happy tunes

Have you heard of Tom Acton?

/ mrbaxteria2008 / Leave a comment

 

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If you haven’t picked up Down The Irish Gravel Road by Dublin based singer/songwriter Tom Acton yet, then you better. Mr Acton has a wonderful voice and he loves recording happy tunes. I heard three full tracks so far: Sligo Fair (very catchy), The Great Johnny Doran and The Water Song. The latter is very close to my heart because of its beautiful, poignant and somber atmosphere.

I made friends with Tom Acton when I signed up with Live Ireland. I remember him as a friendly and jolly fella. It is great to discover that his talent has a timeless appeal. He has a voice that catches you right away. As if he is meant to be heard on the radio. There are people who are born that way I guess. They are so natural onstage and off stage.

His songs are wrapped up with beautiful instrumental arrangements. These are things that would make you compare the tracks to the likes of Planxty and The Dubliners. But Acton has an original sound. It is a confident style that transcends time. You should hear his album and listen to the lyrics. He has a lot to say. He has a lot to sing about!

Samples and artist info can be found here:

http://www.fullspiral.nl/?MUSIC

 

Are you happy today? The top 5 happy tunes.

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 4 Comments

It’s four in the morning and it’s always the best time to write, read and listen to music I like to write about. Here are my list of lively tunes to make your day.

Orinoco Flow (Enya) She’s been around since 1980. Made this big splash in 1988. Enya is not all airy fairy stuff. This lady is made of steel. Just check out her more than 75 000,000 albums world wide without having a single tour. And yes, only trusted friends and family members are allowed in her castle. She  made all those voices and instruments. She does play a little violin in later albums to add that real pizzicato effect (she’s not all synths baby).

Whisper to the Wild Water (Moya Brennan) Taken from the album of the same title, Enya’s sister and Clannad’s lead vocalist simply knows how to take you on a journey with loops, swells, drums and yes a bit of rock and roll.

Santiago(Loreena Mckennitt) This Canadian and former veterinarian is now an international Celtic sensation. I just love how her voice swells in this Mid-eastern spiced track from The Mask And The Mirror.

One Glimpse of You(Brigid Boden) Trivia: After a childhood spent in Dublin, she studied dance there and in New York City, culminating in a scholarship to the Dance Theatre of Harlem.[1] She then moved to London to focus on songwriting. Her” hills to heaven” voice couldn’t be more sweeter when accompanied by reggae beats in this wonderful track.

Rithill Aill(Karen Matheson)-The Dreaming Sea is a solo album of Capercaillie’s

lead vocalist. Scottish singer Karen Matheson has been described as having a ‘throat kissed by God”.