leonard cohen

Father Ray Kelly Has A Moving Singing Style.

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The first time I heared father Ray Kelly, I thought he’s the preaching Elvis Costello. But this Irish priest is more comfortable with the like saving the flock than with fame. I think his rendition of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah fresh and spot -on.

He has the pipes of a folk and rock singer. It is worth noting that his debut album is eclectic. You get a Celtic touch with old folk and rock plus something in-betwween for everyone. People call his voice ‘soulful’ but his spiritual influence prevents him from going ‘mainstream’ pop. I think it is a solid combination that will please a lot of listeners. And it is seldom you get something like this in saturated mainstream. He is not like any of the people you hear out there. And I think it is time..

Father Kelly

Father Kelly

Check out the press release below:

FATHER RAY KELLY brings pure, soulful voice to US just in time for Easter 

Father Ray Kelly, the Irish priest who shot to fame on YouTube for his rendition of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah”, makes his major label US debut with the album ‘Where I Belong’, out on Manhattan Records March 17, 2015.

Over 39 million people around the world have fallen in love with Father Ray Kelly since the video of his performance of “Hallelujah” at a wedding first appeared on YouTube in April 2014. After the bride and groom were moved to tears by Father Ray’s adaptation of the song, a wedding guest uploaded the video, which drew more than a million views within a few days. The viral video attracted worldwide attention and led to late night performances on Ireland’s The Late Late Show, as well as radio, documentary and wedding requests from as far as Australia, Brazil, Japan, Chile, Lithuania and Croatia.

Each of the 10 songs on ‘Where I Belong’ showcase Father Ray’s powerful range and clear, “soulful” (Huffington Post) voice. Blurring the line between secular and spiritual, Father Ray’s lofty, ethereal timbre soars over Celtic-infused arrangements featuring acoustic guitar, piano, fiddle and Irish flute on classic ballads (REM’s “Everybody Hurts”, Eric Clapton’s “Tears in Heaven”), Irish folk songs (“O Danny Boy”, “Isle of Hope, Isle of Tears”) and hymns (“Amazing Grace”, “How Marvelous”), as well as two original songs, “Together Forever” and the dramatic title track “Where I Belong”.

Recorded at St. Brigid’s Catholic Church and parochial house, where Father Ray presides in the small manufacturing town of Oldcastle, the album features a 200-voice choir comprised of local residents, reflecting the tight-knit community Father Ray has brought together through his music since his appointment as parish priest in 2006. “We have our own Diocesan choir in our church, of 100 people,” says Father Ray, “and we brought in some other choirs as well. [When recording “Amazing Grace” for the album,] I was absolutely mesmerized by the quality of the sound when all 200 voices come together to join the chorus.”

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When Will You Come Home? (EP) The Webb Sisters

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 The Webb Sisters

 

Track Listing

 1. Missing Person

2. Always On My Mind

3. Show Me The Place

4. It May Be Spring But I Still Need a Coat

5. Show Me The Place (Orchestrated Version)

It is amazing how a week of not doing anything creative has been beneficial. I have been absorbing knowledge and tried to read many things. On top of that, I was also getting in touched with friends online. These conversations have stretched for several days. Through the process I discovered new sounds and a new way of looking at life.

These conversations I mentioned brought new bands to my attention. One of those bands are the Webb Sisters. They impressed me with the YouTube video featuring Leonard Cohen. I prefer Cohen over Dylan but that has nothing to do with greatness or who is a better artist. It’s just a matter of how Cohen’s style of singing  plays an important part in my liking his songs.

My friend Paula thought I’d love the Webb Sisters. She’s an electronic artist who supports my love for Celtic music! I made my research and found out that: They’re not ‘new.’ They won many awards and  they also collaborated with well-known names in the music industry.

They’re a duo rather than a band, comprising of sisters Charley and Hattie Webb. I checked if they are related to the famous composer Jimmy Webb but there is no reference of that sort on the web. Both are talented singer/musicians: Hattie plays the harp and mandolin, and Charley the guitar, clarinet, and piano.

They’re from Kent England but they have this Americana sound. That’s because they have an interesting musical history. According to their bio, they met Johnny Pierce, a record producer who invited them to Nashville, where they recorded their debut album, Piece of Mind. After six months, they went to California, selling the album at their gigs. They were soon discovered and were offered a publishing deal by Windswept Pacific Publishing, and, soon afterward, a record deal with Universal Records.

The sisters totally immersed themselves in beautiful Americana sound of Nashville and in America, their distinctive melodic style flourished. This resulted to Piece of Mind (2000). The “When Will You Come Home?” (2013) – 5-track EP is what I am listening to right now. This is what Paula gave me as a gift. I can’t thank her enough. She has given me this, the Celtic frames, the books, box of tea and chocolates and many more. She’s one of those people who helped ease my pain when my mom passed away.

The tunes of “When Will You Come Home?” EP have that sensitive melodic touched. They are all wrapped in delicate harmonies with terrific vocals. If there is an album that you should listen to when you are in pain then this has got to be it. It’s a collection of thoughtful and less intrusive sounds. It reminds me a bit of Alison Krauss and Francis Black. There’s sweetness underneath the songs of missing someone, the pain of separation and the hope of reunion.

I can tirelessly meditate to these songs every day. I guess enduring songs are about craft,the softer bits and pieces that sing to your soul. It is the whisper rather than the screams. It’s the ordinary topics about life that resonate as time goes by. It is how it’s like with family. They don’t have to possess superhero strength to make us admire them. It’s the ordinary things that happen every day in their presence that count. This is what “When Will You Come Home?” sounds like. And yes we never stop missing those we love and we wait everyday…hoping one day they will return again.

 

Huzzah!

Hi dear readers. Welcome to our eclectic post of the week. Yes it takes all kinds….

Mary Fahl

Fans of October Project’s former lead singer have a reason to rejoice. Mary Fahl is working on a new album called Love & Gravity. She is also writing a song for the audio book version of Anne Rice’s novel The Wolves of Mid-Winter. You can sample the track off the upcoming album called How Much Love in this link: http://maryfahl.com/music
According to her:
I’m thrilled to announce that my new album “Love & Gravity” is almost finished. Produced by the great John Lissauer, best known for his classic recordings with Leonard Cohen, the album features an extraordinary group of musicians including Shawn Pelton, Chris Bruce, Cranston Clements and Glenn Patscha and Byron Isaacs of Ollabelle. In the meantime, I’ve just completed a pre-release CD with selections from the album that will be available at my upcoming performances around the country. My summer touring schedule is filling up fast and I may be coming to a city near you, so please check back here for updates. In the meantime, hope to see you all in my travels!
***

 

My facebook buddy Dermot McIlroy who owns the McIlroy Guitars in Antrim Northern Ireland posted this video. One of the lads in this video actually plays one of his guitars. By the way Mr McIlroy is part of The Folkalists. He is finishing off re-mastering an old album (that they are going to re-release) and also they have a new CD out which I will be listening to soon! He son Damian is also in the traditional Irish music scene as part of Athrú.

So yeah that video is by Goitse and they are from Limmerick. Members are :

Tadhg O Meacair- Piano, Piano Accordion

Aine Mc Geeney- Fiddle, Vocals

James Harvey- Banjo, Mandolin

Conal O Kane- Guitar, Banjo

Colm Phelan- Bodhran, Percussion

More on myspace
http://www.myspace.com/goitsemusic

 

The Greatness that’s Judy Collins(August 20, 2006 )

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This is from my old MySpace blog in August 20,2006.I am putting it here because I found my thoughts at that time so funny.

I remember as a child when my mom would put the radio by my side because she said I can’t take a nap without the music on. Yes I grew up in a family that likes music .I joined both the church and high school choir which enhanced my love for harmony. If only I had been motivated more I would have been the next Leonard Cohen mwahahahaha!

Anyway, I remember hearing a pure soprano voice singing “Send In The Clowns’ which turned out to be Judy Collins. There were strains of the 60’s when I listened to the radio as a child and I get to hear songs like ‘Both Sides Now’ and other folkie stuff from the late 60’s to the mid-70’s and I was not even in grade school yet.

I never knew the full caliber of Judy’s artistry until I got to watch her Christmas special on TV a few years back and then her 2000 concert at the wolf trap caught on film. It’s amazing. She can really play the guitar and the piano and has been a very influential person on the human rights movement as well as the folk scene. If I grew up in the 70’s I imagine I would still find my interest…

Judy Collins’s repertoire is wide…apart from original compositions; she also rendered traditional Irish music like Danny Boy and He Moved Through The Fair.

Well Enya would not have been there yet but Clannad was already making records, and I guess I would have ended collecting not only Judy Collins albums but bands like the Chieftains,Planxty and Renaissance; a band led by Anne Haslam.There were good bands then like the Fairport Convention led by Sandy Denny and other female singers.

Celtic Spirit was already alive and well in the 70’s. I would not mind being left there.