My post Halloween special featuring The Hothouse Flowers on autodj and special guest Kyle Carey joins us on an interview in the Celtic music hour. More goodies on the indie variety show.
I am writing this on a windy and slightly sunny afternoon. The big night is tomorrow. I would be celebrating it by going out dress up for the occasion, watch a movie then buy a book or maybe the latter goes first, either way I will be out. The next day I will be going to my mom’s grave. She passed away this year May 15th. It’s almost six months and I would be lying if I say I am over it. No one will ever be over losing someone who mean the world to you.
I hear the birds singing more often and the rustling of the leaves as life became more relaxed. I probably lost it for the last two years. I think what kept me going was the idea that I need to blog several times a week. And it’s always the music that has been a source of comfort. It always was and always will be. I was writing back and forth with singer/songwriter John Breen and he told me about this outreach programs he was putting his energy on, trying to help kids with special needs and making life better for them. I think that by caring for others we also care for ourselves. I like my life to be more meaningful…more attuned to kindness and less attached with material stuff and clutter of ideas that make facebook and other social sites toxic these days. When you go out there and help injured animals, make an effort to stop bullying and plant trees then I think real joy is just around the bend.
I had no idea what I would be writing about when I took this laptop out and started typing away. I always take writing as a spontaneous conversation with a visitor and you don’t know what will happen until you start typing those keys. All I know is that it is really a great release to send thoughts out there…to the big universe and spread the goodwill of music. Music is a gift and thank God for musicians we have something to ease us from the harsh treatment of life. A haven in the midst of the storm.
So what am I going to write about? I will list down my top 10 Halloween albums and I am sure you have already heard some in my radio show which is also the current podcast I posted yesterday. If you are not aware yet, I have my own radio show every Saturday afternoon German time 3 to 6 pm. And the website is www. radiohappy.eu. Please tell your friends about it and about the podcast taken from that show after.
1. Lunasa-Otherword : I love this album for the explosive melodies and fine album art. Great music to celebrate the spirit of Halloween as we welcome the otherworld right into our midst.
2. Loreena McKennitt-The Wind that Shakes the Barley: Very good relaxing tune to celebrate ti Irish spirt. And her voice is really the voice from another world.
3. Clannad-Lore: Yes, I think this is perhaps the most haunting and fantabulous of all their albums. But the new album Nadur is also fantastic to call the spirits and awaken the other side.
4.Chieftains-The Long Black Veil: Yes, music to awaken the spirits of the past and to celebrate the beautiful mystical side of Irish music. MY favorite guest vocalists are Sting and Sinead O’Connor.
5. Ceredwen-The Golden Land: The Welsh dou made one of the most fantastic and atmosphereic New Age inspired albums of the late 90s. Transporting and passionate. Something to listen to as you light bonfires.
The bands who never made it here are in my remaining top 10. So don’t worry!
Eddie Sherlock: Lead Vocals and Rhythm Guitar
Tom Forde: Bass and Vocals
Ben McGinn: Lead Guitar and Vocals
Anthony White: Drums and Percussion
When I first heard of The Rattling Kind I was excited. They play an amazing combination of folk, rock with a radio friendly appeal. It is also an original sound and I think this is where their charm comes from. Rise Up EP is making its auspicious debut in the ears of Irish music lovers and they are getting converts at a fast rate. I think it is time for them to take the spotlight as our new featured band.
As they say, the most beautiful songs are those that make us cry. So yes, they write songs about the present state of Ireland, from the economic to the immigration situation that’s taking place. They have a lot lot say and sing about. I am glad for the opportunity to catch up with Eddie Sherlock and the rest of the band to share their ideas behind the EP, the music and the things that shaped their unique sound.
Baxter:I think The Rattling Kind created a unique menu of Irish music for international listeners! What are the things that the rest of the band are up to?
Eddie Sherlock: Irish music will always be at the core of our sound, but we are open to try all sorts within our sound to create that rattling kind of music, we want people to be able to identify our sound the second they hear it!
Energy and great song structures. How do you and the rest of the band write songs. What are the processes involved before the tracks are mixed and mastered?
Well before there even was “The Rattling Kind”, Eddie(me) and Tom were sitting around penning songs together. It’s only natural then that the first few songs from the band were written by Eddie and Tom, with “All Around The Town” being produced in this fashion.Songs are written completely separately too and ideas are bounced around then afterwards. The input of others is always respected and songs may develop into a new kind of beast as we jam them out in the studio.
It can be exciting when your fellow band members understand the vibe you’re looking for from a song. Whether it be the need for a really tense atmosphere with a slow build-up to fireworks, or a more restrained approach to give off a sense of deep emotion… If the whole band have that same feeling about a song that you have and everyone’s steering in the right direction, that’s when ya know you’re onto a winner!
All Around The Town is a beautiful music video. Can you tell us a bit about the making of this one?
Truth be told, we were working with very limited resources. We were lucky to secure the services of a clever director (Anthony Downes) and an intense actor (Alan Sherlock) who thankfully saw some promise in the song and had a couple of ideas for the music video. Together with our own ideas, we had the premise and were ready to roll! The subject matter being what it was, you could easily go wrong with an idea and some people may have overdone it a little. But it was beautifully shot and the lads got some great footage out on the road. The fact that the video was more suggestive than in your face, meant it would thug at the heartstrings a little. I like the way you sing. Who are your vocal influences?
Everyone Irish!! haha.. funny enough, my Grand mother and Uncle would have been very strong influences in my singing.. after that.. Balladeer’s like Luke Kelly, Ronny Drew, Christy Moore, Damien Dempsey, Declan O’ Rourke.. Internationally, I love all the big vocalists.. Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, Paul Weller.. the list goes on.. can’t say I have one no1, but I love a good song sung well. What’s the first instrument you picked up as a child?
Haha emmm either the tin whistle or the spoons.. Please describe each member.
Kinda hard in a way.. see we all work as hard as each other, both in and outside of the band, in fact where more like brother’s, that purely love what it is we do, and grave to preform our art to everyone who wishes to listen.. but best I can say is
Tom: the calm one
Ben: the only one with a hand on his shoulders haha
Anto: Hard working hungry drummer, always thinking ahead Where can listeners buy and download your album?
Our music is available on iTunes, Amazon and Bandcamp. It will be available in some record stores soon. What’s your message to our readers?
So I just got off from a skype interview with Dónal McCague who recently won the TG4 Young Musician of the Year and the award was presented by trad legend Matt Molloy of The Chieftains. I think it is quite an achievement because it is rare to get an award like that.
The skype interview will be available in my radio show on the 12th of October. Donal is down to earth and pleasant to talk to. I think this is also due to the fact that he teaches traditional music to aspiring artists. Like the festival I am writing about.
It’s going to be a big week for lovers of traditional Irish music as something exciting is happening. It is called the Scoil Cheoil na Botha, the 7th Annual Traditional Irish Music Festival. This event is happening in the 11-13th of October 2013 in Scotstown, Co. Monaghan. It will feature artists like Laura Beagon (fiddle), Fionnuala Rooney(harp), Gerry Murray (piano accordion), Darren Breslin (button accordion), Stevie Dunne (banjo), Rona Denkin (concertina), Tommy Fitzharris (flute), Monica Beagon-Treanor (traditional singing), Maire Nic Thaidhg (cohmra gaelige), Michael McCague (bouzouki/guitar) and of course Donal McCague!
If you are near the venue please drop by and experience great traditional music. Also make sure you look at the poster carefully for instructions.
Compass: Dreamy and energetic tunes from the magical sisters of Celtic music.
Sounds like: Mozart, Secret Garden, Anuna, Altan and Riverdance.
Track listing:
1. Compass 2. Water is Wide 3. The Landing 4. Solid Ground 5. Guinevere 6. Call and the Answer 7. Fairy Dance Jig 8. The Whistling Gypsy Rover 9. A Song for Lark 10. Feast of the Elven King 11. Danny Boy 12. Flying Sails
The great thing about doing Celtic music podcasts is the opportunity to reach more ears and to spread the beauty that;s Celtic music. Also, the idea of relaxing and still want to play Celtic tunes to get that inspiration moving. This is what happened yesterday. I got the time to listen to the album of the Gothard Sisterscalled Compass. It’s their new album. What is different about this one is the energy they put so much in their recording performance.
There are slow tunes especially the traditional ones like Danny Boy but most of the tracks are electrical in their execution. Take for instance the third one called The Landing. That one literally stopped me from my idle listening and sent me to perform my improvised step dancing. I was so amazed how music can do that. Especially when it is performed with so much passion that the music dictates your feelings.
Compassis an exciting album. As the title suggests, it’s all about gravitational attraction as the compass signifies the direction to the magnetic field of the earth . It tells us what direction to take. The sisters have done well in recording this beautiful album. I hope more ears will hear. It will be a shame if such a gem of a recording would go unnoticed. They can make Lord of the Dance have a run of their money. Check it out. I already featured the title track in my first Celtic Music podcast and I will be featuring more of them. Yes more and more until you remember to get out there and buy Compass.
***
Huzzah!
I am running a
Win an album “The Calling” by MÉAV
contest!!!!
So watch out for my announcement. The winner will receive Meav’s autographed album .
Celtic Music Fan 