instruments himself – strings, keys, and winds quite impressive! After all, "WhistleWorks" has stood the test of time. Check it out!
© Walkin' T:-)M


Rachel Hair & Ron Jappy "Sparks"
March Hair Records, 2019

Artist Video www.rachel
hair.com

On her fifth album Scottish harpist Rachel Hair[38][39][48][61] is joined by guitarist Ron Jappy, who has toured with the likes of Mabon[67] and Skerryvore.[66] Originally a fiddle player, he plays the acoustic guitar here, and he does a good job with unobtrusive and relaxed backing and the occasional display of percussive pyrotechnics. There are groovy jigs and reels as well as delicate slow airs. The tunes are mostly traditional Scottish with the exception of three Irish polkas and the Manx lullaby "Arrane Y Chlean". If it comes to identified composers, there is a reel from the pen of James Scott Skinner and a touching air from piper Calum Stewart, "Looking at a Rainbow Through a Dirty Window". Rachel herself composed the sprightly jig "Mera's Delight" commemorating her student Mera Royle who won the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award in 2018. You will find much more grace in her "Glenbervie" with its modal melody and its syncopated rhythm. After all, the album's title "Sparks" has been chosen quite well, there is fire and panache even in its most bluesy spots.
© Walkin' T:-)M


Hannah Flowers "Amhrán na Cruite: Songs of the Harp"
Own label, 2018

Artist Video www.hannahflo
wersharp.com

Hannah Flowers is from St. Paul, Minnesota, who is playing the harp since the very age of two. She spent time in the Irish Co. Donegal learning Irish and in Co. Kerry studying the Celtic type of this finger-plucked string instrument. "Amhrán na Cruite" (Irish for Songs of the Harp) is a collection of a dozen songs and poems from the classic Gaelic tradition. Hannah's vocals are smooth and tender, her harp playing is decent and discreet. Diversification is provided by her mentor Daithi Sproule's guitar and the input from Cory Froehlich (flute), David Ochs (fiddle) and Danielle Emblom (step dance and foot percussion) every now and then. The selection features several well-known ballads such as "Buachaill ón Éirne", "Róisín Dubh" or "Bean Dubh a' Ghleanna" with full lyrics and English translations in the sleeve notes. There is a share of lesser known tracks though, let me just mention the following which I heard just once so far: "Cúl Tiubh na bPéarlaí" (Craobh Rua),[15] "Dún Do Shúil" (Altan).[31] I've never come across "Shíl Mé Féin" or "Máire Ní Eidhinn" before.
© Walkin' T:-)M


Sophie Crawford "Silver Pin"
Own label, 2018

Article: The Child Ballads

Artist Video

sophiecrawford.bandcamp.com

Sophie Crawford is an actor and co-director at London's Glimmer Theatre, she runs regular poetry slams and singing sessions, and most of all is a folk musician in her own right who has just released her debut album "Silver Pin". It is a fine selection of songs from the Child and Roud collections. "99 & 90" is number 1 documented by Francis Child, probably an American adaption of the medieval ballad that is titled "Riddles Widely Expounded" there. "Jack Hall" (also known as "Sam Hall") is a 19th century broadside ballad of the confession-under-the-galleys-type which Sophie took from Steeleye Span. Dick Gaughan is the source of the American trade union song "A Miner's Life," with slightly altered tune and chorus. More peculiarities: I'm personally fond of the old shanty "Lowlands," and another seafaring song, "The Wreck of the Dandenong," recollecting a steamboat shipwrecked off the Australian coast in 1876 (Andy Irvine and Rens van der Zalm sang it on their album "Parachilna").[53] "Little Yellow Roses" has been written by Shakespearean actor Trevor Peacock and "Idumea" is one of the myriad of Charles Wesley hymns that made it into the Sacred Harp and Shape Note singing tradition (this one was recorded by The Watersons for their 1977 album "Sound, Sound Your Instruments of Joy"). Oliver Coates' production makes only economical use of accordion, dulcimer, ukulele and cello; the songs are carried by Sophie's tender but robust vocals.
© Walkin' T:-)M


"Karine Polwart's Scottish Songbook"
Hegri Music, 2019

Artist Video www.karine
polwart.com

Former Malinky[69] vocalist and BBC Radio 2 Folk Singer of the Year 2018, Karine Polwart sings both traditional and original songs,[49][67] she is best known for the often-covered "Follow the Heron," though this time she didn't bother herself with bothy ballads but dealt with a more contemporary "Scottish Songbook". Which means she selected a handful of Scottish pop and rock songs to celebrate Scotland's contribution to Britpop – starting with a John Martyn song from the 1970s to recent electro-pop trio Chvrches and progressive rock band Biffy Clyro. I suppose though there is a lot of looking back at teenage life in rural Stirlingshire in the 1980s (just take a look at the album artwork with the compact cassette). She once said something like making the songs your own, and this she does. Karine already sang Mike Scott's[68] "Whole Of The Moon" on the eve of the 2014 referendum for Scottish independence; she turned the Waterboys anthem into a minimalist hymn only abundant with clarinet and glockenspiel. She also selected Stuart Adamson's soft rocker "Chance" and only spared a piano. Adamsom, whose guitar playing in Big Country somehow copied the sound of the bagpipes, passed away too early, and so did Frightened Rabbit's Scott Hutchinson who took his life only recently. The overall mood is contemplative and thoughtful, broaching issues of desperation and loss, political overtones included.
© Walkin' T:-)M


Jim Causley "A Causley Christmas"
Hrōc Music, 2018

FolkWorld Xmas

www.jimcausley.co.uk

The expression wassailing is referring to an ancient ritual drinking a toast to the apple trees to ensure a good harvest. Probably of pagan origin, it has become part of the Christmas traditions in the cider-producing counties in South West England which once had been the Celtic kingdom of Dumnonia.[45] This tradition, involving not only drinking but singing as well, is still thriving in Jim Causley's native Devon. The musician, who specialised in traditional music and song of Devon and its neighbourhood, has toured with groups such as Waterson:Carthy and Show of Hands, though is probably best known from his work with Essex quartet Mawkin under the moniker Mawkin:Causley.[42]
This here is a delightful foray to Christmas Past, featuring predominantly lesser known carols and wassails from the hills and moors of Devon and Somerset. "The Plymtree Carol" from the pen of 15th century rector Richard Smart (and set to music by Jim) has Sir Christmas giving news of Christ's birth and be cheery and merry. "Mistletoe" has been written by children and horror novelist Walter de la Mare (1873–1956), and Jim follows in the footsteps of Benjamin Britten putting his verses to music. Another pair of poems come from Jim's relative, Cornish poet Charles Causley (1917–2003), whose centenary in 2017 had been celebrated by a BBC documentary with a soundtrack composed by Jim.[55] Last but not least, fellow folksinger Mick Ryan[43][46] is featured with another song about the famous Christmas truce of World War I.[67]
Jim Causley sings and plays accordion and piano with musical support such as Nick Wyke (fiddle), Becki Driscoll (fiddle), Paul Downes (guitar, banjo), and Ceri Owen-Jones (trumpet). Please check out: Folk Radio Interview: Jim Causley on West Country Carols and his Christmas Tour!
© Walkin' T:-)M


Kelly Thoma "Anamkhara"
Own label, 2009

Kelly Thoma "7Fish"
Own label, 2014

Kelly Thoma "Ama kopasoun oi kairoi"
Own label, 2018

»I firmly believe that it is not necessary to be Cretan in order to be moved by a Cretan glenti or even to compose a syrtos. All that are necessary are the spirit, the heart and a long process of careful listening. Above all however, one must be in the right company...« – Kelly Thoma

www.kellythoma.com

German CD Review

Greek musician Kelly Thoma was born in Piraeus in 1978 from a Cretan mother. As an adult, she eventually came to the island of Crete and started to ingest and digest its musical traditions. She studied the art of the Cretan lyra (a pear-shaped, three-stringed bowed musical instrument with one or two dozen sympathetic strings) with Irish-born Ross Daly, who is based on Crete since the 1980s, and joined his ensemble Labyrinth. On their journeys around the globe, Kelly became acquainted with many different musical traditions and styles, and so far released three albums of original compositions of contemporary modal music, a catchword coined by Ross to describe phrase-orientated non-harmonic music which often employs non-tempered intervals. The album title "Anamkhara" (2009) derives from the Irish language and means soul friend; its music is showcasing the corporate sound of many bowed instruments with Ross playing lyra and tarhu (invented by Australian craftsman Peter Biffin in the 1990s after experimenting with the Chinese erhu and the Turkish tambur) and Efrén López playing the hurdy-gurdy. "7Fish" (2014)[59] combines instrumental tracks about piranhas and dolphins in both resolute and joyful play. Now, "Ama kopasoun oi kairoi" (As Τhe Winds Die Down, 2018) features 8 original songs put together in collaboration with Mitsos Stavrakakis, a renowned mantinadologos (as Cretan poets are called) and Vassilis Stavrakakis and Giorgis Manolakis, two of the island's most renowned vocalists these days. The tunes are in the formulaic mantinada style which means iambic 15-syllable couplets. The music however is expressive and inventive, played with awareness for the tradition but all the skills of an expertly artist.

Article: 8 Minutes Can Change A Life

P.S.: Kelly Thoma chose not to include any translations of the lyrics in the sleeve notes, because first of all she didn't think it would be of any interest outside of Greece and secondly she found it impossible to transmit its atmosphere and connotations. However, recently there were some English translations added to her website. Check out www.kellythoma.com! Also have a look at the interview with Kelly Thoma in this FolkWorld issue!
© Walkin' T:-)M


Carré Manchot "Krenn-Ha-Krak"
Coop Breizh, 2019

Artist Video www.carre
manchot.fr

Founded way back in 1986, Carré Manchot[63] (I'm puzzled by the group's name!?) is still going strong on Britanny's fest-noz circuit after all these years. The only remaining founding member is Gilbert Le Pennec on guitar; he is joined by flutist Yannig Alory, accordionist Yann-Loïc Joly (both on board since 1994), and singer and mandola player Patrick Marie (addition in 2013). "Krenn-Ha-Krak" means something like point-blank; their musical concept leaves nothing in the dark and their execution is fancy and bold. The selected tunes are characteristic Breton fare: an dros, ridees and so on, plus new compositions in the traditional vein by all four, and excursions to Finland, Ireland (a Seamus Begley polka) and last but not least Peter Hames' classic song "Ordinary Man" (made by popular by Irish folk singer Christy Moore). Nothing ordinary here though!
© Walkin' T:-)M


Novar "Starling"
Trad Records, 2019

www.novar.be

Ten years ago, Belgian keyboard and mandola player Jeroen Geerinck (of Snaarmaarwaar,[55] Hot Griselda)[67] founded Studio Trad. It has become a sought-after recording studio, in particular since friend and fellow musician Ward Dhoore (Trio Dhoore,[65] Estbel)[63] came on board and concentrated on acoustic roots music from Flanders and the Lowlands. Recently there had been a couple of releases, see also the reviews below, including the sophomore album from Jeroen's own group Novar.[61] He is joined by hurdy-gurdy player Thierry Nouat, accordionist Aurélien Claranbaux and Toon van Mierlo, who plays a range of instruments such as accordion, bagpipes and saxophone. As the group's name has it, intention was to create something new. So file it under nu or neo folk, with hints to traditional music and flashes of electronics. The tracklist features exclusively original compositions, Toon van Mierlo turns out to be a real talent in writing memorable tunes. The final song is titled "La Bande Des Volcans," i.e. The Volcano Band, and this describes the quartet's output and attitude very well: fiery, flamy, eruptive!
© Walkin' T:-)M



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