Hi readers and listeners. Podcast 15 is up and once again, I was able to keep the show going. I hope you all have great weekend wherever you are. I always say this to beings of this world and beyond: Come out, come out, wherever you are. I hope this podcast will keep you warm as I bring you rare and current tunes. I really enjoyed my interview with Patrick Brazel jr and we had an amazing craic. I had to edit bits of the conversation for the show but it was fun.
I also played a traditional Manx tune from Emma Christian. Anybody out there knows what’s going on with her career? She seemed to have disappeared from the Celtic music radar after the 90s.
I have been checking out the instagram pics of my online pals. I see snow everywhere. Sad to say, there’s no such thing where I am. The tropics can be cold but not THAT cold. I take comfort in the way music takes us to places we’ve never been. Like books, they let you live life vicariously. And such is found in the album And Winter Came by Enya. Yes I have mentioned that this month is mostly about holiday albums, and I am taking my time to listen to albums I bought through the years.
I think I raved about AWC when it first came out yes, I am writing about it again yay! It is such a joy to talk about music with someone who shares the same interest. I like the white theme of the album. Enya has themes running through all her albums. The Celts- black ,Watermark – orange, Shepherd Moons – blue, The Memory of Trees – gold,Paint the Sky with Stars – sepia,A Day Without Rain- emerald, Amarantine – Red and finally, And Winter Came -white.
The white horse in the cover art. Take a look at that. Is it about The Order of the White Horse? I suggest you Google that and you might find interesting bits in the internet 😉 Her voice has evolved. I sometimes hear a likeness to Karen Carpenter as her voice started to acquire that deeper and warmer shade. Those who listened to her when she was still with Clannad would notice that incredible softness. It is not a girlish kind of softness. It is more like, diaphanous and otherworldly kind of softness. Yet she can hit very low notes that at times made her sound androgynous. But after later albums that signature voice has evolved and became more expressive.
She and producer Nicky Ryan always like trying something new in the studio. I remember after recording A Day Without Rain , they gutted their Aigle studio and replaced everything with hi-tech recording equipment. I keep tabs of anything Enya through the Unity forum. Although, I’ve not been very much active there these days. Her fans are always patient and passionate with whatever she puts out. It is true that any artist can build a career out of looks or spectacle. But when the music is bigger than the artist, fans will stick around.
I like O Come, O Come Emmanuel. I think it’s the Latin verses that really define the power of the melody. Her lyricist Roma Ryan(from Northern Ireland) has a huge background in different languages, mythology and history-Irish or whatever. I think the reason why the songs will remain fascinating through the years is because listeners can uncover different layers and references all the time. For instance, the song Aldebaran (from The Celts) is a tribute to director Ridley Scott ( who also gave us Blade Runner ). There are more things you will discover when you listen to her albums.
My next favorite track is Last Time by Moonlight. (I know Trains and Winter Rains, a single from the album is everyone’s favorite. But I always choose something that doesn’t usually make it to the singles).I used to play this track to my late mom. She would say that Enya has a beautiful voice. My mom passed away this year. But when I play Enya albums, the music brings me closer to my mom because we used to listen to her together. Oiche Chiuin (Silent Night) has a fantastic re recording. This is the second version of the same song she recorded in the late 80s.
I hope there will be another holiday album from her in 10 years. For now, this is my comfort music.
Moya Brennan – Vocals, Harp, Keyboards
Paul Byrne – Drums, Bodhran, Timpani, Tubular Bells, Percussion
Fionan De Barra – Guitars, Bouzouki, Keyboards, Vocals
Cormac De Barra – Harp, Vocals
Éamonn Galldubh – Uilleann Pipes, Whistles, Flute
Yoshinobi Izumi – Electric Bass
Sam Jackson – Piano, Keyboards
Sinéad Madden – Fiddle, Vocals
Frances Mitchell – Keyboards
Additional musicians
Máire Breatnach – Viola, Fiddle
Anthony Drennan – Electric and Acoustic Guitars, Dobro
Úna Ní Chanainn – Cello
Tim Jarvis – Keyboards
Aisling and Paul Jarvis – Vocals on Oíche Chiúin
I can understand why some people get allergic to Christmas songs. It’s because these artists come up with the same old thing. And people get tired of it. I mean, I imagine those vocal acrobats that can make any reindeer suffer vertigo. Give me a break! This season is all about Christmas songs-of a different kind. And I think no better December it is than to celebrate it with An Irish Christmas by Moya Brennan.
I love the way the Carol of the Bells was arrange to give that ‘suspense’ and haunting feel. Then the song explodes into choir and percussion-plus of course, Moya Brennan’s amazing harp. Some tracks are in Gaelic so it works for me. My favorite is Gabriel’s Message. It’s a track covered by such diverse artists as Sting but none had the impact as this arrangement of Moya Brennan has. This tune has a long history that goes all the way back to the Basque. Read the full history here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabriel’s_Message
The reason something like this works again and again is due to the style. Celtic music styles will never go old. Because it is already old. Go figure 😉
This Christmas doesn’t promise us happiness. Personally, I am dealing with few tragedies myself and I know some of you are too.But music is there to keep me afloat. I love this and will play this every year!
The episode 14 of my show is up. Yes despite the terrible week I am experiencing the show must go on.
Tracklisting:
Luke Kelly-The Auld Triangle
Finnegan’s Hell-Drunken Christmas
Caliorne-Scottish Purple
Samuel Smith-The Agony
Samuel Smith-The Ballad of Oisin
Poitin-The Congress Reel
Ashley MacIsaac-Lay Me Down
Declan Sinnott-Orbit
Mickey Harte-Unstappable Train
Mark Handley and the Bone Idols-Peace and Joy
Garrett Wall Band-Terra Firma
Enya-Last Time by Moonlight
The Chieftains continue to have relevance and appeal in the Irish and international world with The Voice of Ages. Popular alternative rock artists like Paolo Nutini, Bon Iver, Imelda May among others’ contributed their talents in this wonderful album of total brilliance.
Imelda May proves that to be a great singer, it’s not just about singing well. The speakers and mics have to love you. I think Voice of Ages is the continuation of what The Chieftains started in The Long Black Veil. They aren’t scared of trekking unfamiliar territories. Can you cite other Irish bands that have collaborated with a wide array of talents and diverse music like them? I don’t think so. No other group comes close to them.
What I love about The Voice of Ages is that the Chieftains always manage to bring out their own signature sound on anything they record. Regardless of the other musicians they collaborate. They also know how to balance their track listing between fast and slow tunes. Listen to My Lagan Love with vocals by Lisa Hannigan. If that doesn’t stir your soul then I don’t know what else will do. The Punch Brothers also offered an interesting Bluegrass flavor to this album. And yes, Carlos Nunez who has appeared in many of the Chieftains’ past recordings played with them in Lundu. I think the highlight of this album is the contribution of NASA Astronaut Cady Coleman with The Chieftains in Orbit!
Celtic Music Fan 