Celtic

Celtic Music Is Freedom : A New Celtic CD by Marc Gunn

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March Gunn is one of the influential people who inspired me to start my music review site. For me,the musical culture I am writing for is always spiritually and aesthetically enriching. I think there is good to be said about an artist who not only performs but also brings back something to the community.

Like the title of his new album Celtic Music is Freedom, he has always excelled in his path as an independent artist. It would be however unfair to praise his marketing skills and not mention his musical assets. His autoharp is always great to listen to. His bluesy strong vocals are  engage the listeners to stop whatever they are doing and listen to his tails of heroism, the human condition and comedic stuff.

Songs like Drunken Sailor, A Well-Dressed Hobbit and Monahan’s Mudder’s Milk among others will keep you tapping your foot and snickering with Marc’s brand of humour.

You can listen to his music through this link.

http://marcgunn.com/us/


More info about the album can be found here: http://marcgunn.com/projects/celtic-music-is-freedom-new-album-by-marc-gunn/

 

What Marc Gunn  says about the album:

Celtic Music Is Freedom : A New Celtic CD by Marc Gunn

 

It was January 2011 when I drove up to Kentucky, found a cabin in the woods, and started recording a whole bunch of Celtic songs. I had several CDs I wanted to release: Scottish Songs of Drinking and Rebellion, the next Cat Companion CD, another Irish drinking songs CD and who knows what else. My goal was to just record.

I had over dozens of songs halfway completed when I left. Autoharp and vocals were done. All I needed was to decide if I wanted to add additional instrumentation. Seven months later, I released “Don’t Go Drinking With Hobbits”. The first album from that recording session.

I could probably compile five more albums from that session, but I don’t have the time or money. I’ve barely touch the home studio since that week in January. Yet, I REALLY want to share this music.

A couple months back, I sent a couple tracks to my friend Daniel Briggs. Daniel helped record on “Don’t Go Drinking With Hobbits”. I asked him to record a simple guitar, maybe some bass, and some background vocals. That’s the same arrangement I had for the first Cat Companion CD. He agreed.

The first track he recorded was “A Drop of Nelson’s Blood”. It was awesome! He had his whole band–Dogs in Doublets–record on the track. It had this fun, old-timey feel. You can hear it on my website.

 

 

Yn Chruinnaght’s CD ‘The Gathering’

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Yn Chruinnaght’s CD ‘The Gathering’ is an exciting collection of Celtic music featuring twelve tracks donated by artists who have played at the festival over the years. The Gathering CD will raise vital funds for future events.

Those involved in the Manx music festival Yn Chruinnaght took a bold step with The Gathering. It is a compilation CD with 12 songs. These tracks were carefully selected and they all represent what is good, new and beautiful about the Yn Chruinnaght festival in the Isle of Man. Yn Chruinnaght (which also stands for the English word The Gathering)  was made up of tracks kindly donated by various artists who joined the festival throughout the years.

I have to be honest, it is hard to choose which is the best track. The Gathering is a CD that boasts wonderful tracks from bands that have been part of the festival through the years. From the enchanting hammer dulcimer of Cornish band Leski, to the perky accordion of Jamie Smith’s Mabon; everything in this album shines and enriches the soul.

The tracks and artists are:

Three spires/Tregajorran furry – Leski (Cornwall) Hammer dulcimer along with irresistible rhythm makes this the best choice as an opening track. Everything about Leski celebrates the beauty of Cornish music.

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Ah, que les femmes y sont betes d’obeir a leur mari – Trio Froger (Brittany) The tempo represents Breton dances. A trio of accordion, fiddle and lead vocals.

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Our ship did sail/If young men could swim – Sheear (Isle of Man) Meaning ‘West’, Sheear is an all girl band made up of musicians and singers who come together in between playing in other bands. Whistles, fiddles, piano, flute and vocals make this track a magical listening experience.

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Mae gen i fuwch – Never Mind The Bocs (Wales) The great thing about the Celtic language is that you don’t have to understand it, to appreciate the sound it makes. Such is the case of this Welsh track from this five-piece band. From Cajun to ceilidhs, via Blues and folk-rock, the contemporary approach of Never Mind The Bocs will charm lovers of Dougie McLean and Planxty.

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Just for Sean – Leo McCann (Scotland) What he can do with button box and tin whistle will find you tapping your feet and rocking your body. Leo has recorded over twenty albums. This track is an example of his fine musicianship distilled through years of playing in his own solo albums as well as other bands. Hands down! This is one of the great trad music I heard in ages.

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In with the bricks – Pipedown (Scotland) I wrote about them in my previous article and hearing this track proves my point that they are a force in the Scottish folk scene. In With the Bricks applies the skillful ease of poly-rhythms and the mellifluous sound of the small pipes.

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Kishtey ny yindyssyn – Staa (Isle of Man) A little bit on the groovy side with the infusion of reggae, bossa and vocal harmonies reminiscent of The Beach Boys, Staa will warm you to their music right away.

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Sumach – Scoot (Cornwall) Trad driven with hints of jazz and funk this Cornish band will enchant lovers of traditional Irish and Scottish music. The undeniable command of skill and technique are displayed in this wonderful track which is a duet between acoustic guitar and flute.

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Bonny broom – Imrama (Ireland) After thirteen years of playing, this track shows the refinement of this band. Influences of Planxty, Sweeney’s Men, The Bothy Band, and Steeleye Span are evident in their recordings.

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Kilmartin sky – Rachel Hair (Scotland) I became a fan of her music and I wrote about her band in my previous post. Rachel is the best Scotland has to offer in terms of harp playing. Delicate and haunting, this track celebrates the power of Celtic music through nuance and grace. A truly enriching and perky listening experience that made me tap my foot as the track gathers rhythm when it reaches the middle part.

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Derriere chez moi, ‘y a un etang – Chal ha Dichal, with vocals by Lors Landat (Brittany); The reason why I am crazy about Breton music is because of the energy and passion all Breton performers give when they sing or record albums. This track shines with so much positive energy that I end up smiling after.

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Fiddler’s despair – Jamie Smith’s Mabon (Wales) Well, introduction is not needed when you talk about this band. Energy and skill are consistent with their every track. Despite the title, Fiddler’s despair is a joy to listen to.

I think everyone who loves Celtic music should get this album. It only features the best and the brightest from the Celtic nations. The album features a beautiful photo by Dimitar Pentchev with a nice album artwork by Adam Rhodes. It also boasts an informative liner notes. I think liner notes are very important. Dave Rowles made a great arrangement in this compilation CD.

Special thanks to Laura Rowles for this wonderful treat.

You can buy the CD here: http://www.ynchruinnaght.com/cd/

Yn Chruinnaght Inter-Celtic Festival – 14-21 July 2012

2012 marks the 25th anniversary of the death of Mona Douglas, the founder of Yn Chruinnaght Inter-Celtic Festival. Throughout her life Douglas was passionate about promoting and supporting Celtic culture, and she was respected throughout the Celtic world for this. Douglas had a vision of a Manx national festival, and this resulted in Yn Chruinnaght being started in 1977. However, unfortunately she did not live long enough to appreciate the huge success of her legacy.
Yn Chruinnaght aims to foster cultural relations between the Celtic nations, whilst also working to promote Manx culture, both on the Island and further abroad. The festival features performers from all of the Celtic countries in various venues throughout the Island. As well as music and dance performances, the festival also includes language events, lectures, workshops, art exhibitions, and fantastic sessions.
This year promises to be a particularly exciting festival, with the line-up so far including Scottish fiddle supergroup, Blazin’ Fiddles, mighty Breton band, Forzh Penaos, progressive Cornish group, Pentorr, and the extremely talented Rua Macmillan Trio. Manx bands that will be appearing include new Manx trio, Barrule, Strengyn, and Nish as Rish, who had the honour of winning the Trophée Loïc Raison at Lorient festival last year.
The festival offers much to keep visitors occupied throughout the week; however, there is still plenty of time to explore the beautiful Island. The Isle of Man boasts fantastic beaches, striking mountains, and picturesque glens, and has attractions to suit everyone.
For more information on the festival, see www.ynchruinnaght.com or email ynchruinnaght@manx.net
For more information about the Isle of Man, see www.visitisleofman.com

Interview with Fabien Guiloineau of Shelta

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 Lyon France is the home of Shelta, a band playing beautiful traditional Irish music. Fabien contributed one of their tracks for your download pleasure.

Shelta has already gained prominence as a  band that jumps into our discussion once in a while. This happens when I talk to my friend Jimmy who lives in France. The Antidote Pub is one of the great places that are very accommodating towards musicians of Celtic music. A year of drifting in and out of discussion(plus youtube posts), it was an honor  to finally  talk to one of the members of the band. Fabien Guiloineau lives in Lyon France. He plays the guitar and acts as the spokes person for the band. He has various side projects. Some, I  already featured in this site. It is great to hear first hand information from someone who is involved with the Irish music scene in France.

 

 

Shelta released two albums. One was in 2006 and latest one was in 2010. Is there a new album in the making?

We are not recording albums currently, but we are working on new tunes.

 Your band plays gigs around Lyon. Being the food capital of France, tell me what is the state of Celtic music in Lyon?

There are a lot of Irish pubs in Lyon and big Irish/Anglo community. So there are a lot of sessions (4 times a week). Irish music is very present:
You can get some news here:
http://www.afil.fr/index_eng.htm

How do you describe the music of Shelta.

 

We try to play Irish music as it is played usually in the pubs in Ireland.
So our music sound like traditional Irish, but we try to arrange it for the concert and make it accessible to the French audience.
We spend a lot of time making the best set of tunes !

 The band met in 2002 because of the common love for Irish music. What inspired the group to choose the name Shelta?

 

Shelta is the language of the Irish travelers. In Ireland the Irish travelers made a lot for Irish music (Johnny Doran, Paddy Keenan…).
And it sounds good for the name of a band 😉

After 10 years, what has remained and what has changed in terms of the band’s vision and also in terms of the music.

With time, we understand that the most important in traditional music is to have the swing !
You can have a lot of arrangements but if you don’t have the swing your music, it will be flat.

Being part of the group, how do you describe the individual playing styles of each one?

Each member has it own style but try to be the best for the collective aspect.
Guitar and bodhran try to be in the same mood, violon and accordion are very close and the flute can blend with everyone.

What have you learned in the past years playing live? 

Playing Irish music in France seems to be difficult but French people really like Ireland, so for us it’s also easier.
We try to explain our approach for the Irish music and to play it with sincerity! People like to see musicians as sincere; we don’t play just for the sake of playing music.

 

Do you know other bands/musicians in Lyon playing Celtic music with the same passion?

Yes there are other musicians, professionals or simply those  with the same passion for the Irish music !
For example: Davog Rynne, Sebastien Luthers, Julien Cartonnet, Simon Boddy etc…

What can we expect from Shelta this 2012?

We are working on new tunes and new concerts! Please watch out for our future performances.

What is the best Irish bar in Lyon?

Johnny Walsh’s Pub is the most famous, but for me the one I prefer is the Antidote Pub-both are in St Georges street in Lyon (5th).

Have you met other Irish music enthusiasts in the Antidote ?Do they have their own bands or just listeners.

We play regularly at the Antidote, every Thursday night from October to June. These are not concert types but intimate sessions or gigs. Sometimes we are just 3 or 4 musicians but there are cases when there are more than 10 of us. It usually depends on who is available.There are now some listeners who come regularly too.

Please add Shelta through facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shelta/125419444161088?ref=ts

also check out:

http://www.shelta.org
http://www.myspace.com/musicshelta

Debut Album by Flutatious Has the Bounce!

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http://www.flutatious.co.uk/

http://www.myspace.com/flutatiousUK

 

I have my different Celtic “soundtracks” of the day. I listen to New Agey stuff after waking up , usually when the sun hasn’t risen yet. In the middle of the day, there’s the Celtic Rock and other ‘lively’ albums. In the afternoon it is usually traditional stuff. In the evening that’s when the urban chill out albums come. At this time, I give way to the dancy electronic types of Celtic music. One included in my regular playlist is from the UK based group Flutatious which I wrote about before.

 

Their self-titled debut album is a joy to listen to. I like dancing and this is the type of music that has that bounce. This is best played with big speakers emanating deep bass and lush midrange. What I like about the production is the emphasis on balance between the midrange sounds and the bouncy, floor shaking lows. The wispy highs are also crisp.

 

Things that I noticed about this album are:

  1. Chanty choruses injected in some tracks are fabulous. But the emphasis is not so much given to them as in the case of bands like  Ceredwen or Clannad. Often times these effects are done when the track really needs it.
  2. The traditional aspect of the album is geared towards the Welsh and Cornish type of flavour. There are Scottish and Irish jig styles that you can hear once in a while.
  3. The jazzy keyboards make this album appealing both to lovers and non lovers of Celtic music. I bet this will also sell well in the London club scene as in the case of loops and electronic effects that are hip.
  4. The band doesn’t repeat their styles in every track. It can be a good or sad thing depending on your point of view. Tracks like Spacechick, Venus, Morag’s Dance and Road to Skye are so addictive you want another version of the same sound.  

With all these in mind, I think the debut album by Flutatious deserve more spin in your player.

Thanks to Bill Forwell for the taste of this great sonic juice!

Samples:

Beannacht and the Sound of Summer

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Their debut CD, “Gra na Firinne” was released in November 2011.

As summer approaches, more and more Celtic bands are putting out albums that have that feel of white sandy beaches and bonfires. I can cite Beannacht as an example. The duo of Tom Johnston and Dierdre Forrest show that carefree simplicity. The tracks in the album are arranged in a way suited for few instruments. There are other instruments that embellish this silky project but mostly, the focus of Gran a Firinne is to project that languid poetic style reminiscent of Christy Moore and Luka Bloom.  Margarita, sunset and the music of Beannacht. Sounds like a perfect combination. Aloha! Summer is here.

Notable tracks: Upon Your Ocean, Why’d You Go, And I Love and many more.

Brian  Ostering captures the silky sound which borders on the wispy yet making sure to add that warm touch especially on middle frequencies. Great mastering by George Wirth. Sounds like this album is great both in artistic and technical aspect.

Thanks to Anita Daly for the taste of the music 🙂

https://www.facebook.com/BeannachtMusic

About

Writing great songs, playing great shows, supporting venues and fellow musicians.

Biography

Beannacht was named one of the Top Irish Music Makers of 2011 and Rookie of the Year by Mike Farragher and the Irish Voice!

Beannacht was named Best New Act at the 2011 Jersey Acoustic Music Awards in Asbury Park, NJ!

Beannacht is the musical duo of guitarist/singer/songwriter Thomas Johnston and his niece, lead vocalist and lyricist Deirdre Forrest. Both musicians are heavily influenced by nearly all genres of music and especially enjoy being able to share their Irish culture through their music. Beannacht is a famous poem by Celtic writer and spiritualist John O’Donohughe and the word beannacht translates to “blessing” in the Irish form of the Gaelic language.

Description

An acoustic duo creating original songs that are a blend of contemporary Irish, classic rock, folk, and blues. Their debut CD, “Gra na Firinne” was released in November 2011.