The Askew Sisters continue their ”low-key but very intense” forays into the more shady forests of English folk. Enclosure is worthy of its name: a cosmos of it own, inhabited by songs mostly about various injustices, the minimal-yet-strangely-rich arrangements and the strong vocal performances by the sisters. As on their earlier albums, the overall mood … Continue reading Quick Take album reviews: The Askew Sisters, MacDonald&Gamauf
Category: Reviews
Album Review / Pádraig Rynne: Conscious
The Irish concertina (the tiny but powerful Irish accordion) master Pádraig Rynne really reshuffled the pack a few years ago with Notify, an album where his traditional instrument meshed with a barrage of loops, synths and rock band instruments. It was an exhilarating outburst of energy and surpringingly bold vision, a continuous hi-energy swirl with … Continue reading Album Review / Pádraig Rynne: Conscious
Album Review / The Lost Words: Spell Songs
The story behind this unique collaborative album is little short of amazing. Because it has been beautifully described elsewhere, I simply refer you to https://www.thelostwords.org/spell-songs/ for full information on what this endeavor is about, how it got started and who are involved. I recommend visiting that site very much because it's also about The Lost … Continue reading Album Review / The Lost Words: Spell Songs
A better-late-than-never review / Maeve Mackinnon: Strì (2018)
Strì is a pretty amazing album. And it's also a great introduction to what the contemporary Celtic folk scene has to offer right now. Maeve Mackinnon assembled not only a brilliant and many-sided set of songs but also a stellar band of players in this music scene. In my ears, Strì is folk music for … Continue reading A better-late-than-never review / Maeve Mackinnon: Strì (2018)
Album Review / Amy Thatcher: Solo
When I was younger - a few years younger than now, that is - I was one of those people who thought Gary Larson really nailed it in one Far Side cartoon: Let's just say that things have changed for me since my all-rockin' days (or daze). As I began to get into folk music … Continue reading Album Review / Amy Thatcher: Solo
Album Review / Martin Hayes & Brooklyn Rider: The Butterfly
I like my malt whisky straight. Very rarely I go for even a drop of water and never, never ice. So, naturally, I approached the new album by Irish master fiddler Martin Hayes with some skepticism. He plays here with the Brooklyn Rider String Quartet, one of the foremost in their field in the USA, … Continue reading Album Review / Martin Hayes & Brooklyn Rider: The Butterfly
A better-late-than-never Album Review / Kinnaris Quintet: Free One
Kinnaris Quintet and their debut album Free One have been around for a while already but for some reason I got to listening to it only recently. Which makes this another of my better-late-than-never reviews. I’ll start with an embarrassing confession: the mere word ’quintet’ in the ensemble’s name led me to believe I was … Continue reading A better-late-than-never Album Review / Kinnaris Quintet: Free One
A better-late-than-never Album Review / Mike Vass: The Four Pillars (2018)
So it took me some time to get around to listening to this work by Mike Vass. Better late; I’ve enjoyed his various and versatile solo and collaborative projects very much and this is no exception. The album info on the web tells me that this work was ”commissioned by the Scots Fiddle Festival ... … Continue reading A better-late-than-never Album Review / Mike Vass: The Four Pillars (2018)
Album Review / Kate Rusby: Philosophers, Poets and Kings
To my ears, Kate Rusby's fabulous career took yet another upward turn with her previous ”regular” outing, Life In A Paper Boat; the winter/Christmas album Angels and Men came after that one and was excellent too but seasonal music is a genre unto itself, at least to me. And I find very little to complain … Continue reading Album Review / Kate Rusby: Philosophers, Poets and Kings
Album Review / The Elephant Sessions: What Makes You
The third album from the premier merchants of Celtic Funk continues the band's admirable evolution. From the more Trad-rooted debut The Elusive Highland Beauty to the tight'n'snappy funk of All We Have Is Now, the road has now led to a cooler approach where the funk is very controlled, less is more and electronics and … Continue reading Album Review / The Elephant Sessions: What Makes You
FolkNotes 