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Horslips Can Save the Day

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 1 Comment

I have been into all sorts of trouble lately and the only thing that makes  me save face is listening to Trouble (With a Capital T) by  Horslips .Here’s a band that has been around for quite sometime and still resonates that Rock sound with the Capital C. I got this inspiration to spin out my Celtic rock tunes after having this conversation with a person from New York who has been to Ireland and has seen a lot of Celtic rock bands from all over. The great thing about music is that it breaks all barriers and you always end up with a big smile.  If you want to know more about Horslips then you can listen to some track off their MySpace site: http://www.myspace.com/horslips or the Official site: http://www.horslips.ie/ and yes tell your friends about the music too.

Lyrics to Trouble With A Capital ‘T’ :
High on the mountain stands a boat,
But are they gods or real folk?
We can’t see the fire but we smell the smoke.
Who’ll take the plough? Who’ll be the yoke?
Night after night I don’t believe.
We are the ones you won’t deceive.
Not a thing will you achieve
‘cos we belong and we won’t leave.

Trouble, trouble.
I try to chase trouble but it’s chasing me.
Trouble, trouble.
Trouble with a capital T.

Lay down your silver and your gold.
I’m a man who can’t be sold.
And, even when my heart grows cold,
I’ll curse your evil stranglehold.
The waves are running much too high.
It’s got so dark can’t see the sky.
But a change is coming by and by,
A time to laugh, a time to die.

Trouble, trouble.
I try to chase trouble but it’s chasing me.
Trouble, trouble.
Trouble with a capital T.

Been so long away from home,
I almost made this place my own.
Now it seems I’ll soon be gone,
Moving on and all alone.
High on the mountain stands a boat,
But are they gods or real folk?
We can’t see the fire but we smell the smoke.
Who’ll take the plough? Who’ll be the yoke?

Trouble, trouble.
I try to chase trouble but it’s chasing me.
Trouble, trouble.
Trouble with a capital T.

Trouble, trouble.
I try to chase trouble but it’s chasing me.
Trouble, trouble.
Trouble with a capital T.

Gaelic Culture in Cape Breton

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 3 Comments

Whether you are listening to headphones or theater speakers,the production quality of Putumayos’s Celtic Crossroads will satisfy both formats. The good thing about these compilation as well as the rest that’s been floating around is that they introduce us to popular as well as unheard of artists. These albums are teasers on what to expect if you get into these unique acts.\par
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For instance, the first track Parting Glass from Emer Kelly is head turning;  with a voice that is breathy and ethereal as well. Capercaillie’s Hoirean O also made a surprising addition to the mix. Rough energetic styles like Keltik Elektrik’s Wild Mountain Thyme, Peatbog Faeries’ Captain Cou and Ashley McIsaac’s To America(with Mary Jane Lamond on vocals) spar well with Cara Dillon’s diaphanous alternative folk She’s Like the Swallow.Then, there’s Mick McAuley’s luminous track The House Carpenter. Still other known acts like Sinead O’Connor performing Her Mantle is stunning. Alan Stivell’s E Kreiz Hag En makes you long for more Breton music . Gwenno’s ethereal scruffy vocals on Tryweryn makes you wish for a full length album. Michael McGodrick’s Sully’s is a testament to Celtic music’s ability to fuse with other styles and genre yet making it still distinctively world music. This is a must have for those who like their Celtic music a bit of something else and totally familiar.

Tracklist:
Emer Kenny – Parting Glass
Capercaillie – Hoireann O
Keltik Elektrik – Wild Mountain Thyme
Michael McGoldrick – Sully’s No.37/Lucy’s Reel
Gwenno – Tryweryn
Mick McAuley – The House Carpenter
Cara Dillon – She’s Like the Swallow
Alan Stivell – E Kreiz Hag Endro
Sinéad O’Conner – Her Mantle So Green
Peatbog Faeries – Captain Coull’s Parrot
Ashley MacIsaac featuring Mary Jane Lamond – To America We Go

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I found this wonderful video about The Gaelic Culture in Caper Breton. One of the best places in the world!

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One of the best attractions when you go to Santiago de Compostela ,Spain is the music.

Creating Authentic Breton Music:Poor Man’s Fortune

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 5 Comments

When one hears the sound of the bombard as well as the binou  one will realize that this could only come from one place in the world-Brittany. For years now, Austen, Texas based Poor Man’s Fortune has been recording and performing authentic Breton music. This 5-piece band is consist of French, Scottish and American members who are recognized in their individual fields as accomplished musicians. And accidental browsing through YouTube brought them to my attention and from this moment on, their albums are a welcomed addition to my growing collection.

Official site:http://poormansfortune.com/music/

The Cranberries to Head the 40th Interceltique Festival in Lorient France

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 2 Comments

After a long public absence, Irish rock band The Cranberries will make a public appearance at the 40thInterceltque Festival in Lorient France. This is the band’s first in so many years since lead singer DoloriesO’ Riordan made a solo project. Scottish band Capercallie will also be appearing which will clear rumors that the band has finally parted ways. You can download the complete program on the link provided on the upper right of this site.

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Here’s a video showcasing Carlos Nunez with The Chieftains on the beautiful Minnho Waltz.. This was shown at a Galician TV.

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Carlos Nunez:When Galician Pipes Come to Brazil

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 5 Comments

There is a great deal of rich,melodic and rhythmic music in Brazil. This undeniably inspired Galician composer/piper Carlos Nunez to compose Alborada do Brazil released 2009 under Sony Music. This kind of musical direction is very much welcomed since I am also a big fan of Brazilian music especially of Juan Carlos Jubim. As we might be aware of, Celtic music is also making a wave in this country especially the harp revival movement. I gathered this a few months ago when I met a Brazilian blogger and musician who opened my eyes to this knowledge.

The album has 13 tracks of tango,samba and bossa music that you can simply crank anywhere. It is artfully crafted making it both an attraction to lovers of urban,jazz and even hip hop.There is also a great deal of natural  sounds.  The first track Alborada De Rosalia is a mix of funky loops and samples with Brazilian rapping around a supple, slick female vocals singing in native tongue. A few years ago there’s this trip hop band called Smoke City and this track reminds me of the band’s music.

Vou Vivendo is typically Nunez in his flute accompanied by a bossa beat. Play it in your car  while driving on the beach or just simply stretch on your easy chair and watch as summer moves  to greet the flowers and butterflies outside.

Alvorada De Cartola’s drum beats and a spoken word create a great intro to this piece that sounds like the Trios Los Panchos had just had a round of Guinness with Carolan in Galician fields. The male vocals capture the easy lifestyle and if you listen closely you can hear other sounds of people in marketplace. The only problem is that this is a short song around 2:23.

Nau Bretoa has a nice flute fused with the maritime flavor of Britany. Here we can here Carlos Playing his Galician pipe known as the gaita over other instruments. This one makes me get up and do some step dancing. Halfway we hear a male chorus chanting . This is how haunting music meets the carnival.

Gaita is sung in a way that Astrud Gilberto would. It has a kind fo  feeling that you get when you wake up in a sunny morning ,open your window and see this  view of an ocean stretch in front of you . The elegant  piano line is soothing.

Xotes Universitarios sounds like it has been talking out of a 60’s movie playing samba. There are dialogues sampled …perhaps students discussing about music with a professor.

Coracao Brasileiro is acoustic guitar driven with fiddle, keyboard instruments and flute around that silky female vocals. Gentle drums finish this off with a high note from Carlos.

In Y-Brazil we are once again greeted by the distinctive and festive playing of Nunez which I first discovered in his Galician Carol released by Windham Hill a few years ago. There is  again the presence of the Galician pipes in the foot- tapping tempo.

Ponta De Areia has this mournful feel of the Irish countryside with all pipes congregating .The harp adds a dream feel to this beautiful piece.

In Padaria Electrica Da Barra Carlos treats us to a powerful fusion of traditional and pop . The collage of electronic drum loops , sampled sounds, and male vocals make this song a candidate for top 40 music.There is this part in the chorus that chants ‘Galicia, Glalicia’… And I know how enthusiastic it can get!

Maxie De Ferro is a piece that could have been played in a movie like Casablanca. The piano in this track is simply exquisite.The syncopated snare drums, wood winds and happy tempo just take the blues of a long day away.

Feira De Mangaio is a sad melody  riding in a happy tempo. This reminds me of being along in a windswept sunny countryside. Bosa and Celtic music has never been this good. Great saxophone and Spanish guitar too.

The last track Assum Preto, Asa Branca another mournful tune embellished with gossamer guitar ,accordion and a melody that cries for aother glass of wine.

Though this album is a fusion between two musical cultures Carloz Nunez has a style that is so distinctive that even if he plays heavy metal or rap, you’ll still know it’s him. This is a perfect soundtrack for spring and summer ….and life is a beach.