With all her former and current impressive work with Scotland's A-level folk musos, it's almost incredible Vent is fiddler/composer Laura Jane Wilkie's first solo release. Then again, if you immerse yourself in a project as she has done here, things will take their time to happen... Vent is not just another very good Celtic or … Continue reading Laura Jane Wilkie’s “Vent” is an essential work
Category: Reviews
Fraser Fifield’s trilogy of trios: a remarkable achievement!
Of all the brilliant Scottish pipes and flutes masters, Fraser Fifield may be the most eager ti explore the various possibilities of his instruments. His previous deep dives into both world music and the inner life of bagpipes are now followed by the 2023-24 trilogy of trio albums, focusing very much, but not only, on … Continue reading Fraser Fifield’s trilogy of trios: a remarkable achievement!
The Fretless: Glasswing
I admit it. Me and The Fretless haven't quite met, and I have honestly tried. And I'm a bit mystified about it... Let me make this clear: I have nothing but the highest respect for the Canadian modern folk string quartet. They are excellent musicians and they have deserved their nearly iconic reputation and the … Continue reading The Fretless: Glasswing
Kennedy & O’Leary’s “Hydra” is not a beast, it’s a beauty
I was delighted to witness Nuala Kennedy and Eamon O'Leary perform at the Edinburgh TradFest 2022. It was an intimate and lively set and I well remember the warm atmosphere and the brilliant musicianship of these Irish masters. And now they have released an absolutely magical album. I believe this is the first time they … Continue reading Kennedy & O’Leary’s “Hydra” is not a beast, it’s a beauty
Breen/Rynne/Murray take you on a great Odyssey
The Irish concertina wizard Pádraig Rynne has become one of my big, big favorites over the past few years, ever since I first heard his solo album Conscious (2019), a luscious and masterfully played blend of Irish traditions and jazz and prog elements - and what a psychedelic cover art, too! I was blown away, … Continue reading Breen/Rynne/Murray take you on a great Odyssey
Love fiddles? Then let The Snake embrace you!
My instrument is the drums. I can play the guitar a little, also the bass just a wee bit. Any keyboard instrument is beyond me but even more so the fiddle, or the violin, if you want to go classical. Any string instrument with a fretless neck is a completely mysterious object to me, especially … Continue reading Love fiddles? Then let The Snake embrace you!
Cara Dillon’s “Coming Home” is a great work that requires your attention
Coming Home is the latest album by Ireland's fabulous Cara Dillon. It came out already in February, but as is so customary of me, I only found time to really listen to it now in August. My first reaction was "well this is decidedly not background music or sing-along stuff". Compared to the airy singer- … Continue reading Cara Dillon’s “Coming Home” is a great work that requires your attention
The fantastic earlier years of Sam Carter: Keepsakes (2009) and The No Testament (2012)
So it's been another lengthy radio silence from me due to two reasons: - my summer vacation, which I dedicated to some quite long e-bike treks with my wife. Didn't really listen to music during those weeks, other than from the bluetooth speakers hanging from the handlebars of my bike; that was just road music … Continue reading The fantastic earlier years of Sam Carter: Keepsakes (2009) and The No Testament (2012)
Hannah James & Toby Kuhn’s “Sleeping Spirals” leaves me reeling
"To see a World in a Grain of SandAnd a Heaven in a Wild Flower" That is the legendary opening of William Blake's Auguries of Innocence. I don't mean to raise Sleeping Spirals to the same Olympian status as Blake and his poem, but those lines spontaneously came to me when the second listening of … Continue reading Hannah James & Toby Kuhn’s “Sleeping Spirals” leaves me reeling
Altan’s shining “Donegal” feels like a rebirth
The iconic/legendary Irish band's latest release, Donegal, is another victim to my by now too sporadic listening to and writing about music. The album came out months ago and you may have heard it and read about it... but I really need to put in a few words. So, I only listened to it carefully … Continue reading Altan’s shining “Donegal” feels like a rebirth
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