It's always a bit of a challenge when you want to say something about someone who everyone thinks is great. In this case, a band, an iconic one. Finnegan, Allen, Boyd, Kelly. Flook are legendary, we all know that. Listen to their albums - they're amazing. Witness them live - it's mindblowing; I hope you … Continue reading “Sanju” finds Flook in a beautifully peaceful mood
Tag: Celtic Fusion
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
Notify: Airneán (2024)
One of my favorite contemporary Irish musicians is the composer and concertina master Pádraig Rynne. His command of the instrument and his strength in both traditional and modern styles is remarkable. Airneán is the brand new album by his long standing band project Notify, and it continues his endeavors in folk and jazz fusion, or … Continue reading Notify: Airneán (2024)
Celtic Connections 2023: Peatbog Faeries, with Mec Lir
It was obvious all along that on Friday night, Feb 3, the Old Fruitmarket would be dancing and yelling wildly. With two major Celtic party teams on stage, any other possibility was out of the question. As the headline act, the current lineup of Peatbog Faeries took the stage in dramatic backlighting and instantly revved … Continue reading Celtic Connections 2023: Peatbog Faeries, with Mec Lir
Celtic Connections 2023: Treacherous Orchestra + Víík
That evening was a really mighty blast 💥! Such energy levels, it’s a wonder I managed to sleep afterwards… Víík as the opening act were a really happy surprise. We had checked out their singles on Spotify and had thought they were kind of lame and perhaps self-consciously artsy. But on stage, the Danish-Norwegian band … Continue reading Celtic Connections 2023: Treacherous Orchestra + Víík
Listening Diary for June 6-12, 2022: Natalie MacMaster, Mishra, James Harper, the olllam, Eabhal
Master fiddlers are one of my favorite things in this world and Natalie MacMaster 🇨🇦 is one of the greatest. I love the energy in her playing; so much light and joy there. Her 2019 album Sketches was just the right soundtrack for a leisurly walk in the sunny and warm Finnish Saturday. I've never … Continue reading Listening Diary for June 6-12, 2022: Natalie MacMaster, Mishra, James Harper, the olllam, Eabhal
Listening diary for May 23-29, 2022
If anything here seems interesting, go to your streaming service and try it out. And if you really, really like it, go to the artist’s web site or Bandcamp or iTunes or Google Play or Amazon or wherever and buy it in your preferred format - musicians need food too 😉 The Halton Quartet: Based … Continue reading Listening diary for May 23-29, 2022
Album Review / Brian Finnegan: Hunger of the Skin
Drums!!! That was my first reaction to Brian Finnegan’s new solo outing, as the drums exploded at approx. 0,8 seconds into the first track, Dust, right after the first guitar chord comes out. Drums, or a funky guitar riff for that matter, was not the thing I was expecting to hear on a Brian Finnegan … Continue reading Album Review / Brian Finnegan: Hunger of the Skin
Album Review / Mec Lir: Livewire
...and BANG!!! ...I mean, holy crap - how supercharged can Celtic music be? Jesus Christ... Livewire was probably the first Celtic album I put on after New Year, and it was some launch for 2021, believe me! So okay, you can expect good things from a band consisting of super players (drummer Greg Barry, also … Continue reading Album Review / Mec Lir: Livewire
Album Review / Ross Ainslie: Vana
My wife loves Ross Ainslie to death. Big time. Really, really big time. If Vana was any weaker an album, I’d be in trouble because I can’t pretend when I write about music. So I’m totally grateful to Mr. Ainslie for giving the world an hour of music one cannot but love. Relief 😀 In … Continue reading Album Review / Ross Ainslie: Vana
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