Flow is a follow-up to their highly acclaimed debut album Bold. And they satisfy music fans once again!
I have the habit of bringing my huge speakers outside while chilling in my hammock. This happens every morning because I work at night.On most days the music consist of Spotify playlist-the current stuff, whither its chilled or lively tunes. There are days when I like playing Celtic music because it is good to listen to when it rains.
So I pumped up the copy of Flow which is the newest album by Canadian trio Nua. I got a positive reaction from people who happened to be nearby when they heard the tracks off the album. My cousin who was in the kitchen remarked that the music makes her want to dance, without being intrusive or noisy. She has a point. The trio have always maintained a minimal approach in their sound while maintaining that positive and uplifting style. Flow is not an exception. The tracks all go together and they have this fresh, clean and golden feeling in them.
Why golden? The music reminds me of the outdoors. It’s like sunrise against your face when you wake up in the morning. James M Law has really established his emotional style of fiddling underneath the controlled delivery. Graeme McGillivray has a kind of playing style where his guitar sounds whispy, almost transparent. Jacob McCauley(who is my bodhran hero) has maintained that expressive mastery of the instrument that talks to you. If percussion can speak, then that has got to be the way he plays.
Flow promises to satisfy traditional music fans. The album has twelve tracks. The range of styles explored are Jazz, folk and world. There is something here for everyone. Even if you are not hard core trad/instrumental fan , you will like Flow as proven by the reaction I got from bystanders. It is hard to choose a favourite as all tracks are beautiful in their own way. But Wide Open is a good introduction to the mood of the whole album. Like I said, Flow is the sound of the outdoors, the sound singing streams and the dance of sunlight against your face. Smuggler Cove is also a favourite due to the interesting arrangement. I don’t know if Ghostrider was inspired by the film but hey, whatever floats their boat right? Law, McGillivray and McCauley have created another masterpiece that will stand the test of time. Time to grab the album and share it with everyone.
Last Saturday’s playlist is here. But due to unfortunate circumstance (the computer did not record my stream) I had to reconstruct the playlist track by track and in order that I played them. So it’s the still same. Only this time you can’t hear my voice.
Enda Seery-He is part of the Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann and teaches weekly flute and whistles classes in Co. Westmeath. He has released two albums The Winding Clock and he is going to talk about the new one!The interview starts around 15:55.
I think Bold is an album that has been conceived meticulously and produced artfully. Every track, every nuance is captured and believe me when I say that there is not a single track in this album that fails to induce a smile. I’ve often wondered what is it about Celtic music that captivates the spirit and creates this palpable sense of joy. I think like food, an album has to be conceived where preparation goes hand in hand with the mood of the performers. All those long hours trying to play, and then more hours in the studio mixing and mastering each track.
The approach of NUA in their music has always been a shared ideas of the three members. This is something I noted in past interview where all members share this cohesive idea about the intent and concept of their releases, starting with their EP. They have incorporated the same tunes on the EP, but some of them (especially Fizzbuzz) has been re-worked and recording at a much higher level. The carrier single is the captivating The Dark Road. There is that color of suspense and mystery at the start of the track, and later on, exploding into a climax of robust play of traditional instruments.
NUA has always conveyed energy in their tunes. But this is balanced by the stately melodies. This quality can be found in Ecklunds and Flying CDs. Perhaps it is how they put emphasis on the nuance of playing, or they are just masters of weaving tunes that evoke gossamer harmonies on top of driving rhythms.
NUA is rooted in Traditional Irish/Scottish music, but it’s the experimentation, originality and the thirst to push the limits of traditional music that defines their sound.There is that unmistakable manner in which they play their instruments that allow them to cross over. Something unspoken but resonant. Something magical and pure which NUA truly represent.
Bold is like a train journey that starts with an intro and closes with outro. The journey as I described above in general was an intoxicating experience. But how does it really sound like if we take it apart track by track? Below are my findings .
Intro: The suspended chord pattern and effects set the mood for what’s to come. The train has opened its doors to me and here I go. There is that friendly and optimistic tone that marks this piece that is a minute and a half long. When I listen to this, I feel like I am waiting for an exciting play to happen. There is that brightness in the music and a sense of anticipation.
In Fizzbuzz , I noticed that steady instrumental sound. It isn’t the keyboards since they all play acoustic instruments. It sounds like a guitar with this consistent steady sound. I asked Jacob what it is. And he said it is Graeme bowing his guitar with James’s bow. I have heard this method done by rock musicians but to be incorporated by a trad band, the experience is totally unique. It’s the an alien has landed and I am waiting for the space ship to open. UFO on a train journey. Not bad.
The Draw proves to be an exciting fuel. Because of how the track was re recorded and little details were added, The Draw sounds fuller. The Bodhran ‘talks’ to me while the fiddle has this lush sound. The is exciting because it is upbeat and crystal clear. It mimics how a bird beats it wings as it tries to catch up with the train. I’m on the window looking out. The world opens up to possibilities.
In Ecklunds, the rhythm takes control. This track makes me feel like I want to do step dancing. It has that inviting melody. Sort of sensual, playful and warm. I heard this is a tune that was made a long time ago. I will definitely ask them about it in an upcoming interview.
One can’t deny the Jazz influence in Happy Cammy Drammy Birthday. The mood this sound creates is unique. It has that interesting sound. I’d describe it as seductive. I think this is how something like honey, whiskey combined with lemon.
I sense suspense in The Driving Song . It is like a train has started and an adventure awaits. But yes you have to go through different scenes and this tune is telling me that the journey is more interesting than the destination. There are surprises as the structure of the tune shifts and goes back.
The mood becomes intoxicated with The Thistle and the Daffodil. This tune has that nice pounding intro that sounds commanding. Crisp surface of sounds coming from the guitar which in its wispy mixing almost sounds like a substitute for cymbals. This tune tells me that one has to be bold when taking a journey. Yes it think it’s the fiddle saying that and the guitar trying to confirm that the idea is true. The beat is optimistic as it makes me see flowers and trees in my mind. With the sun beating down on the train.
The Dark Road sounds like a train ride entering a tunnel. The interesting part happens in 1:35 when I feel like I am approaching the darkness of the tunnel. The pounding notes remind me of broken lights that zoom by. And after, the train moves into the light and all is fine again.
From exhilarating mood, the album shifts to a more warmer and romantic nature of Rich with Heart.This is a ‘love’ track. A break from the pounding energy of the previous tracks proves to be a nice one. A love proposal on the journey? Perhaps a marriage inside the train? Who knows. Anything is possible when you let your imagination go. And this is a tune that is beautifully written.
The warm mood still lingers with Peter and Michelles. This one is a waltz that reminds me of music played during a buffet. It is welcoming and warm. Something that is played on open door gatherings and parties involving people who know each other. And once again the speed picks up with Flying CDs.
How these three musicians can make a tune sound like an orchestral piece is always what NUA is all about. The layering of the fiddle is fantastic. And the title itself Flying CDs make me think of childish pranks and good times.
Martyns Yellow Teapot has a very Scottish melody. I learned it is a tribute to the late Martyn Bennet. The melody reminds me of sun flowers. Sun flowers on the field on this journey as the noon sun continues to shine.
The journey is almost done with The Hijack. I always listen to the bohdran in this track. The tatatatata is hypnotic. It’s as if the instrument is talking to you.
The adventure ends with the outro. It is already afternoon and it is time to rest. Bold has accomplished what music is supposed to do: to transport listeners to another world or experience. It is a fantastic listening experience that will make lovers of Celtic and instrumental music come back for more.
Track Listing and Composers:
Intro : Law, McGillivray, McCauley
Fizzbuzz : Law & McGillivray
The Draw : Law & McGillivray
Ecklands : Law & McGillivray
Happy Cammy Drammy Birthday: Michael Ferrie, arranged by NUA
Maggie Lake: McGillivray
Driving Song : Oliver Schroer, arranged by NUA
The Thistle and the Daffodil: Law & McGillivray
The Dark Road : McGillivray
Rich with Hart : Law & McGillivray
MacCarthers Road : Traditional
Peter and Michelles : Law & McGillivray
Flying CDs: Law
Martyn’s Yellow Tea Pot : Law & McGillivray
The Hijack : Law & McGillivray
Mallaig Two Step : Law
Outro : Law, McGillivray, McCauley
Graeme McGillivray, James M Law and Jacob McCauley.
Darren Lynch is Back! And he has now the title “novelist” on top of his being a musician.
Remember the duo The Feekers that released Tarbolten? I blogged about them before. Well looks to me that Darren Lynch is doing great musically on his own. He is really blossoming and getting his music out there. I had a memorable Q&A with the Feekers which you can read here.
Darren Lynch is both a folk musician and author. He is based in Dublin, Ireland. His repertoire is kind of extensive.They are f folk songs from Ireland, Scotland, England and America. The Instruments played are bouzouki, banjo, mandola, harmonica and bodhran.
His has played in such bands as The Broadside Merchants, So-Ranna, The Feekers and currently plays solo. His first novel, The Man You Don’t Meet Everyday, is due to be published this year, 2013!
Darren Lynch has a fantastic voice along with being a fine instrumentalist. I am looking forward to his novel.
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Breton Rock with Penn Du
If you are in the mood for some feet stompin’ Celtic rock then listen to Penn Du. I came across them through Google+ I love the clean recording of the bagpipes. I also like the full energy that the band provides all throughout their tracks. There is something about their chord progression. It gives their sound a kind of metal appeal. I usually associate these minor chords with black metal but yes this style is also predominant in Breton music. The band knows how to knit sensual grooves over their big sound. This is definitely a crowd pleaser. More appropriate for arena setting than small venues. Elements of ska and jazz also sneak in and out seamlessly. What a joy it is to listen to something energetic that is Penn Du!
A lot of people in my network are posting about the late Bobby Sands. So I guess this is the Bobby Sands awareness day. I am aware that actor Michael Fassbender has portrayed the life of Bobby Sands. There are tributes floating out there. I am going to pick one up. It is by my friend The Wild Irish Poet a.k.a. Alan Cooke. We joked about his voice as gold. I said I should steal him now and place him inside a safe with complex number combination. Then sell him off for lots of $$$$! Oh the crazy things we talk about sometimes. He made this video. He is fund of making video presentations. His book Naked in New York is out now. I am advertising it on the right side of this site. Check it out, buy it and then read it. I already did and I love it!
Description:
A beautiful poem by Bobby Sands..’ The Rhythm of Time’ a poem that has echoed around the world. Read by Irish Emmy winning writer actor and filmmaker Alan Cooke aka Wild Irish Poet go to www.wildirishpoet.com
Ok if you haven’t yet, I recommend the EP of NUA. Yes I praised them in this blog and I got quoted in their site:
“Confidence, experimentation and cohesiveness are traits of what a good album should have-and they are all here. If they are able to come up with a sound so full in this 4 track EP, just imagine what a complete album would be like. You would be missing a huge part of your musical life if you don’t get this EP!”
“NUA came up with an auspicious debut in a form of an EP. It gives us the taste of what this trio can offer not just today but also in future releases. These are clean, crisp tunes that sparkle with precision and showmanship. The audio quality is something get excited about. The surface sound of every instrument is captured giving us a degree of nuance and atmosphere.”
“Jacob McCauley’s bodhran becomes emotive, giving us an impression that this percussion has finally reached its tonal height and is capable of being a lead instrument.”
It feels good to be quoted! You should check out what Tony Lawless wrote about them via TradConnect. You know these artists, those that I met and yet to meet…they make my world do the boogie. If only I own The House of Medicithen I’d be a patron of the arts.
With a new EP just released and a full length album on its way, how interesting life is with these three Canadian lads who are filled with a cornucopia of musical ideas? And what happens when these ideas are rooted in traditional music? I got a chance to conduct an interview with James M Law, Graeme McGillivray and Jacob McCauley a trio better known as NUA.
As of this writing, the text was done by Jacob McCauley while the two remaining members contributed their answers in the background. It’s all three of them basically since they answered it together. He stated,” It was too confusing to write “I” or “me” because the reader won’t know who is talking. I typed it all up though, but as I wrote it I was getting feedback from James and Graeme and writing their answers and such.”
Please don’t forget to check the previous article about them. I did a review of their debut EP when it came out in November 16. Since then, the record received good reviews from a lot of Celtic music sites. It is fun when you share the music to your friends and they become equally passionate about it. This happened with Celtic Music Fan’s best pal Christi who also runs her blog Talk and Chatter. She said” They are good! I love their light touch and wonderful Celtic feel!Love this band! It has the pounding beat that is a grand Celtic tune with SO much more!” So dear readers, here is my Q&A with NUA:
I listened to the EP and seen the youtube videos. There are no loose ends and there is this high level of concentration. How do you three maintain this all throughout not just in one track but through all the tracks and live shows?
Well, the age old notion of “practice makes perfect” comes to mind! But in all honesty there are several reasons why. The first being how comfortable we are playing together. Obviously we have spent countless hours practicing, performing, recording, jamming etc. But it’s more than just time spent, we have a good connection as a group of players and that makes it a lot easier to work on material. Even at times when a certain gig is rushed, or a new tune/arrangement is introduced, we always seem to adapt quickly to it and work together nicely. The relationship between each instrument seems to always compliment nicely, which ultimately makes the rehearsing progress a lot easier. Another fact is that we all have had music in our lives since day one. That is a huge benefit as it kind of trains your ears to listen to every detail of the music (often without even knowing it). It helps the process of learning or creating new tunes and then preparing them for playing live or recording.
In some ways it is impossible to say why we maintain our “signature sound”. This may come as a shock, but we actually don’t get as much time to practice right now as we would like. Each member has other things on the go that takes time away from the group. Both James and Graeme are currently finishing up college and university (Graeme on Jazz Guitar, and James on Jazz Drums). They also have other musical engagements throughout the year. Jacob keeps a pretty busy schedule of performing and recording with various artists from around the globe, and also has an active teaching schedule. So all in all, it can be difficult at times to devote full attention to NUA. But we collectively feel that as NUA grows, and we naturally become busier with performances, tours, festivals etc. then we will naturally be devoting more time.
How did you three get together to form NUA?
It’s kind of hard to pinpoint an exact time that we decided to form NUA. Both James and Graeme have been playing together since they were 3 years old. James and Graeme met Jacob a few years ago after they started college and university in Toronto. After being immersed in the Toronto Irish scene, the three of us would run into each other at various jams around Toronto and that’s kind of how it started. Jacob was slowly introduced to some of the material that James and Graeme had written, and it’s safe to say that he was intrigued! As time went on, three of us began jamming more and more often and learning each other’s tunes. As Jacob had begun to learn most of the tunes, we began doing a few select performances locally. But this was long before we had discussed forming as a full-time trio. It was not until around early 2012 that we began discussing recording an album and forming together as a group. As we talked about it more and began planning, it was pretty evident that we we’re passionate about it and had an equally strong desire to work together.
How were the tracks pinned down? Did you three just got together one day and said hey let’s make this track that sounds like this…or you all sat together and spent hours and hours trying to come up with a concept?
Well, we basically had a good idea of what are favourite tracks were, and we decided that was a good place to start. Since the EP is only 4 tracks, we wanted it to showcase some of our best tracks that give people a pretty good idea of what we sound like. We actually have had enough material to do a full-length already, but an EP seemed like a good way to get our music out there before 2013. If we had instead chosen to start with a full-length album, we would still be working on it into the New Year. This way, we have some of our music out there, and next year we will release our full-length album.
The Draw and The Hijack were the first definite tracks picked, as they are some of the first tracks that we learned together as a group, and are certainly our favourites. They also are a superb example of our sound and feature each instrument really well. They were a natural choice. Martins Yellow Tea Pot was another tune that was written some time ago and one of the first ones we learned together as a group. I guess you could call it one of our slower tunes, but it showcases that not all of our music is fast or complex. Lastly, Fizzbuzz was sort of the wildcard of the EP. Fizzbuzz began as the last tune of a 3-tune original set. But were struggling with the arrangement and weren’t totally convinced that we want to leave it as a 3 tune set. But we knew that we really liked the third tune, so we had the idea to make it just a standalone tune. Graeme came up with a gorgeous chord progression, and that really made the tune. After we finished the arrangement and did a few rough recordings, we all felt really strongly that it was a keeper. So much so that we decided to make it the opening tune of the EP (previously it was The Draw). So all in all, after choosing the track listing of the EP it was fairly straight forward from there. The arrangements were done, so it was just a matter of recording it all.
Who is introspective type, the happy go lucky type and the one in between in terms of being a musician?
That’s a tough one! But after some lengthy discussion we think it’s safe to say that Jacob is the introspective type, Graeme is the happy go lucky type and James in the middle. Why you might ask? Jacob, being a percussionist, generally seems to pay close attention to every detail. Where on the other hand, Graeme has a knack for just sitting back and going with the flow, but when it comes time to work, he’s always on par. James is in the middle since he certainly also has an attention to detail, but also can be laid back at times.
What’s your idea of a great live show?
Well, really there is nothing like a really enthusiastic crowd. You could be playing the greatest venue on earth, but without a crowd that is really into the music, it would not be that enjoyable. That being said, almost every show is a different experience. The smaller shows of course tend to be a bit more intimate which is always nice, but the larger shows are a lot of fun because you are playing to many people. But ultimately (whether the concert be small or large) to have a room full of enthusiastic, trad-loving fans is certainly as enjoyable as it can get. Oh, and of course some free beer and food is great too!
How did you achieve such level of skill in terms of your favorite instruments?
We all began playing at a young age, and that of course is one of the best ways to reach a high level of skill on your instrument. With James and Graeme picking up Fiddle as young as 3 (and Guitar by 13) and Jacob starting with piano as young as 5 and moving on to bass, guitar and bodhrán shortly after, there was a lot of development in the younger years. I think it’s safe to say that since then, music and playing our instruments has been a huge passion for all three of us. Although we may not have known or planned to be playing music for a living, we each had the desire to become the best we could be on our favourite instruments. It really just takes the commitment and dedication to put in the practice time to reach that higher level of skill. It of course was the enjoyment as well; to play the instruments that we love, and eventually be able to do it to pay the bills. It’s a dream come true!
Your advice to teenagers who are interested in the trad music scene but are nervous because they might find it too difficult?
I think it’s safe to say that our advice for any musician would simply be to play for the love of it, not for the fame or to pay the bills. Sure, it’s lovely to gain exposure and of course to play music for a living, but ultimately one should play music simply because they love to. If a teenager is interested in getting into the trad scene, possibly starting a group, playing gigs, then just find the music that is your calling, find some like-minded musicians, and sit down and jam! If you feel that you are ready to perform, then start playing locally, anywhere, and get a feel for it. Go out there and have fun playing the music that you love!
How can fans reach you and also how can listeners help you promote the music? What is the most effective way (aside from buying the albums)
There are of course many ways to promote music, but in all of our experience in the music scene, it is pretty evident that one of the best ways other than buying albums is just simply word of mouth. Word of mouth can spread faster than anything else. When someone buys an album, if they like it, they will recommend it to their friends, and their friends, and so on. It is an essential aspect for a musician to have fans that are enthusiastic and talk about it. So don’t be afraid to speak up!
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I also got an update that Jacob wrote an article (entitled The Contemporary Bodhran Player) in The Living Tradition Magazine issue 94. According to Jacob: “The article is primarily about, well just what the title says, “The Contemporary Bodhran Player”. It focuses around my experiences in my career of getting to where I am today, and how the bodhran has evolved as a whole, with regards to the player as well as the instrument. As opposed to my DRUM! Magazine article in late 2011, this article takes on a much more personal approach and allowed me to share some of the things I have been working on, both technique wise, as well as musically and aspects of drum/tipper construction.”
I checked The Living Tradition Magazine and I told him that it looks amazing. He replied : “Yeah it is! It’s probably Europe’s (maybe in the worlds) most read traditional music magazine. They ship copies all over the place which is great.”
Video:
NUA live in Guelph, April 2012. Original composition by NUA
NUA is an innovative new trad trio, bringing a fresh and unique sound to traditional music, creating their own distinctive flavour with both original and traditional compositions from Ireland and Scotland. Based in Toronto, Canada, NUA consists of three members: award-winning fiddle player James M Law, versatile & tasteful guitarist Graeme McGillivray and award-winning bodhrán player Jacob McCauley. The interaction between the three is what really makes the music shine, whether it be their soaring melodies or tasteful grooves. The trio is also well known for their exciting incorporation of odd time signatures and poly rhythms, which give the music an electrifying lift and spontaneity.
Each member adds their own distinctive sound and influence to the music. Although they are a trio with a sole melody player, the brilliant multi-tasking of each member is demonstrated countless times with perhaps a guitar-driven flat-picked melody, rhythmic fiddle playing, or melodic bodhrán playing to add to the mix. The ability for each member to take on multiple roles is one of the staples of NUA. This adds to a thrilling live experience, and a “you just don’t know what’s coming next” approach!
NUA is currently preparing for the release of their first E.P and their debut album to be released early 2013.
Celtic Music Fan 