One day in the springtime of the current year I was on my evening walk with Dowally's 2nd album, Somewhere, in my headphones. I had liked it and its predecessor even before, but now it sounded particularly nice in the beautiful light of May in the Nordic region. So I thought what the heck, this … Continue reading My interview with Dowally
Tag: contemporary folk music
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
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
Album Review / Skipinnish: Steer By The Stars
Ah, Skipinnish... I don't even try to write a deep review because Steer By The Stars is just full of the solid, uplifting, tap-your-foot-and-smile music the band is so well known for. It picks me up when I'm down and gives me that extra charge when I'm already up - my happy soul music 😊🏴🎶 … Continue reading Album Review / Skipinnish: Steer By The Stars
Album Review / Colm Mac Con Iomaire: The River Holds Its Breath – Tost ar an Abhainn
Colm Mac Con Iomaire's new album is a natural link in the chain of his previous works: very calm and soothing music, this time with strings in the forefront. One might argue if this blog is the right place to review music whose Irish or Celtic roots are well in the background, hardly noticeable, but … Continue reading Album Review / Colm Mac Con Iomaire: The River Holds Its Breath – Tost ar an Abhainn
Album Review / Kim Richards: Leaves That Fly
I discovered Kim Richards' debut album purely by chance when Mike Vass mentioned it on his Facebook page. Mike is the co-producer of this fine album and I'm thankful to the Celtic gods who obviously helped me find it 😉 The songs and the production remind me of some other brilliant contemporary Scottish and Irish … Continue reading Album Review / Kim Richards: Leaves That Fly
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