Do you want to get a free copy of an Irish traditional record? Well you better hurry before offer runs out. According to Irish recording artist Michael McCague:
So grab your camera phones and make a video of yourselves playing one of his tunes. Hey it wouldn’t be hard even if you don’t have his album yet as you can always looked it up via YouTube.
Compact Disc
And…Winter Came!
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.
For info visit http://enya.com/
Newfoundland Vinyl by Allison Crowe
Young singer/songwriter Allison Crowe puts tradition in motion with Newfoundland Vinyl.
How do you get to know the kind of people who inhabit a place? The answers can be complex but I do know that the kind of lives they led are reflected in their songs. The kind of music we listen to might not really say everything but it says something about who we are and the kind of values we have As the background notes in the CD say: “…The album’s 10 tracks traverse parlour songs to country tunes and folk favorites, songs of land and sea that share the strength and the struggles, the heart-breaks and the humour of people.”
There are albums that focus more on the personal struggles of the singer/songwriter. But there are those that explore the encyclopedic aspect of songwriting and bringing the song history to the fore. This is where the work of Allison Crowe proves its importance to contemporary music. She has mapped the culture of Newfoundland and gave each song an up to date delivery that transcends time.
The style of Newfoundland Vinyl echoes the sound of old vinyl records. This can be heard in the opening track Black Velvet Band where her voice takes the nostalgia of parlour songs during the early part of the 20th century. Her strong voice and upfront delivery shine in Easy. The backing vocals owes much to the African-American gospel choir. The project was the result of her involvement with the Gros Morne Theatre Festival. She is now curating and arranging songs for the Summer fest. She expressed her happiness in this project saying “I get to work with extremely talented and fun people each Summer in a gorgeous setting.”
There are dark humorous moments in this album like Seven Old Ladies.
” And it’s-Oh dear, what can the matter be?
Seven old ladies locked in the lavat’ry
They were there from Saturday to Sunday
and nobody knew they were there.”
The variety of rhythms expressed in this album make Newfoundland Vinyl an exciting album to listen to. I found myself wrapping a blanket up, sipping tea while watching the rain outside. There is something about this album that makes the songs become the soundtrack of your life. The grace and subtlety in the instrumental and vocal arrangements make this a one of a kind must have album for 2013. There is that stripped down atmosphere in every track like it’s an unplugged concert. I am sure that you might have heard some of the songs and sometimes you wonder about their origins. Now you know.
Did you know?
In the movie “Man of Steel”, the Zack Snyder-directed Superman epic, she has a cameo – as a musician performing “Ring of Fire”, a song made famous by Johnny Cash.
Qristina & Quinn Bachand: Relative Minors
Album: Relative Minors
Artists : Qristina & Quinn Bachand
Genre:Folk/ Celtic/ World
Type: Instrumental
Place of origin: Victoria, British Columbia
Tracks:
1. Spootiskerry/High Road to Linton/Big John McNeil
2. Extra Bar in Paddyland / The Smirnoff Gigolo
3. Jigs in A (Rosewood Jig/Teviot Bridge/Who’ll be King but Charlie/The Canadian Club)
4. The Frenchies (Fil et Bobine / Les Poules Huppes)
5. Mabou Harbour Set (Flowers of Edinburgh / Miss McLeod’s / The Beached Whale)
6. Kathryn’s Castle / Lost in the Loop
7. Jigs in G (Old Favourite / The Roaring Barmaid / Out on the Ocean)
8. La Bastringue / St. Anne’s Reel
9. Kid on the Mountain / The Butterfly / An Dro
10. Gaelic College Medley (Memories of You / Please Scrape Your Dishes)
11. The Barn Set (Colin Rankin’s Strathspey / Kelsae Brig / The Holland Wedding/Predator Reel)
12. Jigs’n’Reel (Morrison’sJig / Swallowtail Jig / Lilting Banshee /Hobbart’s Transformation)
13. Wistful Daydreamer
14. Relative Minors (Fifteen Children / Snail Fever)
15. D Set (Haste to the Wedding / Banish Misfortune / Miss Susan Cooper/Virginia Reel/Silver Spear/MacLeod’s Farewall)
16. Polka Medley (Kenmare / Britches Full of Stitches / Bill Sullivan’s)
Total time: 59:07
With the instantaneous success of Family, Relative Minors seems to have been overlooked by the music crowd. But yes Relative Minors is the album that started it all. Siblings Qristina and Quinn Bachand (Q & Q)have created a collection of tunes woven tightly to create an exquisite listening experience. Although this primarily a traditional album , the two added their own styles.
Their bombastic exploration into the Celtic instrumentals is exemplified by the first track Spootiskerry/High Road to Linton/Big John McNeil. It’s a tune that makes you want to dance around the living room. A very happy tune. This is followed by the Extra Bar in Paddyland / The Smirnoff Gigolo in which Qristina’s fiddling shines through. In Jigs in A (Rosewood Jig/Teviot Bridge/Who’ll be King but Charlie, Quinn has mastered the art of light guitar strumming.
The amazing thing about Celtic music is that you don’t have to know what it is to appreciate it. This is in the case of tunes like The Frenchies (Fil et Bobine / Les Poules Huppes) where the melody takes a joyful turn amidst the interesting time signature. The music talks to you and this is what makes the Bachands amazing!
Everyone in the house knows how this CD has been played repeatedly. It’s that fresh quality that continues and doesn’t eat you just because the album has been listened to for a hundredth times already! Yes it doesn’t get old. Which is a feat considering that these two were literally very young when this one was released way back 2008. Big nod to the musicians who joined the project like Dave Klassen, Eric Reiswig, Russ Godfrey and Adrian Doland. These artists are huge in the Canadian Celtic music scene. The sound Engineering of Aaron Scoones maintained a raw but crystalline approach to the sound. It’s like witnessing a sunrise after a long rainy week. Design, layout and photos also gave justice t the music of this album.
I love the gentleness of Kathryn’s Castle / Lost in the Loop and its change of rhythm from slow to fast. But take note of the title track Relative Minors (Fifteen Children / Snail Fever) where they played at a breakneck speed while displaying the delicate style they are known for. Relative Minors is a flawless album and really deserves the best place in your music shelf.
Listen to the track and buy the album here: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/qqbachand
Biography
“Qristina is a gutsy, fiery fiddle player – Quinn is nothing short of amazing!” – Fiona Heywood, The Living Tradition Magazine (Scotland)
“Qristina and Quinn Bachand are best act to come along in the world of Celtic music since…. anyone you care to mention.” – Tim Readman, Penguin Eggs (Canada)
“The Bachands have the Celtic fever in spades and play it superbly.” – Eric Thom, Roots Music Canada
Qristina and Quinn Bachand are creating quite a stir in the Celtic and Folk music world. In 2009 they were nominated for a Canadian Folk Music Award in the Young Performer of the Year category. In 2010 they won the Irish Music Association’s award for Top Traditional Group and in 2011 they earned another two Canadian Folk Music Award Nominations, Instrumental Group of the Year and Young Performer of the Year, as well as an Irish Music Award win as “Top Duo”. Qristina and Quinn have released two independent studio albums, “Relative Minors” (2008) and “Family” (2011), co-produced by Juno nominee Adrian Dolan (The Bills).
Twenty-one year old Qristina Bachand is an expressive fiddler, with a unique personal style that is bold and edgy. Clearly at ease on stage, Qristina is a natural performer, consistently delivering a spirited performance that features her energy, enthusiasm and love of Celtic music. Qristina recently added traditional and original songs to the duo’s repertoire, and is already receiving rave reviews as a vocalist. Her singing has been described as “lovely and delicate, with a laidback sweetness.” (Roots Music Canada)
At just sixteen years of age, Quinn Bachand is a gifted multi-instrumentalist who already has a reputation as “one of the best Celtic guitar accompanists in the world” (Ashley MacIsaac). Although Quinn plays a range of guitar styles including jazz, it is his talents in the world of Celtic music that are drawing the most attention. Quinn adds a contemporary edge to traditional Celtic music. In particular, his creative harmonies, hard-driving strumming, inventive chord voicing and powerful rhythmic effects make even the most well-worn tunes seem new and exciting.
Qristina and Quinn have performed across Canada, the US and Europe, including European tours in 2008, 2009 and 2012, and North American tours in 2010 and 2011.
Susan Borowski, Steel Clover
The music of Susan Borowski would feel at home in the grand halls where people are in colorful flowing attires. There is something grand about her style that calls to mind the beauty of old music. She is a respected name in the Pittsburgh Celtic music circle. I don’t have one of her CDs yet but I am currently playing samples off her Reverbnation playlist on her official website.
Her music is happy and I can tell that Susan is a happy person where music plays a big part in her life. Thanks to her husband Jim for introducing her works to me via email. You see, blogging does connect people and music is the center of that. I find a great deal of inspiration from Susan’s life story, surviving cancer through the healing qualities of music. Miracles do happen if we believe.
Steel Clover is the name of her project. An interesting title. She mastered the fiddle and mandolin, guitars and vocals. Speaking of vocals, her Slovak/Ukrainian heritage shines through her recordings. Mixing those with Celtic music, resulted to something unique and fascinating. She is shown in pictures with a mandolin or playing the fiddle.These are available via her website along with the music samples and link to her store.
I am listening to three tracks available : Veil of Sorrow, Queen of Clubs and My Love is Like a Red Red Rose. Take note of her past influences before stepping into Celtic music. You will hear their echos in her renditions. She has also tracks available via youtube. They are Down by the Salley Garden, Isle of Hope, Isle of Tears and As Christmas Day Draws Near. Try to hear them out and experience something different. Yes she doesn’t sound like anyone.
This is just an introduction to her artistry. As soon as I get the CD then I will review it for you. Yes I will let you know how it sounds like and what makes it fascinating. Susan Borowski is an inspiring artist. May her story touch everyone to acknowledge the healing powers of music. Please read this link to know more about her story: http://triblive.com/aande/music/3493573-74/borowski-cancer-says#axzz2Sp5ZPccy
Music samples are here: http://www.steelclovermusic.com/music.php
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Bio:
Sue’s love for performing music began at age ten in a Carpatho-Rusyn dance group, a sub-group of the Junior Duquesne University Tamburitzans. For three years she studied the music and traditions of her Slovak/Ukrainian heritage and performed her first solo on-stage at age eleven. In December of 2006 Sue gave her debut performance on the mandolin at the Melody Music Shop’s Holiday Showcase show at Carnegie Music Hall in Homestead, PA. In 2007 she met and auditioned with singer/solo artist, Matt Hughes of “Ar Eigean Gael”. Thus began her journey in the Celtic genre. After two years with Ar Eigean Gael, Sue joined the RichPatrick Celtic Music group as their fiddle and mandolin player, vocalist and guitarist. Sue enjoys playing in acoustic settings with friends around the City of Pittsburgh and most recently has ventured into a solo project under the name of “Steel Clover”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Oktq6XDW5io
Celtic Music Fan 