It’s been a while since I wrote anything here – another lengthy pause I’m not happy about. Partly the break was due to a very active summer vacation with my wife on e-bikes across Finland; that left very little to no time for music (minus a couple of Finnish folk music festivals, one of which had Breabach and Elephant Sessions 😊), let alone writing.
But the other reasons such as the comes-and-goes tinnitus I have, and a very “meh” return to work after the vacation do play a part here. If you don’t feel like writing a music blog for a time… then don’t. It’s supposed to be fun and not work.
But here I am now, looking forward to a brand new avalanche of words from my blogger’s pen – if my health or something else won’t stand in the way, that is…
But to the point: this is a quick and concise catch-up on the music I have listened to during the past few weeks (also translates as “the little I have managed to check out this summer”). Here goes…
***
The Chair’s Orkney Monster turned out to be just as excellent a groove and dance blast as their previous outings. It may be the best produced of their stuff so far, giving the music that extra finish and oomph. Also worked very well indeed on bicycle rides! Love their stuff!
***
The fab bagpiper Hevia, from Spain’s Asturias province, made a Latin/Celtic album, Al Son del Indianu, already back in 2018, but this was my first spin of that dynamite work. The album cover is sooo lame but the music is explosive. If my music education serves me right, it’s mostly Cuban Son-style music married with pipes and Celtic stuff here and it works magnificently. Great stuff to dance to but also yummy for just listening, with so much going on all the time. Grreat!
***
I discovered purely by accident the music of the Basque accordion wizard and composer Xabi Aburruzaga. I have now listened to most of his solo catalogue and find his music vibrant, invigorating and masterfully played. I have learned that he is very highly regarded in his field and it’s easy to hear why. The KeltiK album is a special gem, with a few top class guests from Ireland and Scotland, but the other albums are so cool as well. Always a special moment when you discover someone of this caliber you’ve never heard of before!
***
And to wrap up the Iberian segment, the latest album from the mighty Luar Na Lubre, XX – Encrucillada. I thought it’s like a very entertaining show, with a variety of styles, but perhaps just a wee bit too orchestrated and Broadway, really, to my tastes. A fine release with many top notch moments but, for example, the medieval and iconic Cantiga de Santa Maria played with synth sequences and the entire Bratislava Symphony Orchestra? Call me a bit of a traditionalist, perhaps… 😉
***
More to come in summer catch-up vol. 2!
FolkNotes 
One thought on “Summer Catch-up vol. 1: The Chair and a few Iberian masters”