The Beautiful Drama Unfolds:The Bell That Never Rang by Lau

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Tracks:81u8jjyljll-_sl1425_

1 First Homecoming

2 The Death of the Dining Car

3 Back in Love Again

4 Tiger Hill (Armoured Man)

5 The Bell That Never Rang

6 Ghosts

 

A true audiophile loves traveling though the highways of sounds. And the new Lau album provides this opportunity. Partly experimental and partly rooted to British folk, The Bell that Never Rang is an exquisite aural experience that will please crowds on both ends of the spectrum.

Lau comprises  Martin Green (accordion, wurlitzer, keys, electronics), Aidan O’Rourke (fiddle) and Kris Drever (vocals, guitar).With their combined influences, they merge the world inhabited by the likes of Radiohead and the tradition of Fairport Convention. Which is also to say, that Lau continues to hold the sumptuous sounds of bands that came from the region before them.

The experimental nature of their sound is no accident. According to their bio, the three members have their involvement in so many different solo projects. This includes making records for other artists, and providing creative spark for their peers. Which is such a feat considering that they are still able to be consistent in releasing albums via Lau. It is a wonder that they can maintain that creative focus with so many choices and many musicians to collaborate with. But perhaps, like making a family, it all boils to decision. And they have decided to stick to their own kind of sound and band.

The Bell that Never Rang is a joy to listen to. At the center of the new album lies the epic seventeen-minute, collaborative title track, with The Elysian Quartet. This track is so massive and dense that its gravity seems to pull the songs around it to its core. It’s almost a religious experience!

I enjoyed this album and I hope you discover the same experience as you journey through their sound, which is also a journey to your heart.

Don’t miss their US tour by visiting their Gigs section: http://www.lau-music.co.uk/gigs/

What a Treat! Spencer Murray & Pipeslinger

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If you are a fan of Celtic music then the name Spencer Murray is no stranger to you. Yes it is the first time I got hold of his full-length album but I am familiar with his videos for years, via YouTube. The album in question is called Sound and Fury. It has twelve tunes with alternating vocal and instrumental leads.

According to his bio, he has already (quote) performed with Grammy winner Carlos Nunez, Scottish fiddler Bruce MacGregor of Blazin’ Fiddles on his Canadian tour and with the Barr Brothers on the mainstage of the 2016 Edmonton Folk Music Festival. In 2015, Spencer became the first ever Canadian to win the senior flute competition at the New York Fleadh, the biggest Irish music competition in North America and went on to represent Canada at the All Ireland Championships in Sligo, Ireland.

Sound & Fury is a rich musical tapestry encompassing modern and traditional tunes from Scotland, Ireland and various Celtic nations. His bagpipes are mellifluous and he weaves his performance like a master yarn artist. Each melodic line weaves a story that resonates around our ancient souls.

There are bombastic and gentle moments in this album. For instance, in Strong Ciders, a gentle piano melody introduces the track and builds up gradually into complex rhythmic structure, yet maintaining that intimate and wispy feel- as introduced by the guitar. The album features his favorite musicians:  Jake Charron on guitar and piano, Shane Cook on fiddle, Daniel Stadnicki on percussion, Elliot Thomas on banjo and vocals, Keith Rempel on upright bass and Spencer Murray on Irish flute, tin whistle, Scottish borderpipes and Uilleann pipes.

The album showcases each of the musician’s talents as the recording introduces that breath of space between instruments, clarity that keeps us on the loop of who’s playing and what instrument. Sound & Fury closes with Clawhammer Reels that will surely keep enthusiasts tapping their feet! Spencer Murray is also part of The Log Drivers.

Released August 24, 2016

Spencer Murray – borderpipes, uilleann pipes, flute, whistles

Jake Charron – guitar, piano

Elliot Thomas – vocals, banjo

Keith Rempel – bass

Daniel Stadnicki – drums

Shane Cook – fiddle

Daniel Gervais – fiddle

Loretto Reid – concertina

Dana Wylie – vocals

Eric Wright – electronic production

Recorded and Mixed by Harry Gregg at The Audio Department & Riverdale Recorders in Edmonton, Alberta Canada

Mastered by Phil Demetro

Art by Kat Gomboc  www.katgomboc.com

 

Van Morrison Keeps Our Souls Singing Along

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Tracks

  1. Let It Rhymepackshot
  2. Every Time I See a River
  3. Keep Me Singing
  4. Out in the Cold Again
  5. Memory Lane
  6. The Pen Is Mightier Than the Sword
  7. Holy Guardian Angel
  8. Share Your Love With Me
  9. In Tiburon
  10. Look Behind the Hill
  11. Going Down to Bangor
  12. Too Late
  13. Caledonia Swing

Keep Me Singing, the much-anticipated album by  Northern Irish musical legend Van Morrison got its release this September. Finally, it is great to be treated to an exquisite musical experience with this album. Morrison has established his name in the music world with Astral Weeks among his other great albums.

My introduction to his music began with his contribution to The Long Black Veil by The Chieftains in the mid-90s. It was also the time when his Tell Me Something: The Songs of Mose Allison topped the jazz charts all over the world. His eclecticism is his asset. It is through that vision that he continues to collaborate successfully with notable artists from different genres while influencing them at the same time.

Keep Me Singing has thirteen songs. All of them are classic Morrison with touches of folk, jazz, soft rock and traditional Irish. The timeless sound transcend  decades. Listening to songs like The Pen is Mightier than the Sword calls to mind his earlier albums. The feel of the songs are warm and rich which calls to mind those live recordings from bygone days before the introduction of computers. So for people who love the taste of nostalgia, this album is for them.

The string arrangement feels cinematic and this is expressed in songs like Let it Rhyme, Every Time I See A River, Memory Lane and others. Too Late is the first single off the album and it is an upbeat song. Too Late is the single off the new album. It is an upbeat track that will surely catch your attention. Keep Me Singing is another musical treasure to keep. And the good feeling keeps coming!

 

Also available from
iTunes – http://po.st/KeepMeSingingiTunes
Amazon – http://po.st/KeepMeSingingAmz
HMV – http://po.st/KeepMeSingingHMV

Follow Van Morrison online at:

http://www.vanmorrison.com
http://po.st/VanMorrisonFacebook
http://po.st/VanMorrisonTwitter
http://po.st/VanMorrisonYouTube
http://po.st/VanMorrisonSpotify
http://po.st/VanMorrisoniTunes
https://itun.es/gb/g79

Wow! The Led Farmers @ Arlene’s Grocery 9/2 and LAU @ Rockwood Music Hall 9/15

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Hey! Hey! Hey! one of the coolest Irish bands of the decade is performing. I am talking about The Led Farmers. I love their sense of humor and I admire their musical skills! Now if you haven’t noticed yet, they are on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theledfarmers/

As with Lau I recently wrote a piece about Kris Drever so you know what to expect 😉

Check out the press release of the concert below . They are performing with Lau:

THE LED FARMERS – @ Arlene’s Grocery, Friday Sept. 2nd 10PM
The Led Farmers are an Indie Irish Folk/Rock Band from Ireland that grew up steeped in the Irish music tradition and have garnered a reputation for excellence by combining their rich heritage with modern Ireland to create a fresh new energy. The Led Farmers 
are launching their brand new album “Katie” on September 1stand will be on tour in the US this August and September. While they love to play the Irish folk classics it is their own songs and fresh new arrangements of folk music that has seen them get attention of late. The group boasts a two-time All Ireland Music champion and many of its’ members have studied music at University level. They have toured the US and Europe and are becoming one of Ireland’s best loved live acts. In 2015 they played 87 shows and 2016 looks to be similar. The band keeps the tradition while moving it forward.
THE LED FARMERS @ Arlene’s Grocery, Friday Sept. 2nd 10PM http://www.arlenesgrocery.net/
LAU – Scottish Folk band, LAU, releases ‘THE BELL THAT NEVER RANG’ In NYC 
@ Rockwood Music Hall September 19th sponsored by WFUV
‘The intuitive and often beautiful interplay of accordion, fiddle and guitar glides to a new level as instrumental virtuosity blends easily with tasteful electronics.”  Mojo
Scottish Folk group, LAU, redefine how a trio can sound, arming themselves with both highly original repertoire and superb takes on traditional material. Their latest release, ‘The Bell That Never Rang’ has been nominated for Scottish Album of The Year award 2016. The Bell That Never Rang is their fourth studio album,  released last year in the UK on Reveal Records. Brilliant musicians, thrilling performers and free-thinking visionaries small wonder Lau are regarded as the epicentre of the new folk boom. And they’ve got shelves groaning with awards (BBC RADIO 2 FOLK AWARD WINNERS, BEST BAND, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, ALBUM OF THE YEAR 2015 THE HERALD), a forest’s worth of ecstatic reviews and breathless plaudits from excited audiences in various outposts of the world ringing in their ears to prove it.
LAU @ Rockwood Music Hall Sept. 19th tickets @ http://www.rockwoodmusichall.com/ 8:30PM
 

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Hello everyone,

Good news! Our new album has arrived! Say hello to Katie. We are very happy with this CD and I hope you will be too.

To all the people who supported the making of our album, we will get your rewards to you as soon as we can. We’re off to America in 36 hrs but after that we will get to work on all the CDs, t shirts, poems, sketches, Irish lessons and signed photos for all you fine people. Thanks again 😁👍

If you would like a copy you can purchase online at www.theledfarmers.com

All the best,
The Led Farmers.

 

Video premiere of new Van Morrison album!

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Van Morrison will release his brand new album ‘Keep Me Singing’ on September 30th on CD, Gatefold Vinyl & download. You can pre-order the album on CD/Vinyl + Lithograph from the official store here:http://po.st/KeepMeSingingStore

Hooray! The legend is releasing a new album next month and this video is a teaser of what’s to come. I admire the simplicity of the music video. No frills. Just the singer-songwriter backed by other musicians in the studio. Too Late is the first single off the upcoming apbum ‘Keep me Singing. It has the eclectic elements that Morrison is known for.

I never got into his music until the mid-nineties when The Chieftains released The Long Black Veil (feat. other artists like Sinead O’Connor, Tom Jones and Sting among others) and I noticed the beauty of his voice. It is a very expressive, bleeding instrument. Watch out for Keep Me Singing at the end of September and I am sure fans will be showered by the greatness of his talents once more!