It’s been a while since I checked my Celtic Music Fan Facebook inbox. I got a neat message from these German artists. I am enjoying their new album. They have a general appeal as they combine folk, rock, reggae and traditional Irish. A really fun album you should listen when you are depressed.I am attaching the note below:
I hope this finds you well! We are The Rathmines, 4 guys from Berlin, Germany addicted to folk (mostly Irish plus own compositions). We make folk which locates somewhere between The Clancy Brothers and The Pogues but mostly with a critical or political attitude. Last year we released our first album “Ramblin’ with the Rats – Stolen Songs of Struggle” and after we celebrated it with numerous gigs in and outside of Berlin I think it is now about time to widen our audience. Whether getting featured, reviewed or put on a playlist we think it is worth to lend us an ear and see what we’ve done with 16 songs (including 4 own songs) in the living room of our singer. I admit – it is not the same without a chanting and beer drinking crowd in the background. Enough text now – if you like to take a listen, you find our album playable on bandcamp (www.therathmines.bandcamp.com). If you like it I am happy to send one or the other copy of our CD over.
01 – Frying Pan 3:01
02 – Cliffs of Galway 3:24
03 – Molly’s Eyes 3:36
04 – Mary Hogan’s 4:05
05 – Collier 3:46
06 – Parnik 3:49
07 – Jim 5:03
08 – Poor Man’s Hat 2:24
09 – Tearberries 2:36
10 – I’ll Never Be the Same Man Again 3:47
11 – Rugged Day 4:11
12 – Wrong & Right 2:59
13 – In the Maze 5:07
Release date: 9 May 2013
Running time: 47:46
One of the most energetic releases in the Celtic punk genre is Wrong & Right by Czech band Cheers. I featured an interview with the lead man Pavel(Pafka)Steidl last year and it was fun. You get to feel the punk attitude sandwiched between melodic tunes. Wrong & Write is fun to listen to.This is an all out party album not for the faint of hearts. But the sweet melodies will keep the balance between spicy strong sounds and crunchy beats. Yes take a bite. Feel it sizzle. Get drunk to the music!
The confidence is present. Take note: this band has performed in many live shows prior to recording this album. All the tracks were recorded live at the Saloon Roudna. The sound quality is also excellent. You really get to savor the crunch of the drums and the sharp edge of the guitars. The Celtic instruments aren’t drowned by the louder sounds as they are given room to breath in Rugged Days, Wrong & Write as well as other tracks. Katka Hofmanova also sang the female parts in the tracks when not playing the flute. This creates a balance with Pafka’s testosterone induced voice.
Freddy Kruger who played the accordion maintained that melodic envelope all throughout. The fiddle of Filip Matyas has that Irish feel which I really like. The punk power of Wrong & Right is brought to you by the guitar of Mates Sistek who also provided the backing vocals. His rocking contribution is really important. Paja Vesela made the groove and the fullness of the recording with her bass.I just love it! And last but not the least, Prema Broz kept the tunes in one place with his drums. As you know drummers are awesome.
The lyrics are in English but they are translated to Czech in the liner notes. I think the cover rocks. It shows a tattooed hand holding a lollipop . This clearly showcases the band’s sense of humor. My favorite song is the ballad in track 5. This is one of the tender moments when the band show their intricate and expressive side. I think this is a track that should be a single because it is easy to sing along. The other one is track 13 called In The Maze. But I tell you Wrong & Right is an album intended for energetic gatherings where you invite your friends for a pint of Guinness and great live tunes. All the tracks in Wrong & Right are recommended for big speakers.
Wrong & Right is one of the releases you should not fail to check out as it provides a satisfying listening experience. Especially if you want your tunes to rock big time.
Music keeps me alive. I am sure it is doing the same to you. Whatever problems we may face in life I have learned to rely on the wisdom of the Sound and how it has the power to pull us from the darkness into light. I know that our brothers and sisters are having problems over there in Europe as flooding continues. My prayers go to the people of the Czech Republic, Germany and the neighboring countries. These are hard times. I had hard times last month but I know that as long as we live our lives in music then nothing will ever destroy us.
Now on the lighter side, check this youtube playlist from another Celtic band from the Czech Republic called Poitin which I am sure you have read about them in my past posts. I love posting their music because I have their albums and yes I am a certified Poitin fan. Do check this out:
Info: It’s taken from a show they had recently in Prague- with a live webcam and the sound quality is quite good.
Album review:Brendan Mulholland/ Brendan Hendry/Paul McSherry with Tuned Up!
Tuned Up is a project which lovers of traditional Irish music will love to collect. Energy, solid harmonies and top notch players in the trad scene are things that you will find here. From the start of track 1 (Reels: Fox in the town/In the tap room/The Belfast traveler) one can already say ‘ ah this is a trad album I have been looking for’. Big nod to Paul McSherry for kicking the tunes with his punchy guitar strumming that paves the way for all the wonderful tunes to come.
Plus points:
Liner notes. There is a comprehensive written by Kevin Crawford to introduce the trio. Kevin is known as the flute player and chatty man with Lúnasa. It is great to have his presence in this wonderful CD.
Tracks:
There are traditional and traditional sounding original compositions. There are ten tracks but there are divided into the following: reels, jigs, slow reels, air/hornpipe, waltz and polka. This is a great introduction to people who are trying to study traditional Irish music because of the description of the musical style in each track. Brendan’s flute playing really shines in track 7 with Air/hornpipe. Here you will really appreciate the round tunes produced by this wind instrument.
Sound quality:
I like spaces in between songs. They make the tracks breath and give you the time to get acquainted with the soul of the music. The sonic production is excellent. There is a balance of a really clean recording that reaches to the surface of the sound in each instrument. To cite an example, the warm fiddle sound of Brendan Hendry is captured really well in track 4(Slow reels/reels). There is that brightness in the instrument that calls to mind wood sprites dancing. There is also a good use of reverb in the midrange and it gives all tracks their natural warm sound.
Verdict:
They need to come up with another project like this one. There’s the undeniable chemistry between these three musicians and personally it was one of those satisfying and educational listening experience for me. Tune Up is the life of a party. Just crank it up and listeners will clap their hands and tap their feet.
New musical written by award winning singer/songwriter Dave Rooney and writer actor bill monks.
based on the life of a homeless temple bar character
Here is one musical even about an Irish unsung hero. This is a must see both for the music and for the story. I got to ask Dave about his involvement in the project and other important info:
“This musical started when I used to meet a homeless guy on the
street during my breaks on gigs in Temple Bar. He was homeless and we
got chatting. I only met him 4 or 5 times and we chat for about 15
minutes. He was in his eighties and he liked to reminisce. He told me
little bits about his life and and I listened with intrigue.
I didn’t see him for a few months and I asked some of the
homeless people where he was, and they said he passed away.
I was saddened by this and I decided to write a song about him.
and so was the birth of millionaire. This was to be the catalyst
for the whole project.”
About the production:
“I hooked up with Bill Monks who is a writer/actor and we set
about putting his life in a story, an adaptation, based on limited
info about him, and how his life unfurled from our perspective.
I’d like to tour this musical in the states because it has an
Immigrant side to it. I feel it would be a draw for any of the diaspora.
I’ve written all the songs for the play. I did some re-recording and a bunch
of new songs all woven into the story line.
It’ll be held at the merchants arch in Temple Bar starting next
Monday September 10th, and hopefully will be ongoing.
People are always asking (tourists) where they can meet real
Irish people and learn about real Irish life. I think this will
bring something real. It’s refreshing to be involved in something
new. I’ll be reaching a new audience and I think it’s a really good
angle to have the music exposed”.
Promotional videos:
Featured band: DÁN – making fine Irish music
I got a beautiful treat when I stumbled upon the tunes these musicians make. They are a trio called DÁN. The spare piano lines amidst the
DÁN – fine Irish music
traditional fiddling make them sound like no other. Groovy bass lines make that driving motion in the overall tranquility. I think I listened to them again and again because one time isn’t enough. And oh, they are from Germany. This isn’t the first time I featured German bands that make amazing Irish music. Check them out: http://www.myspace.com/fineirishmusic
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Flashback: Crowdy Crawn (Brenda Wootton) – No Song To Sing(1974)
Here is one relaxing track uploaded via a vinyl recording(You can hear the nostalgic scratches) by the late Cornish folk singer Brenda Wooten. This is a duet performance with Rob Bartlett.
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Dom Duff: From Brittany to Manchester
Singer/songwriter Dom Duff has traveled a lot lately. There is a warm reception towards Breton music these days and It is because of musicians like him who continue to inspire the awareness of Breton music and culture.
Introducing an amazing Canadian artist, A German record label, Album Review, Loreena McKennitt and Picture of the day.
“It was kind of cool to work the sound board for him, because my dad said that when he was in university Terry used to play upstairs in the student union building. Another really cool thing is that the choir I sang in, did one of his songs a few years ago but I didn’t know who he was so I didn’t realize it until he started playing the song. He sounded so good live.”-Layne Greene
Ever wonder how I got my fresh ideas for this site? Yes, I have good friends whom I spend hours and hours discussing musical stuff. So, apart from getting direct messages from bands themselves, I also get word of the mouth from this or that who knows this or that.
After one song I warmed up to Terry Kelly right away. Fans of Dave Gunning will love his music and yes he is also Canadian! You hear different influences in his music ranging from Bluegrass, Irish to Pop rock. In My Father’s House (the video you see above) has an amazing fiddle part and the video is also well done. His voice combines strength and tenderness. The music lifts the soul, casting your burdens aside. So, to all of you who are having a hard time, those who are trying to heal from a broken heart or a terrible situation, the music of Terry Kelly is a perfect remedy. Not too heavy on the sugar, good calorie count and full of goodness.
Merlin’s Nose records giving you ambient, pagan folk and other interesting releases
Those who love ambient sound with something medieval and folk then Merlin’s Nose Records have great stuff for you. The company is based in Germany and it sells records in various format. These tracks you hear are just samplers of the great things to come. Visit their site to browse through the catalog. http://www.merlins-nose.com/index_1.htm
Music sampler:
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Album Review: Mickey Harte: Forward to Reality
The music of Mickey Harte is easy to the ears and it goes down smoothly. There are enough hooks to appeal to both pop and rock listeners. His voice has the characteristics as Rod Stewart and Sting or a combination of both. The album booklet has a nice biography that will explain how this recording came into reality. It also shows black and white photos of the studio with the artist and crew during recording sessions. The album has 13 catchy pop rock songs , artfully crafted but they also made sure to retain that raw energy courtesy of sound Engineer Dave Hill.
The songs are typical adult alternative music that talks about relationships, the tragedy, redemption of love and things in between. There are folksy sensibilities in songs like Bordertown, Living in our town,Unstoppable train and my personal favorite Broken Love. Mickey Harte has a voice possessing a wide range of expression and layers. In I like the way you think, his voice go really deep and sensual in a Chris Isaak croon.
So what about the instruments? Expect to hear Hanson guitars, alto trombone and the usual mix of keys, bass and drums. The recording and mastering took place inside 1 Bit Studio in Chicago IL. Interesting results happen when artists from the Emerald Isle let American sound engineers do the final touches. All in all Forward to Reality is one strong album that is poised to satisfy a wide range of listeners from the musical spectrum.
Moya Brennan excels as a live performer. Being in the music scene since the 70’s , she has polished her craft while continuing to grow as an artist . Heart Strings is an album that has been in the market since last year and it is only now that I got my hands on it. I read a lot of good reviews about it but I could not really say so until I hear it myself. Being the lead singer of Clannad and a big influence in the Irish Celtic music renaissance, no one can mention Irish music without having her name on the top list. That’s why she is labeled as the First Lady of Celtic music. Her voice is like a big hug.
Heart Strings is the product of her Netherlands and Germany tour from 2007 to 2008. What’s remarkable about her every live performance is that she is able to duplicate the same atmospheric power that her voice can do in the studio into the live show. The album opens with Tapestry which is a track taken from the album of the same title. Perfect Time is from her 1998 album released under Word label. The vocal overdubs is replaced by a male backing vocal. Mhorag’s Na Horo Gheallaidh, is from the early Clannad album Fuiam . Alisdair MacColla from Lore has a tamer and jazzed up arrangement . The ad lib part is prolonged by Uillean pipes, hand drums and fiddles. It is much more improvised by the acoustic guitars. So expect a longer version than the usual.
Molly Fair is done harp, voice flute and strings. Sailing Away from Two Horizons is toned down into acoustic jazz as opposed to the chillout trip hop flavour of the studio version. Gone are the Days which has become a personal favorite is as bitter-sweet as the first time I heard it on the album. The string section further added the warm touch…”nothing remains the same, why even the change must change”… this is the part that usually get to me. And yes that long instrumental part sounds as if it’s a song made in heaven’s veranda. Tunes Medley is a list of old Clannad tracks . Now these tunes were rearranged in a different way . Some of them done in a breakneck speed that sometimes make you question if Moya is indeed an acoustic metalhead insde. But of course such assumption is silly.
I Will Find You from Last of the Mohicans combines the original movie arrangement and Moya’s own approach. Vocally, this one proves that you don’t need studio reverb or wet editing to achieve magical effects. You just need the talent to do it. Merry Go Round and No One Talks both from Tapestry. The latter with great string arrangement.
In a Lifetime from Macalla is probably one track that has so many live experiences. This one could not live up to the original done with Bono. But then again , Brian Kennedy’s voice is just suited for the laid back arrangement necessary for this live track. Against the Wind from her first solo album. The vocal harmonies are flawless and the effect never fails to dazzle.Theme from Harry’s Game has the harp instead of the synthesized arrangement in the original hit…but still remarkable and thus closes this album.
are things that you will find here. From the start of track 1 (Reels: Fox in the town/In the tap room/The Belfast traveler) one can already say ‘ ah this is a trad album I have been looking for’. Big nod to Paul McSherry for kicking the tunes with his punchy guitar strumming that paves the way for all the wonderful tunes to come.
Celtic Music Fan 