...and so it is (almost) Xmas - but the horrific war not too far from our doorstep has been going on for almost two years now - maybe not enough people want it to be over? Let's just say that with that nightmare, and a few other tragedies around the world, I'm finding it extraordinarily … Continue reading Can’t help it: the silent jingle faithful snow season is here, and so is the music
Tag: contemporary folk music
RURA: Dusk Moon
Dusk Moon was released in March 2023; this review was written eight months later due to many long periods of non-activity in this blog in 2023, caused by personal circumstances. It was all of five years between In Praise of Home and Dusk Moon. During that period, RURA released a live album and a tribute … Continue reading RURA: Dusk Moon
Réalta: Thing of the Earth
It's been all of seven years since Ireland's Réalta released their second album, the very good Clear Skies, in 2016. I enjoyed that one a lot and later on, as the years passed, wondered if that would be all from this fine band. Thankfully, it was not, and even the lineup is still almost the … Continue reading Réalta: Thing of the Earth
Genticorum: Au coeur de l’aube
The magnificent Quebec trio of Yann Falquet, Pascal Gemme and Nicholas Williams (who replaced Alexandre de Grosbois-Garand a while back) have come up with an album that rocketed into the #1 position in my Genticorum albums ranking.Not only does Au coeur de l'aube (At dawn) have beautiful cover art, the music itself is warm and … Continue reading Genticorum: Au coeur de l’aube
The Consequences: When You Weren’t Looking
Ah, sorry for the medium long pause, again. This time it was because of - suprise! - the return of Covid, most likely courtesy of the EG.5 variant that wrecked 3,5 weeks of my life... I was actually working from home almost all that time but I was not at all well, far from it. … Continue reading The Consequences: When You Weren’t Looking
Harp + Guitar = all you need: Rachel Hair & Ron Jappy’s “Élan”
Yet another "better late" review; this album was released three months before this writing. I believe "élan" is French for spirit, zest, joy; it's one of those words that defy an exact translation. But, luckily, music needs to translating, human or machine, as it itself can open the essence of the word. When harpist Rachel … Continue reading Harp + Guitar = all you need: Rachel Hair & Ron Jappy’s “Élan”
In touch with nature: “Riverwoods” by Salt House
This is one of my "better late" reviews, as I was unable to listen to much music when this was released in the spring. I have enjoyed the previous Salt House releases but hear ye now: Riverwoods is simply amazing. Not because it's grand or crushingly impressive - it's because it's there. The album's info … Continue reading In touch with nature: “Riverwoods” by Salt House
Westward The Light: Flow Country
Before I will go to the actual review of this excellent album, a note on the radio silence that has been evident on this blog for quite some time. As I wrote briefly in my previous posting, I have been living with the return of my tinnitus this spring and early summer. In my case, … Continue reading Westward The Light: Flow Country
The countries may be low but the music is up: a quick note on Naragonia and Omnia
During all the decades I lived with various rock music genres, very, very few artists and bands I paid any attention to came from the Netherlands and, even less, Belgium. In the prog front, I knew Focus, of course, and some friends were nuts about the Nits, the Dutch alt-rock band. But that was about … Continue reading The countries may be low but the music is up: a quick note on Naragonia and Omnia
Martin Hayes and the Common Ground Ensemble: Peggy’s Dream
The amazing career of master fiddler Martin Hayes continues to be amazing. His website (martinhayes.com) gives much information on the background of this album and this new ensemble so please check it out. Suffice it to say here that as the website mentioned jazz, contemporay classical and whatnot as inspirations for this project, I was … Continue reading Martin Hayes and the Common Ground Ensemble: Peggy’s Dream
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