Irish

Soundtrack and Film: The Secret of Roan Inish

/ mrbaxteria2008 / Leave a comment

I wrote about Far and Away previously. You can call this my 90s soundtrack series since I’ve been watching many 90s movies lately.

Since I started getting into the Irish and Scottish lore, I’ve read about the myth of the Selkies. My aunt read a book about it and was beaming with excitement telling me the story. You can say she got infected with my passion for all things Celtic. So, whenever I look for Irish films, it’s for either the myth or the music. The Secret of Roan Inish is a film that can satisfy both. It’s based on the 1957 novel Secret of the Ron Mor Skerry by Rosalie K. Fry. I am going to look for that one. 

The story was set in 1946. It is told from the point of view of Fiona (Jeni Courtney), a young girl who is sent to live with her grandparents in an Irish fishing village. This incident happened after the death of her mother. She also has failing health. I will not give the rest of the story away, but I will tell you that it is worth your time!

There is something intimate and organic about the whole movie. The ease and timelessness of the village and the lovely people around it add to the story’s warmth. And then there’s that selkie mystery thrown in. 

Music: Madon Daring’s traditional score blends well with the atmosphere. It’s a joy to listen to again and again long after the movie is finished. 

The Joyous Waltz by Atlas is a Sweet Gift in these Troubled Times

/ mrbaxteria2008 / Leave a comment

 

The Joyous Waltz is a new track by Irish duo Atlas-both natives of Limerick. Like a perfect Cappuccino over a sumptuous meal, The Joyous Waltz sways around your mood into the day’s vibes. Amid these uncertain and chaotic times, we need a break from all the politics and economy to close our eyes and enjoy music. The world can turn and tomorrow might not come, but living in the moment is one of the best gifts we can give ourselves.
Atlas launched their name with the release of Affinity in 2016 under Ropeadope Records. The album marks their style as

IMG_2765 a crossroads between tradition and what future Irish music should sound like. The talents behind Atlas are Cillian Doheny(guitars) and Cillian King(concertina).
The Joyous Waltz boasts the simplicity of two instruments in a crystal clear production. The tune reminds me of what Paris must’ve been in the 1920s. The new recording is a combination of sophistication and folk honesty. This is what music is all about-a joyous waltz to light the darkest moments, giving hope and kindness.

 

 

The Gap Of Dreams by Altan Released!

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 1 Comment

I was already aware when their new album dropped. But I haven’t caught the blogging momentum yet at the time. But things have changed lately.

This is HUGE because any Altan release is always worth celebrating and talking about. While most bands in their category have either stopped recording or changed direction musically, they remain obstinate in their passion and vision. They’re like a home you want to come home to when all the world’s in chaos.

Thirteen tunes comprise The Gab of Dreams. Here’s the blurb taken from their release:

“After thirty years of playing on stages all over the world from Dublin to New York, Tokyo to Sydney, premier traditional Irish band, Altan came back to the hills of Donegal to record their new album, The Gap Of Dreams. The 13 tracks transport the listener to the lifestyle of rural Donegal, to a time before electricity when folks would gather together in the mists of winter to tell stories, sing songs and dance into the wee hours of the night. The music lifted the locals’ spirits and helped elevate them beyond the hardships of the day like famine, conflict and emigration.”

 

 

Let Atlas Be Part Of Your Morning Music.

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 5 Comments

Writing this in my mobile phone because I can’t wait to go home for the computer. This is just after stopping by for a coffee after a fixie ride. Yes it is a beautiful day. And one of the reasons is after hearing Atlas again! They have a music video. Check it out. It has a lot of amazing things. If you remember, the music was taken from their album Affinity which was launched using a kickstarter campaign.

The track I am talking about is called Tontine. It has that classical and jazz feel. The string section adds warmth and the groove section of bass and drums make you want to snap your fingers and tap your feet(which I was doing while listening to the music).

Atlas are Cillian Doheny and Cillian King. I followed then since the beginning of this decade because if their exceptional talents in trad music.

 

Lúnasa: Hitting the right notes with Cas.

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 4 Comments

41aM2KKKn0L._SX300_QL70_

It feels like being away for long time and the fondness if overwhelming. I am talking about Ireland’s hottest export, Lúnasa. They have a new album out called Cas. And this is not just like any of their past albums. Here, the have guest vocalists and I will talk about it later(and why I am giddy). Let’s talk about their music first. They released their self-titled debut in 1997. I did not discover them until I got my hands on Otherworld which really changed they way I feel and look at traditional music. They are purists in terms of staying true to their musical heritage but they also love innovation.

Cas is na album driven by rhythm and texture. Each track is like sparkling wine-smooth and seasoned with age and experience. I suppose that after two decades of devoting their lives of the perfection of their craft, they can teach newbies how surf the winds of our ever-changing musical fads. But some fads come and go. Only the ones distilled with intelligence maintain their effervescence and thus remain precious.

It’s been seven years since their last studio album. And perhaps this is why Cas sounds so different. That time apart may have created the gestation process that resulted to a birth of .a new sound. I admire artists who have the patience of staying away from the musical spotlight in order to come up with something fresh. It takes a draconian kind of patience and control to achieve that. Sometimes it is our fear of being forgotten by the community that drives us to work tirelessly to maintain that following. But very few can take the challenges of art over ego.

So in this album we are blessed with guest voices: five vocal tracks from Natalie Merchant, Tim O’Brien, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Daoiri Farrell and Eric Bibb. I am familiar with the works of each of these artists, most notably that of Natalie Merchant. The album got its world premier via LiveIreland.

Cas is a joy to have. Lúnasa can still deliver tradition the way you love it, but they have added a new  layer of musical approach, one that will take us to a new journey-and our lovely relationship with their music for years to come.

Kevin Crawford – Flutes and Whistles, Trevor Hutchinson – Stand-up Bass, Cillian Vallely – Uilleann Pipes and Whistles, Colin Farrell – Fiddle, Ed Boyd – Guitar