Music

Celtic Music for Millenials

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November 17, 2017

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Ryan MacNeil has that keen ear for tradition and mainstream smarts.

Chill-out, party music, these are the terms that evade Celtic music genre for a long time. But multi-instrumentalist Ryan MacNeil has become a mediator between the great divide, and I am talking about tradition and mainstream music. If you think about it, most of the things out there are marketed in disposable pop. You know, tunes geared towards the 20-something working crowd with too much stuff in their playlist, they forget most of the artists in the morning after.

Shuffle(as the title implies) will feel at home in any playlist or genre that you might (mis)place it. It has that oomph and verve associated with Jazz music but also the sweetness of Pop that will not alienate even avid listeners of the podcast generation. I like his cover of Wild Mountain Thyme. He has a knack for arranging each song with appropriate grooves like Reggae, Folk, or an occasional dip of Electronica. Though his music is rooted in Folk, he knows what is going on out there and he is attuned to the vibe of the young generation.

There are introspective numbers here that begs to remain in one’s playlist for a long time, like the instrumental track Summer Evening. Here, he pours his gift of playing exquisite notes without sounding too New Age.  Shuffle is an artfully crafted album that will sound good (albeit stylish) anywhere, anytime and it deserves more attention!

You can get your copy of Shuffle here: https://www.ryanonthepiano.com

The Dead Kings song by Irish poet Francis Ledwidge (performed by Lorcán Mac Mathúna)

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The Dead Kings artwork. 

I always think that the soul of Irish music is in the sean-nós style of singing. Why? Because it is a sound not like any other. It has that stillness that is both ancient and haunting. For someone to sing that, one has to embody the the atmosphere of the old Ireland. One song came to my attention recently and it is called The Dead Kings. Here’s a brief background provided by performer Lorcán Mac Mathúna. According to him, it’s a recently (live) recorded song by the Irish poet Francis Ledwidge, who died in 1917.

Complete soundcloud link-https://soundcloud.com/evolutionofsound/the-dead-kings

Ledwidge was known as the poet of the Blackbird. He was killed in the First World War in Paschendael on July 31 1917.

It is such an inspiration to see artists continue to perfect and pay homage to this wonderful musical art form. I would like to hear more of these.

Additional info: Recorded live at Musictown2017 during The Book of the Dead at The Chester Beatty Library. Written by Francis Ledwidge, music composed by Lorcán Mac Mathúna and Eamonn Galldubh. Performed by Lorcán, Éamonn, and Martin Tourish

 

They are loud and stunning: The Go Set

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Screen Shot 2017-10-09 at 4.36.32 PM.pngOccasionally, something comes to awaken us from the stupor of so much mediocre music out there. The Go Set band are the answer to that. It is futile to resist such bewitching music-a combination of Celtic and punk energy that grab you by the collar and shake you all over the floor. It is great to have an album to jam to when you want something unique (but at the same time catchy enough) that will delight fans of any genre of music.

One Fine Day got its release around August of this year along with their US tour to promote the new album. Raise a Glass is is making waves via YouTube(taken from Rolling Sound) and this video showcases their live appeal.

How it all started?

When singer/songwriter J. Keenan and bassist Mark Moran formed The Go Set in 2003, it seemed only natural to combine the elements of the music they had grown up on. Having both been brought up on everything from traditional celtic and folk music, to early seventies punk rock, and with a voice for political perspective and social conscience, The Go Set embarked on a unique musical journey. Combining the folk elements of the bagpipes, accordion, and mandolin, with distorted punk guitars and a rock n roll ethos, The Go Set created a sound and direction all its own…-from their official website.

One Fine Day contains new tunes plus live recordings. If you are a fan of the band then this album will feel like collector’s release, and you will be able to explore the extent of their artistry beyond the confines of the recording studio. I personally like Drums of Chelsea and Rooftops but simply because I can relate to the lyrics.

There are so many energetic tracks that you will enjoy especially if you love bands like The Pogues, Dropkick Murphys and the like. There are six members in the current lineup.

That “Outlander” Theme – The Skye Boat Song

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There was a commotion when the Outlander books by Diana Gabaldon got released in the 90s. I had no idea that years later they would finally end up in the small screen! Good reviews came pouring in and I found myself watching each episode.

I love the great thought that was put in many aspects of this show-cinematography, costumes etc. At first I was hesitant to watch because I thought it’s no different from the many TV shows that they are putting out there. But it is not.

If you are keen on watching every episode of Outlander, then you might have noticed the opening theme. It’s by Bear McCreary featuring the voice of Raya Yarbrough. It’s called The Skye Boat Song. I think it is a fitting intro to a beautiful series that will inspire people who are into Scottish history (or historical shows of any form).

I will surely follow this series. I could not add anything more than what has already written by fellow bloggers. But let me tell you this. When life is hard, you turn to stories not just for escape, but also for encouragement. These shows give you hope. You learn about yourself through the characters. Yes, strange as it may seem reading or watching beautiful movies or TV shows can be a form of personal reflection.

Never loose hope. Never give up. And most of all, strive to be happy, when happiness seems fleeting.

I hope you can take something inspiring out of the songs that I recommend-and the shows where they came from.

Prisoner Zero, Now on Netflix!

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Moya Brennan made an official announcement yesterday regarding the soundtrack to the animated series Prisoner Zero. If you’re keen on reading my posts then you might have read something from two years ago regarding this topic.

If you are in the US, UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand you can now stream the TV show that Aisling Jarvis and I composed all the music for, Prisoner Zero, on Netflix!! Go check it out! Can’t wait to hear what you all think of the music -Moya Brennan

I think everyone will love this TV series as the trailer looks great. And yes you can hear the music of Moya Brennan and Aisling Jarvis right there! The music sound’s really edgy and this is something really great coming from the mother and daughter team.

Moya Brennan started her career as the lead vocalist of Clannad. She pursued a successful solo career and worked with diverse artists including Paul Young, Shane MacGowan and Michael McDonald. Her voice can be heard in major Hollywood films and she tours tirelessly.