playlist

Battlefield Band: 4 Decades of Great Scottish Music

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 3 Comments

I mentioned yesterday that March is a month of great concerts. After four decades in the music scene, the Battlefield Band is in the middle of their Australian tour. The new album Line-Up received positive reviews upon its release late last year.The song  That’s How Strong My Love Is proves to captivate and warm you with its lyrics that is straight forward and at the same time ingratiating. The beautiful male vocals of Sean O’Donnell is embellished with instrumental arrangements that define the band’s experience in captivating listeners around the world. A’ Bhriogais Uallach (The Pompous Trousers) showcases that  amazing bagpipe parts. I love the mixing in this track because everything sounds crunchy and lush. The vocal harmonies are also haunting. Lovers & Friends is one of those rebel songs that is very relevant considering the current political climate all over.

I have been following this band since early last year and they get better and better with time.

You can get a copy of Line-Up from Temple Records.  or the band’s official website: http://www.battlefieldband.co.uk/

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Jimmy’s Corner

Here’s today’s playlist from a bodhran player based in Lyon France. I included my own personal opinions in each of the songs.

Been a fan of Aine Minogue since the 90’s. It is a surprise to see her in this playlist.

written by John Connolly, from the 2010 album “The Wind.” Available at Sandbar Music (http://www.sandbarmusic.com). Find out more about the artist at http://www.johnconnolly.ca.

Vocals and guitar: John Connolly, Keyboard: Todd MacLean, Fiddle: Cynthia MacLeod.

Recorded live at The Carriage House, Beaconsfield Historic Properties in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island Jan. 24, 2011

Audio production: Daniel Ledwell, lead camera and video editing: Patrick Ledwell, second camera: Christian Ledwell. Produced by Sustain Creative (http://www.sustaincreative.com)

Carrefour mondial de l’accordéon – Andy Cutting

One of those accordion pieces that makes your eyeballs roll with pleasure.

Frigg performs at Middle Earth in Bradford, Vermont on May 3, 2007.

The strings make you want to jump and dance. It is like that feeling of a rubber being pulled back and forth. The sound is really flexible and bouncy.

Ronan McGinley & Sophie Griffin – JCB Song

The beauty of the song is through its simple arrangement and lots of space. I love Ronan’s accent.

The Flyin’ Fiddle – Ghost O!!
The title track from their album released August 2011.
The Flyin’ Fiddle are a five-piece folk band from the lough neagh area of County Tyrone and County Derry. Their second album is due out summer 2012. Find us on facebook to find out any more details

One of the most beautiful tracks I heard this month from a very fashionable looking band. People, keep your radars on. This band is going  places. “I will never forget where I come from”..that sticks with me. The young and the beautiful….

Recorded for RTE 1’s “The View”, Tuesday, March 29th, 2011

You gotta be from another planet if you don’t know the band Caladh Nua!

The Punch Brothers brought the cool and slick in Bluegrass music. I am totally addicted to these guys and I admit Chris Thile turns the mandolin into Poseidon’s trident-electrifying.

Christina Martin performing live for us in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia for Nova Scotia Music Week.

I totally dig Canadians!

Bran, Jimmy’s Playlist and Lost Girl Soundtrack

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Bran are a band based in two places: Quimper France and Prague Czech Republic. The music is predeominantly Breton with various sources of influence like Bohemian folk as well as sources from Scottish and Irish music. The best thing about this band is their fresh approach to music . I have to tell you they have a sax member who adds a jazzy touch to all the traditional as well as original compositions. You can listen to free streaming of their latest live album through their official website and myspace page.

Want to get to know the band? Check out their myspace link as well as their official website:

http://www.myspace.com/brancz

http://branband.cz/

Bran- An hini a garan (The Coast of Bohemia 2005)

Celtic Music in TV Series

I have been hooked to this Canadian TV series Lost Girl because not only that it deals about Celtic myths but the music is also interesting. After research I found out that a lot of the ‘modern’ sounding Celtic tracks I heard from that show is by this band called Delhi 2 Dublin which I already featured here last year in passing.It was my friend Tim who told me about the show and I picked up from there.

 I am sure some of you have seen this series which deals with supernatural/crime/mystery. It stars Anna Silk as Bo, a succubus who grew up in an adoptive human   family, unaware of her non-human nature and of the Fae world. Her succubus powers only become apparent to her when she accidentally kills her first love by draining him of his life energy, an act which forces her to flee her home. Bo exchanges her previously normal life for one without family or friends, moving from place to place whenever she kills again.

Her sidekick is played by Ksenia Solo, a scam artist who displays kleptomanic tendencies. She can speak Russian fluently and possesses excellent street-smarts. Anyway check the series out and the tunes. You will love it due to its predominant Irish/Scottish leanings.

http://www.facebook.com/lostgirlseries

Jimmy’s Playlist

This blog will never be complete without the genius of my friend Jimmy who discovers bands everyday. I don’t know how he does his searches but he sure knows how to get them.

From Lake Effect album.

(L/R): Fergal Scahill (Fiddle), Seán McCarthy (Uilleann Pipes), David Howley (Guitar)

Tune Names: Ryan’s Favourite, The Hag At The Churn, Patsy Touhey’s

Recorded November 2011, Clifden, Co. Galway

FullSet perform “Tree Reels” from their debut album Notes At Liberty. Recorded in September 2011 in Glenstal Abbey, Co. Limerick by Seán Egan

Band Members (L/R): Eamonn Moloney (Bodhrán), Michael Harrison (Fiddle), Janine Redmond (Button Accordion), Andrew Meaney (Guitar), Seán McCarthy (Uilleann Pipes), Teresa Horgan (Flute, Vocals – Not Featured)

Tune Names: The Oak Tree, The Laurel Tree, Moll & Tiarna

http://www.fullsetmusic.com

http://www.facebook.com/fullsetmusic

Soundtrack Moll Flanders.
Music: Mark Mancina.

The Bonnymen perform at RTE Breakthrough Music Bursary 2011 live in studio 1 of the RTE Radio Centre.

Track 5 off his new album “Summerhill”

Richard Wood and Gordon Belsher at the Colinsburgh Galloway Library, April 30th 2011.

Soundtrack for a Rainy Day

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 2 Comments

Picture courtesy of http://www.monasette.com

Rain has finally fallen in this part of the world. When it rains I usually create a playlist which changes a week. Rain is good. It is the best time for reflection, the best time to curl on a blanket and sip hot chocolate over bread and butter. It is the best time to watch the leaves dance and feel the breeze against your face. It is the best possible way to smell the damp earth rising to your nostrils as liquid diamonds patter and patter. The tympani of heaven break loose midst the spotlight dancing on clouds. There is something supernatural about this weather and what better soundtrack to match the moment than these gems I have compiled. You can look them up in the internet, or if you are curious and want a copy then email me.

  1. Suantraithe-Noirin Ni Riain
  2. Prayer-Oona McOuaut
  3. Stolen Child(live)-Loreena McKennitt
  4. Mhorag’S Na Horo Gheallaidh-Clannad
  5. The Wind That Shakes the Barley-Dead Can Dance
  6. Black is the Colour-Cara Dillon
  7. Erin-Solas
  8. When Juniper Sleeps-Seamus Egan
  9. Tighnn Air A’mhuir Am Fear a Phosas Mi-Capercaillie
  10. Dark Carnivale-The Gypsy Nomads
  11. Nau Bretoa- Carlos Nunez.
  12. Na Laetha Geal M’oige-Enya
  13. Brian Boru-Alan Stivell
  14. Dream Angus-Teresa Doyle
  15. The Dawning of the Day-Mary Fahl
  16. The House Carpenter-Mick McAuley
  17. To America-Ashley McIsaac
  18. Tread Softly-Grada
  19. Siamsa-Ronan Hardiman
  20. Daouzek Hunvre-Denez Prigent

Soundtrack for the Rain:Luka Bloom

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In this kind of weather, It make one yearn for something intimate and bare. You know, something that could accompany you over a cup of warm coffee. That is why,Luka Bloom’s music is very appropriate .

 

  Born Kevin Barry Moore, May 23 1955 ,he is the younger brother of Christy Moore. He had to change his name to Luka Bloom in order to avoid the pressure of being related to  his already successful older brother. The name “Luka” is taken from a Suzanne Vega song about ‘child abuse’ while Bloom is from the character in James Joyce’s Ulysses.

 

  His music is defined as ‘electro-acoustic’  . Problems with his fingers(tendinitis) made him give up  finger picking style and opted for a frenetic strumming which he is now known for. The first time I heard him was through a ‘Celtic Season” compilation album. The track is called ‘Listen to the River”.

 

  From then on I knew I have to look for his albums. Right now I have his 1990 album called Riverside. Comprised of 12 tracks, this album promises warm acoustic tracks that are either slow or simply rock and roll. The preference in  using  all acoustic guitars on each track makes the whole album lively without being noisy. It also showcases his husky baritone. I think the most humorous track is “An Irishman in Chinatown’ .

 

1. Delirious
2. Dreams In America
3. Over The Moon
4. Gone To Pablo
5. The Man Is Alive
6. An Irishman In Chinatown
7. Rescue Mission
8. The One
9. Hudson Lady
10. This Is For Life
11. You Couldn’t Have Come…
12. The Hill Of Allen Instrumental

Visit the official website and grab your own copy now 😉