This Dracula Video has creepy effect. But I am a Bela Lugosi fan so this is heaven!
208 Talks of Angels are consist of Russian members who are influenced by different styles of music. You can hear Classical, Ethnic as well as Ambient influences in their music. They are still in the in the process of recording demos and getting the music all over the internet. Here is an interesting info from their website to quote: Musicians themselves define their music as III – independent individual intellectual. For other people it may sound like the symbiosis of Classics, Industrial, Ballad, Ethnic, Progressive, Electronic, Break Beat, Ambient and many others.
Kinfolk: Beautiful songs distilled by grace and beauty.
After a period of hermitage, I finally went out with friends for a cuppa iced creamy coffee. It was raining! It took me a while to get adjusted to the commotion. It was a fun afternoon. I picked up groceries on my way home and now I am here in front of the computer. I am listening to Kinfolk. They are a duo based in the UK.
You know, energetic and catchy songs will always win. All the samples I heard off their myspace page are all exceptional. I passed this link to my friend Jimmy and he agreed. They make amazing music. A new album is out soon. When I get a copy, I will do a track by track review.
I recommend their song Donegal as the most catchy and fun of all the tracks yet It sounds unfair to say that one song is better than the rest. Their songwriting styles are what I would call as distilled. It is like watching images from your wineglass. By the time I reached the song Thingamajig, these guys already won me over. Vocally and instrumentally they are excellent.
I want to say big thanks to Gerry Power for stepping forward to bring the good tune.
I have been visiting the page of this wonderful project called the Cumbria Cardboard Harp Project by musician Mary Dunsford. I owe this discovery to my friend Scott Hoye who is a recording artist. He posted this in Celtic Harp (https://www.facebook.com/groups/celticharp/) for everyone to see.
This workshop teaches beginners how to play using cardboard lap harps, making the once challenging instrument more accessible. I think this is amazing! Everyone can do it. It simply makes this instrument less intimidating for people who think harps are difficult to learn.
Mary Dunsford is a harp teacher, professional musician and passionate ambassador to the harp. She has been teaching harp for a decade already, resulting to a publication of an instructional harp book for adult beginners. It isn’t too late to learn new things and this is what she has been teaching everyone.
If you are curious, please go ahead and like the Cumbria Cardboard Harp Project in facebook. You might find yourself a part of her workshop and really enjoy life and music to the fullest!
I was so excited when the mailman gave this to me, that I stopped all chores and put this in my CD player. Celtic Twist is a duo that will win more followers with their brand of Celtic music.
There’s a lot of artistic polishing done to the recording of Twist in the Tale by the duo Celtic Twist (Phil Holland and Dave Palmley). Only an arrogant listener with the heart of ice will fail to appreciate these enchanting pieces. The first track, Maids of Mourne (based on Sally Gardens) opens with the sound of seagulls by the shore. Then, we have the guitar and harp by Phil and Dave. The song soon builds up into an Enyaesque piece complete with vocal layering that sounds like church choir.
There are lively tracks like The Raggle Taggle Gypsies/The King of The Faeries, Ye Jacobites, Gerdundula, Toss the Feathers/Scotch Sally and Whiskey You’re the Devil that will sweet you up your feet with their refreshing and energetic styles. These are all wrapped in jigs and reels.
The remaining half of the album are tracks that convey relaxation and reflection. These are elegantly crafted compositions. One song called Looking For Moss(third track), is already familiar because Phil already uploaded this track on youtube for friends to hear. Hearing it compiled here is a treat! I also need to commend her rendition of She Moved Through the Fair. In this traditional song, Phil puts aside her classical singing style, to make way for the lighter, airy spirit of Irish music-more like Kate Bush meets Moya Brennan.
Takes Forever expresses that hopeful longing for someone. The melody just breaks your heart. The Far Away Child is a vocal track with harp and guitar. Once again, I noticed the lighter and sweeter voice of Phil. Heart of Ice sounds like a song about heartbreak or loss. Cold wind, Cold heart, Still life, Torn apart, Walls of ice, Carpets of snow, Cannot stay, And cannot go….
The album ends with Climbing Pendle. Have you heard how a harp sounds like through an effects pedal? This will tell you how. I thought it was a didgeridoo or something. It used used during the intro and the last part of the track. Climbing Pendle is one of the most memorable instrumentals I have heard in quite a while. If you like the music of Loreena McKennitt, Enya, Clannad, Chieftains and even Kate Bush then you will appreciate Twist in the Tale.
Order of tracks: 1: The Maids of Mourne Shore 2: The Raggle Taggle ypsies/The King of The Faeries 3: Looking For Moss 4: She Moved Through the Fair 5: Ye Jacobites 6: Takes Forever 7: Gerdundula 8: The far Away Child 9: Toss the Feathers/Scotch Sally 10: The Wild Geese 11: Heart of Ice 12: Whiskey You’re the Devil 13: Climbing Pendle
The exciting and dynamic fusion of two such versatile musicians creates a sound that is as varied as it is unique. Rooted in Celtic music but drawing from their diversified musical backgrounds, Dave Palmley and Phil Holland bring to this musical communion all their decades of experience and insatiable passion for making music. Their contrasting yet harmonious vocal styles give added depth and texture to an already fascinating weave of instrumental sounds. Their repertoire consists of many traditional Irish and Scottish classics and lesser-known songs, jigs and reels, but Dave and Phil have also combined their song writing and compositional skills to create their own inimitable sound. Dave Palmley: Guitars(acoustic and electric),mandolin, bass, bodhran and vocals. Phil Holland: Celtic Harp and Electric Harp, violin, keys, bass and vocals.
I was trying to think very hard if Flutatious belongs here or in my other blog devoted to Indie folk/rock/dance-general music. After listening again and again, I decide to post it here for several reasons:
1. It is so pleasant to hear that it really fits here.
2. I know a lot of people who follow this blog have eclectic tastes.
3. They have this folk side with electronic frills.
With all these things said, I will now let you hear Flutatious. I got hooked after 2 songs. Think what this UK-based band will do with an entire album 🙂
Band member Ben Forwell recommended this link below. I think the video describes what the band’s music is about.
FLUTATIOUS came together after an inspiring trip to the Isle of Skye. The scenery and relaxed vibe inspired Michelle, Bill, Andy and Stella to put a new band together.
Michelle, Stella, Andy, Bill, William and the Colonel in Skye.
Malcolm came in on drums and then the band met the talented Mr Williams and were immediately knocked out with his jazzy vibes. 2008 saw the band finish their self-produced first album which has been selling out at every gig and was named as ‘demo of the week’ on Celtic Music Radio as well as receiving countless plays here and abroad on internet stations.
The band also had the pleasure of playing Small World, Eden, Cornbury, Hawkfest, Solfest and Weyfest and are playing to ever increasing audiences in their native northwest London.
Celtic Music Fan 