The magnificent Quebec trio of Yann Falquet, Pascal Gemme and Nicholas Williams (who replaced Alexandre de Grosbois-Garand a while back) have come up with an album that rocketed into the #1 position in my Genticorum albums ranking.Not only does Au coeur de l'aube (At dawn) have beautiful cover art, the music itself is warm and … Continue reading Genticorum: Au coeur de l’aube
Author: celtbritfolkfan
The Consequences: When You Weren’t Looking
Ah, sorry for the medium long pause, again. This time it was because of - suprise! - the return of Covid, most likely courtesy of the EG.5 variant that wrecked 3,5 weeks of my life... I was actually working from home almost all that time but I was not at all well, far from it. … Continue reading The Consequences: When You Weren’t Looking
Harp + Guitar = all you need: Rachel Hair & Ron Jappy’s “Élan”
Yet another "better late" review; this album was released three months before this writing. I believe "élan" is French for spirit, zest, joy; it's one of those words that defy an exact translation. But, luckily, music needs to translating, human or machine, as it itself can open the essence of the word. When harpist Rachel … Continue reading Harp + Guitar = all you need: Rachel Hair & Ron Jappy’s “Élan”
In touch with nature: “Riverwoods” by Salt House
This is one of my "better late" reviews, as I was unable to listen to much music when this was released in the spring. I have enjoyed the previous Salt House releases but hear ye now: Riverwoods is simply amazing. Not because it's grand or crushingly impressive - it's because it's there. The album's info … Continue reading In touch with nature: “Riverwoods” by Salt House
Summer Catch-up, vol. 2: Dallahan, Gnoss, Peatbog Faeries and some oldies
...continued from Summer Catch-up, vol 1... Before a few quick words on some fairly recent releases, I must pay tribute to some older releases. After a very long time I returned to the two Guidewires albums (2009 and 2011, respectively) and found them just as fresh and exciting as before. The Irish-Breton lineup of Rynne, … Continue reading Summer Catch-up, vol. 2: Dallahan, Gnoss, Peatbog Faeries and some oldies
Summer Catch-up vol. 1: The Chair and a few Iberian masters
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 … Continue reading Summer Catch-up vol. 1: The Chair and a few Iberian masters
Westward The Light: Flow Country
Before I will go to the actual review of this excellent album, a note on the radio silence that has been evident on this blog for quite some time. As I wrote briefly in my previous posting, I have been living with the return of my tinnitus this spring and early summer. In my case, … Continue reading Westward The Light: Flow Country
It’s been quiet on FolkNotes…
...because my tinnitus acted up again a few weeks ago. I saw a doctor and an audiologist last year and they concluded I don't have a hearing damage. I kind of guessed that myself since even with headphones my hearing balance is pretty perfect, and the tinnitus comes and goes in irregular periods which would … Continue reading It’s been quiet on FolkNotes…
The countries may be low but the music is up: a quick note on Naragonia and Omnia
During all the decades I lived with various rock music genres, very, very few artists and bands I paid any attention to came from the Netherlands and, even less, Belgium. In the prog front, I knew Focus, of course, and some friends were nuts about the Nits, the Dutch alt-rock band. But that was about … Continue reading The countries may be low but the music is up: a quick note on Naragonia and Omnia
Martin Hayes and the Common Ground Ensemble: Peggy’s Dream
The amazing career of master fiddler Martin Hayes continues to be amazing. His website (martinhayes.com) gives much information on the background of this album and this new ensemble so please check it out. Suffice it to say here that as the website mentioned jazz, contemporay classical and whatnot as inspirations for this project, I was … Continue reading Martin Hayes and the Common Ground Ensemble: Peggy’s Dream
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