albums

Hot Days (Album review) and Appalachian Still

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Hot Days (2006)

Always expect energy when you listen to a Poitin album.  These guys always deliver goods with gusto. Hot Days is an album that looks the way it sounds (note the chili pepper red cover that screams hot hot hot!). The introduction of the didgeridoo and the soprano sax are pleasant surprises.  The album has everything that jumps and grabs you from behind.

Step It Out has Jeremy King’s superb vocals. Precision and tight musicianship are the things the band is known for.

For to Free. Wowwowow! The didgeridoo addition here is something I truly dig.  It is the right ingredient to the track! It makes you feel like you are in Australia, wearing a kilt and jumping with kangaroos. It begins with this ambient sound of an old vinyl record    being touched by a needle.

Who Are You is a fast traditional song. Every nuance is captured in the recording. The crisp vocals and resonant fiddle jive together with the fiery guitar strums. This song makes me feel like a young man ready for action.

Springtime Frolics is a track I can sum up in one word: stunning. These guys record their albums live. Such precision is not easy to master. I read somewhere that they would do it over again if ever something goes wrong. It’s like me writing this review, having a lot of re-editing to do when the grammar goes wrong wink wink.

Crazy Man Michael starts a capella and then blossoms with a guitar. It is a great title track. It sings about a tragic incident. You know, I read that if you have some Irish in you, then you will understand that the more painful the song is, the more the singing gets better. With its bare arrangement, the vocals gain the dramatic effect making it one of the most memorable singing styles I have heard in years.

Hot Days is a track which begins with both the high and low whistles fencing each other tenderly. The mournful notes progress into a beautiful track with rich arrangements and incandescent beauty which calls to mind a phoenix rising from its ashes. The second half of the track jumps into a jig with an explosive chorus of other instruments.

Midsomer is an energetic traditional track that won’t let you stop tapping your feet.

A Bucket Full of Mountain Dew is another traditional track with fast singing.  There are amazing vocal harmonies and a beautiful melody.

March Flowers is a jazzy jig which begins with the acoustic guitar, then the whistle and then other instruments join in. It has this swaying rhythm to it. It makes you think of seaside and relaxing afternoons. I noticed that there is a consistency of clean recordings all throughout the album.

For to Free really frolics into your mood and into your subconscious.

I Was A Young Man is a fast ballad about coming of age. There is great bodhran playing on top of the fiddling. The didgeridoo encapsulates the track like fine moth’s wings. It’s awesome!

Saxet is a jazzy traditional track with a vibe that smells of beer and chips. It is also a sexy track.

Curragh of Kildare ends the track with its amazing fiddling. Hot Days is an album that makes you realize that some very talented Irish music players are also found in the Czech Republic. This is world music at its finest. You can buy Hot Days here: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/poitin5


Sources:

www.reverbnation.com/poitin

www.poitin.czwww.myspace.com/poitinkapela

www.soundclick.com/poitin

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Get to know Appalachian Still

Guys who are into Bluegrass and anything Americana might want to get themselves ensnared by the music of these six guys bringing you nothing but the freshness of homegrown freshly brewed American music. The  good vibes of Bluegrass and Country music have made their way into my chest and now my head is moving back and forth while listening to tracks like Deep Ellum Blues and I Know You Rider. The band, Appalachian Still, is from Northampton Massachusetts and they have been around since 2005. Bring on the croissants, this is going to be a great day! Just give them a chance and who knows? You might get hooked, head over feet.

Members

Andrew Woodland: Clawhammer Banjo, Vocals & Management
Jared Libby: Guitar, Vocals, Recording & Engineering
Sean Mallari Upright Bass
Sam Barnes: Fiddle
Ivan Ussach: Drums/Percussion
Peter Nabut: Sound-Man

Sources:

http://www.myspace.com/appalachianstill

http://www.appalachianstill.com/

https://www.facebook.com/appalachianstill

De La Basse Bretagne-Poitín

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De La BasseBretagneis an album by Poitin, a Celtic band based in the CzechRepublic. Since the release of their first album in 2000, the band have gained a steady cult following around Europe and the UK. Thanks to the wonders of the internet, people don’t have to wait for music to get into their music store. They can just search the web and discover the kind of music they want.

De La Basse Bretagne is a fine example of a musicianship that has grown ripe with challenges, time and passion. The opening track  J’ai Une Bonne Amie a Quimperle defines the kind of consistency you can find in the album. The strong and at times silky delivery of the female vocals and also the tight execution of instruments  make you hope that there is a follow-up to this Breton flavored album.

They have other releases dealing with other styles around the seven Celtic nations. But what makes this one great for me personally is the dedication to the kind of music that are associated around the geographical the area. And not only  do they give justice to tracks like De La Basse  and Marv Pontkalleg with  mouth-watering instrumental execution but also because of the sensitivity that Jeremy King and the rest of the band  put to this recording. I have to say when you reach track 11 of this album called Son Ar Sistr, you would be rolling your eyes  and tapping your feet to the exquisite beat of the bodhran!

I learned that Poitin make their recording in a live way and  have to do it all over again when there is even a slight mistake. Now that is hard to see in current bands with all the comforts of studio layering and sound engineering. And this makes them the best live band ever.

Members:

Jaroslav “Oto” Machácheck – fiddle ; Jakub Siegl – guitars; Jan Brabets – bouzouki, banjo, tin whistle, backing vocals; Jeremy Marc King – lead vocals, bodhran; Sasha Shantorova- flute and whistles; Dick Savage- Didgeridoo, spoons, egg, backing vocals.

Tracks
1. J’ai Une Bonne Amie a Quimperle 4:11
2. Kan Bale an A.R.B. 4:16
3. Gavotte Des Montagnes
4. File La Laine 3:40
5. Ma Jument Hippoline
6. De La Basse Bretagne
7. La Blanche Biche 6:35
8. Le Loup 2:34
9. La Jument De Michao
10. Marv Pontkalleg 5:14
11. Son Ar Sistr 6:18
12. Lída, Lidunka 4:00

Amazon sells their album now: http://www.amazon.com/De-La-Basse-Bretagne/dp/B007Q1IXNC/ref=sr_1_9?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1337494578&sr=1-9

Also, check out http://www.reverbnation.com/poitin

Notes from The Lookin’ Drawer: Baz Mcsherry Interview

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Musicians

Baz McSherry — Lead Vocals
Rachel Toman — Fiddle, Vocals
Jonny Toman — Bouzouki
Darren Crossey — Upright Bass
Alison Crossey – Bodhran

Charismatic singer/songwriter from Northern Ireland discusses the creation of the band’s album as well as a glimpse into his musical childhood.

Like a veteran stage actor, singer songwriter Baz Mcsherry uses his mastery of pacing, vocal delivery and charisma to his advantage. His voice has the nuance and depth of Christy Moore while possessing the soaring seraphic range of Sting. His first name is catchy…Baz. You can’t miss it. And judging from the videos for The Lookin’ Drawer, you can tell that this artist has what it takes for mainstream appeal yet never losing the things that define his music: solid harmonies, entrancing melodies and mesmerizing vocals. Even the album artwork can catch one’s attention. It conjures mystery and nostalgia. It already tells what you can expect in this album-rich atmospheric tracks and deep lyricism. Together with the talented band members, The Lookin’ Drawer is an album that is artfully crafted and worth enjoying for years. And yes the album title is also the name of his band.

It is an honor to have an interview with Baz Mcsherry . Something I was looking forward to ever since a link to his video A Song of Tribute to Sarah Jane got sent my way by a friend. It was destiny.

1.How did you come up with The Lookin’ Drawer as an album name?

We were looking to name the album and didn’t want to name it after any particular track. The name, “The Lookin’ Drawer”, originated from a conversation between myself and Jonny Toman, (the album’s Producer).We got to talking about our grandparents and Jonny mentioned that when he came to visit them as a boy, he would run past his grandmother to play in his favourite drawer in the kitchen. The drawer contained items his grandfather acquired from antique auctions, e.g. old fashioned playing cards, pocket watches, flick books, lighters, marbles , trinkets etc. His grandmother used to say about her grandson , “ There he is away into the Lookin’ Drawer again!” . I thought Wow I wanna Look! That’s the name of our Band now too, from the album our band was born. 

2. How long did it take you and the crew to finish this project up?


It took us about a year and a half. We recorded it ourselves. We literally had to build a studio ourselves and make it fit for the purpose. We had some technical problems, blew three computers up, lost some material, started over, wrote new songs and took our time. 

3.Wow! Sounds like so many challenges there. Ok, I know that recording and also the production process can be a hassle as they involve staying late at night and making sure the finished product is something that you can listen to for years. What kept everyone sane during this album-making process?


Two things mainly – the music and ourselves. We took the clocks off the wall, turned all phones off so we had no concept of time until we were driving home or woke up. There is this incredible motivation generated when your listen back and like what you hear, and that’s what happened. We knew the songs were not finished until they told us they were, and the more we added the closer we got to hearing, that’s it lads! 
I say, “ourselves” because the craic was really really good, when the concentration started to fade we would act the wag, mess about, have a drink, go for a feed, have a coffee, make prank phone calls etc. The band have a pretty childish sense of humour (thankfully) and it takes little to amuse the innocent and less for us a lot! 

4. How was childhood  for you and how did you become a musician?


Childhood was a great time, I am still there. Most of it was spent looking out the window, (just the same as now really). Spent a lot of the time listening to my folks’ record collection at the kitchen table, collecting old tapes and songs. I had a great system in the class room for collecting songs, my circle of friends were heavily into football and football cards/ stickers for scrap books. They would give me the ones they didn’t need, (the extras) and I would barter these with the other boys for the parents’ tapes and records. This meant they would have to go home sometimes and steal to order. It’s amazing the lengths a young pup will go for a Mark Hughs and Hank William EP! They would be going through my stickers saying – “Got –Got- Need –Got”, and I would be going through their parents records saying the same. Then a deal would strike. 
Once I heard Christy Moore sing I wanted a guitar, that’s how it all started. 

5. Do you have another talent that we don’t know of?


I have none, but….
Jonny makes a deadly scrambled egg,. mmm !
Rachel is very funny, can do any accent, and is my all time favourite singer. 
Darren has a great musical trivia, is tall, (which comes in handy for reaching things), and is the calmest member of the Band – bringing the Chill vibe.
Alison remembers the names of everyone she has ever met, and is a great organizer too, keeping us all right.

The Lookin’ Drawer is available for purchase through his website and itunes.

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Annalivia’s Barrier Falls

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A tribute to the guessing game that has launched a thousand ships.

The band Annalivia have  an amusing history for me personally. It started out as a guessing game that my friend Jimmy gave to everyone. He took snippets of When I Was In My Prime off their debut CD.  I was partners with Tim. We took the game really seriously and worked on it doing research on the web while chatting. We won beating other competitors. For the prize we both got the sophomore CD Barrier Falls.

I think I waited weeks for it to arrive in the Philippine post office. It created problems on Jimmy’s side but in the end I really got it. A wonderful CD with awesome artwork and packaging-and of course a wonderful message from my pal.

The sound production is  exquisite and I think producers Matt Brown and Flynn Cohen did a good job in making the album sound slick without sacrificing the organic quality of the music. The thundering opening track Reynardine really set the mood for what’s to follow.  Personal favorites are songs like John Riley showcasing energetic guitar strums and commanding fiddling performance.  Early in the Spring sounds optimistic and the pizzicato, soft vocals and nice tempo really get to your mood that makes you want to open your windows and let the early morning brightness in. Time is Up on the other hand is poignant and ingratiating. I think all tracks are excellent in this album. I really enjoyed the guessing game and also getting the CD!

http://www.annaliviamusic.com/index.htm

Poitin (Debut Album re-issued 2012)

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The first in the series of my album review featuring Celtic band from the Czech Republic. Poitin is indeed getting global attention and the proof is when their tune The Congress Reel appeared in Sherlock Holmes:A Game of Shadows.

The running sound of the bodhran during the opening of the  track The Congress Reel is enough to drive one nuts with its irresistible beat and the breakneck speed on how the instruments are played. It is a thumping beat that won’t just let one sit there. You have to move to the music! Poitin have come a long way since this debut recording was released in the year 2000. Now they are getting a lot of attention all over Europe and the UK.

 

The cover artwork is designed by Jeremy King, the band’s lead musician/vocalist. This album is eclectic, combining music origin from Irish, Scottish, Breton and French. According to Jeremy:

‘It was the first time in a studio for most of us, and we were a bit apprehensive, but it didn’t take long for us to get to like the experience. The recording took three weekends, and the mixing a further two. Most of the instrumental tunes we recorded in one take, so if somebody messed up, we had to start again from the beginning- not a pleasant task! Some tracks went easier than others. For example, Vladar we got in one take and Laird of Cockpen in two. But on the other hand, Gloomy Winter’s Noo Awa’ must have taken about twenty attempts. Tyna had to drink gallons of some horrible throat gargle, but in the end I hope you’ll agree it was worth it!’

 

I like Jeremy’s sense of humor. And I think his way of taking things with humor is responsible for the steady climb of the band’s success not just in the internet but also offline as they have been getting responses all around. Apart from being  a musician, he is also a great supporter of Celtic music in general. He doesn’t hesitate to post updates and also re post news from his online friends.

 

This first album is well made. All tracks are played in an excellent way considering that no layering happened here. All tracks are played live. The second song Gloomy Winter’s Noo’ Awa is a slow air with Tyna Frankova’s haunting voice.  I love the presence of recorders in this album because it adds a Shakespearean essence to it.

 

Other favorites are Si Mors a Mort  Breton track, Carolan’s Ramble to Cashell with its amazing harp playing that’s flawlessly delivered. Bodhran Solo from track 6 is powerful and though it is a short piece it stops you on your tracks. To be honest, there is no dull track here. Everything has been arranged carefully to create a balanced listening experience. I am an album guy and I prefer to listen to the entire album than just single tracks. I think the drama created during the ordering of tracks is just as important as the production itself. This album is a must for Celtic music fans and collectors.

Irish “tavern” tune from Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows score, used in fight scene during Watson’s last night of bachelorhood. Not included in the official soundtrack. Title: Poitin – The Congress Reel (recorded in 2000).

Tracks:

1. The Congress Reel

2. Gloomy Winter’s Noo’ Awa’

3. The Sea/Planxty Eleanor Plunkett/Planxty Maggie Browne

4. Si Mors a Mort

5. The Laird O’ Cockpen

6. Carolan’s Ramble to Cashell

7. Bodhran Solo

8. Grasou Mat Pier  

9. Lover’s Ghost          

10. TheDunmoreLassies/Trip to Sligo/Tom Billy’s No.2          

11. Silvestrik   

12. Vlada?      

13. Carolan’s Draught  

14. The Old Hag in the Kiln/Morrison’s Jig/Scatter the Mud     

15. Spanish Lady         

16. Do Tamborin Poirt/Swallowtail Jig/Gaius    

You can buy the album from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Poit%C3%ADn/dp/B007L7V8PQ/ref=sr_1_6?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1334671097&sr=1-6