One of the many things I love about Celtic, or any folk music really, is how fairly simple elements join together to create this empowering, effortlessly rocking music. I use the word 'rocking' not only to describe the feel and the motion but because this is where folk and rock meet: you don't need very … Continue reading Looking back on The Copperplate Sessions (2018) by Manus McGuire
Author: celtbritfolkfan
Rebooting this blog (but only very slightly)
I have been writing this blog now sporadically for a few years. The basic method of listening closely to an album and then writing something like a detailed review has been fun, and it has made me listen very closely to what I'm hearing. But at the same time my day job has become more … Continue reading Rebooting this blog (but only very slightly)
Looking back on Greenwoods – Upon a Celtic Path (1998) by Paul Machlis
Paul Machlis is an American composer and pianist who collaborated with Alasdair Fraser in the 1980's and 1990's. Theit duo album, Skyedance (1986), is one of my favorites, an excellent work for fiddle and piano. Greenwoods is his second solo album, if I'm not mistaken. It's an absolutely lovely work, instrumental music with recognizably Celtic … Continue reading Looking back on Greenwoods – Upon a Celtic Path (1998) by Paul Machlis
Amazing music with and without words: Siobhan Miller; Catrin Finch & Aoife Ní Bhríain
For yet another inexplicable reason, I completely missed Siobhan Miller's 2022 album Bloom - until now. Her previous outing, 2020's All Is Not Forgotten, had been a low-key, intimate acoustic work, and Bloom, with its bright sky blue cover and a return to the sound feel almost like a counterargument to its predecessor. I absolutely … Continue reading Amazing music with and without words: Siobhan Miller; Catrin Finch & Aoife Ní Bhríain
Edey & Ainslie’s “Diad” is a joyful dialogue
Ross Ainslie, as you probably know already, is an astonishing musician and composer (and the nicest of people, too), and you may also know the merry hyperactivity and virtuoso guitar and melodeon playing of Tim Edey. They have played together quite a bit lately and I'm happy that some of their simply amazing live stuff … Continue reading Edey & Ainslie’s “Diad” is a joyful dialogue
Honey and the Bear’s “Away Beyond the Fret” feels like springtime :)
I utterly enjoyed the Suffolk folkies and singer-songwriters Lucy and Jon Hart's, aka Honey and the Bear, previous outing, their second album Journey Through the Roke (2021, my review can be read here). It was my first encounter with them and I was now very happy to press play on their new release. Away Beyond … Continue reading Honey and the Bear’s “Away Beyond the Fret” feels like springtime 🙂
Bruce MacGregor’s “Road to Tyranny” is a jewel
So it took me almost two years to finally listen to the Blazin' Fiddles lead man's latest solo album (the previous ones are from quite a few years ago). But who cares about time when the music is timeless, right? This is the kind of modern Scottish folk I really, really love: the tradition is … Continue reading Bruce MacGregor’s “Road to Tyranny” is a jewel
Tim Edey’s Xmas is simply lovely (even if it’s not always all that Celtic)
I don't know what I really expected from the instrumental wizard Tim Edey's Christmas album - but it sure wasn't what I got, and that is just great! Because when it's Tim Edey's A Celtic Christmas and because there's Ross Ainslie, Donald Shaw and Steve Cooney, one would probably think of classic seasonal tunes played … Continue reading Tim Edey’s Xmas is simply lovely (even if it’s not always all that Celtic)
In case you didn’t know: your Xmas needs Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy
As I checked back on my past Xmastime writings, I realized I had not commented on these Canadian fiddle greats' A Celtic Family Christmas, although I had listened to it and liked it a lot. So now that I bumped into the albums extended 2020 edition, I put it on and liked it even better … Continue reading In case you didn’t know: your Xmas needs Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy
Can’t help it: the silent jingle faithful snow season is here, and so is the music
...and so it is (almost) Xmas - but the horrific war not too far from our doorstep has been going on for almost two years now - maybe not enough people want it to be over? Let's just say that with that nightmare, and a few other tragedies around the world, I'm finding it extraordinarily … Continue reading Can’t help it: the silent jingle faithful snow season is here, and so is the music
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