So I was trying to look for an interesting Irish wooden flute music because I now have the time to practice it. I came across this fascinating album called Spring Days by Erwan Menguy and Erwan Berenguer. Two artists playing interesting traditional music in the same neigborhood as Lunasa and Flook. I got hooked due to the hypnotic rhythms and simple arrangements. You only get an acoustic guitar and flute with lots of talent thrown in the mix.
I love it when an album has all the good tracks without anything that sounds just thrown in to make the album feel full. This album was released back in 2017, way before the pandemic that changed the world. The album was published through Kiam records. This seems to be the first album for both artists. Hopefully this is not the last as they can offer the world that magic of simplicity.
Hello dear readers. I want you to know I am here and still pedaling to work at night(I work on a night shift) and returning home in the morning. My travel companion is my Bluetooth speaker, where I play my favorite music(softly) while waiting for traffic lights to change. Some routes captivate the spirit of each song I play. I am mentioning this new album by Canadian artist Loreena McKennitt this season. Why? Because it is currently playing why I am writing this and watching the golden light of the afternoon.
Her voice is suited for a live performance because of its power. She doesn’t need electronic reverb or an amp because she has them built-in. Another artist I would consider of the same caliber is Mary Fahl. I am sure by now you are listening to the music of both artists.
These songs in Under A Winter’s Moon aren’t really new. You’ve probably heard some of them in To Drive A Cold Winter Away and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. However, these songs were performed live at a historic sanctuary in Ontario. This gives the album its authenticity and warmth. As we all know, apart from playing the instruments, her selling point is always her remarkable voice. My holiday music is different. I don’t go for the jolly and sweet. I want my haunting music.
A Midwinter’s Night Moon might not captivate everyone, but for those who have followed her career, this is a good album to have.
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It is the season to be giving but here in my country, it can still get sweltering hot, especially in the afternoon. Good for those with AC. I could not afford to have an AC.
So what are your top ten albums of December? Let me know in the comments below.
I intended to write something other than inspirational today because I’ve always intended to stick to the formula of writing about artists and albums in the genre. But, when you think about it, these artists get their source from the things that drive you and me. We all drink upon that creativity well when we want to create something and inspire others. I may not know our true purpose for being on this planet, but it is to love and understand…Understand what? That life is short, and we should make the best of it? That, in the end, we are all related and came from the same source? That when we hurt others, we also hurt ourselves? That material position and fame don’t matter in the bigger picture? Who knows? I don’t know the answer, but everything became peaceful since I made peace with my faith. Just because we believe in a higher power doesn’t mean we can never face daily adversity, but believing in that anchor can carry us through difficulties. Faith and love, we constantly need these two.
I say farewell to Noel Duggan, the founding member of Clannad. He passed away at the age of 73 in October this year. Most of my heroes are leaving us. Which is sad but also the way things are. I hoped to meet my musical heroes as a teenager. Clannad is one of those bands I listened to at that age, along with Radiohead, Toad the Wet Sprocket, and Dishwalla since I was a 90s kid. So they said goodbye to their world tour, which also confirmed that they have retired from touring. And I never got to see them live. But I get to listen to their beautiful music every day. They help ease my pain and help me focus my mind on beautiful things. And like Moya Brennan, my faith journey was not easy. One must go through tough things before saying he is renouncing his life to serve God.
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I have a bunch of reviews coming up. I have not been checking my emails as of late due to my call center job., Yes, it’s a graveyard shift, baby, but we have to earn that extra income to buy the things we want, right? For me, it’s my freedom that I am buying 😉
Yup, we don’t have an album or artist review yet. However, I have another album review coming up in a few days. I want to stretch out my album reviews so that I can post random stuff. And I guess random stuff makes this whole blogging thing fun, eh?
Our minds are infinitely creative. As we grow as people, we tend to discover new things. We tend to have further understanding along with that growth. We also evolve for better or worse depending on which side of the bell curve you fall. For me, I take it one at a time. Sure I can be miserable if I focus on the bad stuff. However, I know there is so much I can offer as long as I fill my days with gratitude and faith: Yup, one at a time.
And speaking of one at a time, I have been checking out musical instruments after acquiring my own Irish wooden D flute. I am still working on it as I am also studying music theory and keyboard playing on the side. But it is great to learn a new instrument. I had an Irish tin whistle, but I lost it. So seeing this video has filled me with nostalgia.
As we all know, Kevin Crawford plays for Lunasa. He is also a great session player for other musicians. I enjoy his social media posts because he is also a cyclist. Check this out, and hopefully, you get to learn a new musical instrument.
If you are on the move today and want mobile music, you can give Julie Fowlis a listen. Her songs are traditional in style, but they are also relatable in an urban setting. Something to go along with your coffee, perhaps? I discovered Fowlis in the late 2000s via MySpace and kept following her through the years. She has always continued to spice her traditional Scottish sounds with contemporary styles that sound refreshing.
There is that thing in her sound that appeals to folk and rock listeners. It is in her voice and her delivery. She also plays fast tunes if you are in the mood to dance or do your chores. Her music is energetic without being noisy. That is the thing that I love about artists rooted in the traditional genre. They don’t make music for the sake of being loud and sensational. They make music for the soul that’s relatable and heartfelt. That is all we need in these uncertain times, right?
Celtic Music Fan 