Steve Perry is no stranger to Irish music. He collaborated with Irish stalwarts Clannad in the past. I loved the music of Journey, especially with Perry. He has a versatile vocal style. Thanks to his incredible range where he can reach vocal heights with ease. We once again witness him collaborating with The High Kings in their new album, The Road Not Taken. I think this is a great move where he can once again showcase his talents as a vocalist.

Their new single, The Streets of Kinsale, is out now via streaming and on physical media. I have witnessed the blossoming of the High Kings for years, as they never left my radar. It is remarkable that they continue to release albums through trying times and still retain the purity of their art. They do deliver the best vocal harmonies in music.
The single is a heartwarming take on the joys and pleasures of true love. This could be a good wedding song. An animated video accompanies this ballad. The video highlights the song’s heart, especially about a couple getting old together as they go through decades admiring the beauty of local culture. So can love conquer death? Who knows? But this song talks about that promise and return. I read some comments on YouTube, and one commenter says that Steve Perry’s voice sounded like when he was younger. I think so too! What do you think?

I spend most of my time hunting for new tunes on my day off. That is, if I am not out and about riding my bike. I work in chat support which improved my typing skill. Those who followed me since 2009 know that I am not into writing long articles. In the early part of this blog, I used to write a paragraph per post. I also used to not talk about myself because my blogging should only talk about the artists and the music. But as years go by and with the rise of AI, we realize that grammatical accuracy and perfect delivery do not make writing exciting. It is the human elements that count. The human touch still matters, with its power to comfort and to heal. So from now on, I will write that way.
Life has been rugged, and we are tested by being with different situations and people. Just the the band the olllam. Yes, I will spell the name this way, as that is how they do it. This band is a marriage of different experiences, artists who cooked their creativity with other bands before fate put them together. Now they have this music that combines tradition and technology. That is why I gravitate to them. I am part traditionalist and part futurist. I enjoy innovation, but I also love roots. There is this beauty of being anchored on something. In general, that is what makes art so satisfying. You put something familiar with something strange, and what you get is exciting. In their new album Elegy, I see that they balance fast and slow tracks. For example, we hear this contrast in The Burial Stone. They are composed of Scottish-Irish musicians. Note that these are seasoned artists from other bands. And as is always the case, talent and experience make music vibrant and magnetic.
Polyrhythms, chilled beats, and groovy bass grooves dominate the soundscape of Elegy. Traditional instruments like the fiddle, uillean pipes, and flute complement these sounds. This kind of music will feel at home in any environment, but the style can always get that reaction. I realize that making music is like concocting a drink. It has to have certain ingredients or flavors to stand out. A little bit of this or that, so it goes down quickly. And if olilam is a drink, I am sure they will become like a daily dose.

From the first few bars of Victoria Johnson’s Forever (In the End), you immediately know that you will like this sound. Her music combines influences from traditional Irish, Pop and Folk music, making Where the Lights Glow a satisfying listening experience. Her musical style is described as Ellie Goulding meets Kate Bush meets Enya. The Enya reference may be due to the vocal layering she uses most in her tracks.
If you go on a journey with her music through headphones or huge speakers, I assure you there are many aural surprises here. There are electronic effects that are tasteful and elegant. They are used to enhance the classical influence that works!
I love how she enunciates her words in Moon Eagle. Her vocals also shimmer in quiet tracks. It is a supple voice that is instantly endearing.
Overall, Where the Lights Glow sounds like so much effort has been placed in the production phase. You can savour the highs and the lows. I love the rumbling of the percussion that sounds cinematic. This album is a perfect chill music that you can always listen to. Its appeal lies in her compositional skills along with the production technique. This album deserves more exposure in film and TV. Hey producers, are you listening?

Have you listebnned to Tranquility? This beautiful track is what happens when two artists from different backgrounds create music together. Tranquillity is a cinematic composition by Brian Finnegan and wornoc(yes, all lowercase) released in 2022. I know of Finnegan with his work with the trad band Flook. wornoc is the moniker of Conor Walsh, who is based in Dublin. Walsh is known for his space electronic music. The good thing about this collaboration is the balance. You will not notice where the acoustic elements end and where the electronica starts. This atmospheric and mesmerizing track is gaining a lot of listeners from both genres. It is great to hear Brian Finnegan expand his collaboration. And as for wornoc? He is now part of my faves along with Chicane.

Danish/Irish band Kasir released only two albums between 2006 and 2011. However, those two albums were notable for their fast-paced music and simplicity that made all three players let their instruments shine through. I love trios, for they always focus on the clarity of playing rather than elaboration. I don’t know, but that’s just me.
I did check their Facebook page and found out they are still active. There are even talks of reunion gigs.
Kasir is:
Oisin Walsh-bodhran and shaker
Rune Barshund-whistles and accordion
Aske Fuglsang-guitar, mandolin, and vocal
Listening to them lifts my mood, especially waking up in the afternoon as I work a night shift. What stands out to me is their tight playing and love for an arrangement that works for each tune and not just for making jolly tunes with distinctive instruments.
Now there will be times when you are feeling a little blue. And you might need something to cheer you up. Just listen to these guys and let your surroundings turn golden.