october project

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

 

Echoes: Whispering Grass by Sandy Denny

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Whispering Grass is taken from the album Like an Old-Fashioned  Waltz which I don’t ever get tired listening.  

She was the voice  describe by  Judy Collins as ‘like golden silver’. I ‘discovered’ her music late. I think it was Mary Fahl  the former singer of October Project who cite her as a primary vocal influence. Beautiful voices are hard to find these days unless you are into Celtic music. Most  of the time, those who get mainstream recognition are singers that have either ugly voices but with good looks or just those that can’t carry a tune but have to rely on auto tune. Bring the beautiful voices back!

http://sandydenny.org.uk/

 

Mary Fahl Kicks Off May Concerts

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Sleepthief posted October Project’s Bury my Lovely video in Facebook  yesterday. Which in turn made me curious about what Mary Fahl is doing these days. Well, her official site posted schedules for concerts which will be held in May. Great to those who will get their tickets early and who are around the area where she is performing. Big thanks to coveredus of YouTube for posting the House Concert update that took place this December. This will give you an idea what to expect when you watch Mary Fahl’s performances.

I look forward to a Mary Fah and Sleepthief collaboration. Do you think so too?

Visit the official site of Mary Fahl: http://maryfahl.com/

October Project…. Still Haunts Us

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 4 Comments

Is e ‘n cadal fada ni ‘n t-iomradh teth.

  • Long sleep makes hot rowing.-Old Scottish Proverb.

In 1996, Sony Music killed the career of the most promising, most talented band ever to grace the face of music. I remember when my friend Hannah who told me she kept a copy of October Project‘s debut album for me on the record store. It’s the most beautiful music I have ever heard coming from a folk/alternative scene. And much more , because Mary Fahl‘s voice became the center of the band’s artistry. Her’s was labeled as ‘the kiss of the vampire’. Dark, dramatic and often time ethereal, Mary has the voice that can match Lisa Gerrard‘s cinematic appeal as well as Moya Brennan‘s Celtic cries. But yes they didn’t sell as expected because there was no support from the record company in the first place. Now, people still continue to rediscover them from Amazon as well as any source including You Tube. Yes the unrest for the injustice continues!

Mary Fahl’s The Other Side of Time

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I am down with a mild flu. I am in and out of bed getting water and playing my music on minimum volume. Been listenign to The Other Side of Time by Mary Fahl. I like this album in a sense that it is a fusion of different genres of music. You find Celtic, Jazz, Cinematic  and even a bit of Classic Rock .

Mary’s rich contralto is embelished by slick instrumental performance of each contributing guests. It is a departure form the Gothic drama of  October Project but it doesn’t fail to find new audience. This is a kind of album that gets sold at a slow pace but finds a build up of  loyal followers.

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