Yup, we don’t have an album or artist review yet. However, I have another album review coming up in a few days. I want to stretch out my album reviews so that I can post random stuff. And I guess random stuff makes this whole blogging thing fun, eh?
Our minds are infinitely creative. As we grow as people, we tend to discover new things. We tend to have further understanding along with that growth. We also evolve for better or worse depending on which side of the bell curve you fall. For me, I take it one at a time. Sure I can be miserable if I focus on the bad stuff. However, I know there is so much I can offer as long as I fill my days with gratitude and faith: Yup, one at a time.
And speaking of one at a time, I have been checking out musical instruments after acquiring my own Irish wooden D flute. I am still working on it as I am also studying music theory and keyboard playing on the side. But it is great to learn a new instrument. I had an Irish tin whistle, but I lost it. So seeing this video has filled me with nostalgia.
As we all know, Kevin Crawford plays for Lunasa. He is also a great session player for other musicians. I enjoy his social media posts because he is also a cyclist. Check this out, and hopefully, you get to learn a new musical instrument.
For years now I consider Geantraí as one of the most important sources of traditional live performance in Irish music. For this week comes a surprise. I was going through my youtube stream when I found this upload of the latest performance featuring Enda Seery & John Byrne. These two made a tight breath-taking performance by making their two acoustic instruments feel like a full set. In most of Enda’s performances, there is that distinctive, delicate way of playing-his love for expression and texture over speed. The style where he shines. John Byrne compliments the tin whistle with his rhythmic guitar strumming and making sure that their sounds merge seamlessly.
He and John will be playing for Gael Linn ‘Siamsaíocht @6’ concert series next Tuesday, 19th November from 6-8pm in the Central Hotel, Dublin. His latest second studio album ‘Síocháin na Tuaithe:Peace of the Countryside'(2013) is available on http://www.endaseery.com/buy-albums.html
Video info:
Geantraí, TG4-Programme 3, 2013.
Enda Seery (Eb whistle) & John Byrne (guitar).
Reels: Day Trip to Galway (comp. Enda Seery)/The Golden
I admit the character I had in mind was different from the book cover that is part of the promo prior to the book release which is November 10. I am talking about the story called Siltation by Irish musician/writer Darren Lynch. Somehow I see Bamm Bamm as a little bit on the round side-not heavy but somehow mesomorphic with few traces of fat. More like Liam Cunningham when he was in his early 30s.
The main character is Bamm Bamm Doyle whose real name is Joseph Anthony Doyle.
I was christened Joseph Anthony Doyle, but as a child, the mother used to call me ‘Bamm-Bamm’, after the character in the Flintstones cartoon, I think. Think it might have been Barney Rubble’s kid, or a pet dinosaur in it. It was just as a bit of a nickname and a slag, but it soon stuck, and friends and neighbours knew me as Bamm-Bamm Doyle.
Bamm Damm is a Dubliner who is suffering from bouts of depression and alcoholism. He often gets into trouble with the neighbors but he strikes me as someone you can get along with if you don’t rub him the wrong side-and as long as he gets his daily dose of drink. He carries a tin whistle and enjoys the craic and good old Irish music. He also keeps a poster of Bobby Sands on his bedroom wall.
What’s really interesting bout Siltation is that Darren Lynch has painted an accurate representation of a life on the edge of the cracks. The perfect candidate of that part of the society that’s marginalized by poverty and mental sickness. “I wanted to show a certain type of person in society that people chose not to see, but lives under the radar.. ” The Man You don’t Meet Every Day was the initial title according to the author.
I didn’t know what to expect from the kind of language the book has, upon the first few pages. It is spoken through the mind of the character-the first person storytelling. There’s a lot of local expressions. Two pages and I am engaged. This is very Irish. The cadence of the prose sounds like music when you read it aloud but that’s just in my opinion. People read book for the story I guess. Me for both:story and style of writing.
I learned new slangs along the way like for example:gaff:house and looper:crazy.
It has raises a lot of powerful feelings to those who read it. I feel it is timely, with all the things going on over there…the tanking economy..the wounded pride of the Irish. Read up to the end and if it doesn’t make you feel something then you are an android logo.
If you check out the right side of this blog you see there the advert and the release date which is November 10. Please like the fb page of Siltation and let us help Irish writers get their works out there. Yes by the Irish and for the Irish.
Something exciting is happening in the trad/folk scene when these seven members of Skipper’s Alley released their self-titled EP this year. The EP has four tracks all possessing diverse arrangement yet cohesive in a sense that you know it is their sound. Ta Me Mo Shuidhe brings back the glory of Skara Brae and The Bothy Band. Rockin’ the Boat jumps at you with its grace as precision. Jim Coleman’s is another charmer with its awesome break between explosive choruses of trad instrument and the quieter uilleann pipes/fiddle ‘talk’ in between.
Wild Bill Jones is is a poignant ballad with beautiful vocals by John Flynn and Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin singing vocal harmony. I admire the play of shadows between the quiet and the rousing use of instruments. There is a current that runs through all the four tracks representing the band’s youth and excitement for playing music. There is also something magical about Skipper’s Alley as a band. You can sense it in the first track with that sparkling harp intro. You can feel the affection of their music wrapping around you in the sound of the uilleann pipes. The banjo gives their sound a kind of organic feel. The fiddle adds that skipping energy especially during jigs and reels. I like the otherworldly rhythm of the bodhrán, an instrument that is both modern and ancient. All instruments are recorded with that lush approach in this EP
These amazing young musicians made a great start with this this music. It is something that traditional or non traditional fans will really enjoy. There is that rock n roll energy on top of their folk beauty. Have a pint, enjoy the tunes and feel the love of music!
Irish singer/songwriter/multi instrumentalist Linda Scanlon has grouped together amazing musicians to highlight her beautiful voice. The first time I heard tracks off her EP “A Place To Be” , it was a jaw dropping experience. Think of the late Sandy Denny and Mary Hopkins all rolled into one. The musicians who backed her up in this 5-track recording are ‘international.’
The mood of A Place To Be is a combination of uplifting, sweet and light. The EP starts with Sailing By, a track that celebrates the optimistic view of life’s challenges. The song highlights the violin playing of Anja Brands from Holland. “Because dreams are a kite on a windy day, free as a boat by the pier.” She sings with such abandon the listener becomes the song! You really forget you are a listener because the track wraps itself into your heart and soul.
The guitar in the Scholar reminds me of 70s folk music when simplicity was the key to making beautiful songs. This is courtesy of Joe de Bie. I love how everything builds up into a strong track backed by superb arrangement. Her voice takes an airy nature as she sings the chorus. I love how she enunciates the word ‘school books’ in this track.
Clothes of Sand is probably my favorite track. Her voice shines like golden silver. Please check out the keyboard part. Whatever sound engineering magic was used here, it definitely works. The song simply takes me to places that can only exist in books, movies and the mind. This track also establishes Linda Scanlon as an excellent tin whistle player.
A Place To Be which is the EPs title track is a work of elegant approach in songwriting. It is hard not to notice the fantastic drumming of Jorge Carrilho who channels his subtlety and energy to the drums like no other. The EP closes with the joyful Summerfly. I love how the bass creates the bouncy feel of the track. I think I already memorized the melody of Summerfly after one listen.
I believe that Linda Scanlon will enchant listeners of all genres. A Place To Be fits in any mood, any time of the day and any place you want to take this recording to. Its universal appeal is something that will keep listeners want for more.
Biography – Linda Scanlon
Born in County Wicklow, Linda began her singing career at the age of 11, achieving early success in a number of traditional Irish singing contests during the 1980s, After relocating to England in 1997, Linda briefly headed up traditional Irish band The Rogues, before seizing an opportunity to perform in the USA, playing venues in New York and Minneapolis.
In 2000, Linda teamed up with a guitarist to form the traditional Irish duo Klonakilty. This led to seven years of successful touring in Spain, Portugal, Germany, France, Austria and Switzerland, culminating in a 4-week sell-out tour of Germany during December 2008, along with two London gigs, which marked the duo’s farewell.
Now branched out on her own to pursue a solo career, in July 2009 Linda completed a UK tour. The highlight of which was appearing at the International Musical Eisteddfod in Llangollen Wales.
Currently based in Portugal, Linda is hailed as the most “in demand” Irish singer on the Algarve. Her unforgettable performances include a tantalising mix of haunting vocals and virtuoso bodhran solos. Now with the backing of a full band Linda has been rehearsing new songs to reflect the change in direction for Linda’s musical career.
Linda’s new EP “A Place To Be” is the first step of many on the road to taking her music to an international audience.
The EP was recorded in Linda’s own studio with the help of studio engineer, guitarist and husband Joe. Together they have selected the songs, worked on the arrangements and rehearsed the other musicians.
This is very much a ‘hands-on’ release with Linda having input at every stage of the process from the mixing, to the EP artwork and photo’s. Linda enjoys the working process in the studio and knows her way around Cubase 7, she admits that editing a mix is a ‘joy’ and opens up endless possibilities, but is happy to leave the dark art of using outboard equipment to Joe.
Celtic Music Fan 