NOTE: This is a May 16, 2021, edit to this welcome text.You are most welcome to my Celtic and British folk and trad music fan site - so glad you found it! This site is essentially a blog that features album reviews and some very occasional artist interviews. I also try to write a more … Continue reading Welcome to a work in progress…!
Listening Diary for June 6-12, 2022
Master fiddlers are one of my favorite things in this world and Natalie MacMaster đ¨đŚ is one of the greatest. I love the energy in her playing; so much light and joy there. Her 2019 album Sketches was just the right soundtrack for a leisurly walk in the sunny and warm Finnish Saturday. I've never … Continue reading Listening Diary for June 6-12, 2022
Listening Diary for May 30 – June 5, 2022
Not too many albums this time, been busy doing other things, but at least this much⌠The late master piper Liam OâFlynnâs đŽđŞ two albums, The Green Note (1995) and The Piperâs Call (1998) were a great pleasure. Wonderful playing, excellent tunes, and the way he integrated electric instruments into the fabric reminds me of … Continue reading Listening Diary for May 30 – June 5, 2022
Hannah Rarity: To Have You Near
Oh wow⌠With her previous outings, Scotlandâs Hannah Rarity proved herself an excellent singer and her 2018 album âNeath a Gloaminâ Star was thoroughly enjoyable. But now, four years later, on this album we encounter an artist that has found a deeper voice, a more varied selection of songs (mostly her own with some truly … Continue reading Hannah Rarity: To Have You Near
Kinnaris Quintet: This Too
After Free One (2018), we now have This Too, the much awaited new album from the dazzling all-female Scottish ensemble. Canât wait to find out what their third album will be called! And waiting will probably be worth it because this new release is, in my opinion, even better than the debut that was so … Continue reading Kinnaris Quintet: This Too
Listening diary for May 23-29, 2022
If anything here seems interesting, go to your streaming service and try it out. And if you really, really like it, go to the artistâs web site or Bandcamp or iTunes or Google Play or Amazon or wherever and buy it in your preferred format - musicians need food too đ The Halton Quartet: Based … Continue reading Listening diary for May 23-29, 2022
PĂĄdraig Rynne special
I did some catching up on the brilliant Irish concertina wiz and composer, PĂĄdraig Rynne and his output. His 2019 album, Conscious, was one of the best releases that year, a gem of Celtic Fusion, neofolk, whatever you want to call modern folk music thatâs not exactly trad. I love that album to bits. That … Continue reading PĂĄdraig Rynne special
Rory Matheson & Graham Rorie: We Have Won The Land
This one really made my day, Iâm listening to it for a second time now. The guys from Orkney have put out an album full of great playing, tunes and lots of emotion and also variation - never a dull moment here. Itâs one of the albums that stylewise rides on both trad and neofolk … Continue reading Rory Matheson & Graham Rorie: We Have Won The Land
Hò-rò: New Moon
Oh hell yes. Iâve been a fan since their first album and this, their third one, does not let me down. Great groovinâ âgo dancing and clap a lotâ tunes (Spot On, Kaylinâs) and quieter stuff (Little Bird) in about equal mesaure which makes for a perfect listening experience. Their playing is faultless yet loose … Continue reading Hò-rò: New Moon
Aoife Doyle: Inifinitely Clear
Not Celtic and not folk either, but hey, the Irish singer-songwriterâs third album just made me feel good when taking a walk in the nice spring air yesterday. The album features blue-eyed Irish soul, singer-songwriter stuff, folksier tunes and some laid back jazz colors. Her singing voice is soft and sensitive rather than Aretha-style strong … Continue reading Aoife Doyle: Inifinitely Clear
A new start to the new start
At the beginning of this year, I wrote a blog post explaining some of the issues that had kept me from updating this blog, I promised myself and whoever happens to read this blog that I would reboot myself and get back on the saddle. Well, then some work issues happend - not bad ones … Continue reading A new start to the new start