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)
Tag: contemporary folk music
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
Mairearad & Anna – but on their own this time
Mairearad Green and Anna Massie are solid staples of modern Scottish folk music; both have been active and important figures in the scene for many years already. As they have previously made four albums (Mairearad and Anna, Coupling, Best Day and Farran) together, the almost synchronized releases of their new solo albums was a great … Continue reading Mairearad & Anna – but on their own this time
Lauren MacColl: Haar (2023)
Lauren MacColl's fifth solo album, Haar (Scottish Gaelic for sea mist), was released in the summer of 2023, so once again I'm pitifully late in commenting about it. But better late than ever, because Haar is a warm, glowing wonder. I make no excuses: I'm a huge fan of hers. There is something so calm … Continue reading Lauren MacColl: Haar (2023)
Ímar: Awakening (2023)
The pan-Celtic supergroup released their third album a year ago but only now I finally got to listening to it. The big revelation this time was that there was no revelation: Ímar are just as brilliant on Awakening as they have been on their previous albums, and their style is pretty much unchanged since the … Continue reading Ímar: Awakening (2023)
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)
Looking back on Seamus Egan’s “When Juniper Sleeps” (1996) and “Early Bright” (2019)
I just listened to two albums by Seamus Egan back to back: When Juniper Sleeps and Early Bright. The former is from 1996 and the latter was released in 2019. The difference between the two works is remarkable. Incidentally or not, the time that separates the two albums is almost exactly the timeframe of the … Continue reading Looking back on Seamus Egan’s “When Juniper Sleeps” (1996) and “Early Bright” (2019)
Ryan Young: Just a Second (2023)
I have witnessed Ryan Young playing live only once, in Celtic Connections 2023. It was an astonishing performance, a rare combination of technical skill, fiery spirit and presence, and total commitment to the music. I compared it to Jeff Beck's guitar playing and found out that some others felt exactly the same.So it came a … Continue reading Ryan Young: Just a Second (2023)
Looking back on Greenwoods – Upon a Celtic Path (1998) by Paul Machlis
Paul Machlis is an American composer and pianist who collaborated with Alasdair Fraser in the 1980's and 1990's. Theit duo album, Skyedance (1986), is one of my favorites, an excellent work for fiddle and piano. Greenwoods is his second solo album, if I'm not mistaken. It's an absolutely lovely work, instrumental music with recognizably Celtic … Continue reading Looking back on Greenwoods – Upon a Celtic Path (1998) by Paul Machlis
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