I have enjoyed the American fiddler-singer-composer's recent albums a lot. Her career arc has been one of steady development, from the fairly uneven first outings to over 20 years ago to the masterful musician she has been for a quite a few years already. Falling Forward is her first full-length album since 2019's Thunder In … Continue reading Lissa Schneckenburger: Falling Forward
Tag: contemporary folk music
Jenny Sturgeon’s “The Living Mountain”: a meditation
The Living Mountain, an album inspired by Nan Shepherd's iconic nature book, was released to rave reviews in October of 2020. At the time, I was mentally trying to adjust to the then raging global covid surge and the insecurity and uncertainty it caused - it's a blessing I could not foresee then that only … Continue reading Jenny Sturgeon’s “The Living Mountain”: a meditation
Emily Portman & Rob Harbron: Time Was Away
I have absolutely adored Emily Portman's previous albums, Hatchling (2012) and Coracle (2015). They presented a very original artist whose outwardly fragile voice contains immense strength and whose music integrates traditional British folk elements into a unique, dreamlike soundscape, with lyrics to match. I totally loved them both and I am very happy to say … Continue reading Emily Portman & Rob Harbron: Time Was Away
Gillebrìde Macmillan: Sèimh – The State of Calm
Confession: this is really not a review, for reasons that will become evident.When I fell madly in love with Celtic music in 2016 and began to frantically search for more and more Irish and Scottish artists on streaming platforms (they are not so good for the artists but a blessing for the newly converted), I … Continue reading Gillebrìde Macmillan: Sèimh – The State of Calm
An (almost) epic Irish double feature: Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, Seo Linn
As dedicated and committed as Ireland is to her traditional music, Irish folk and trad musicians do move with the times. It’s been a great couple of days listening to two very different albums by Irish artists with their own vision. Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh and the Irish Chamber Orchestra’s Róisín ReImagined was released a few … Continue reading An (almost) epic Irish double feature: Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, Seo Linn
Double Irish: The London Lasses, Seo Linn
A quick one this time. Just so happened over the weekend that two Irish albums - one brand new, the other almost six years old - floated into my headphones. Both are much fun so I bundled them up here. I had never heard of The London Lasses but as their new album is called … Continue reading Double Irish: The London Lasses, Seo Linn
Paul Anderson: Iona
Anyone who has listened to the Scottish master fiddlers of our time is familiar with Paul Anderson and his fiddle sound and style: rich, robust and yet tender and ”singing”. Anderson and Duncan Chisholm are not far removed from each other in this respect, so perhaps it’s no wonder both men have recently - very … Continue reading Paul Anderson: Iona
The Bow Tides: Sailing On
This is the debut album by the Irish-American quintet of three fiddles, bass and guitar, formed in 2020 practically by accident. But the musicians are anything but spring chickens: the band history on their website mentions Gaelic Storm, Grammys, music academies and what have you - not beginner stuff, this. Which explains why Sailing On … Continue reading The Bow Tides: Sailing On
Headbangers Ball at FolkNotes: Blackbeard’s Tea Party & Ritva Nero
Something different for a change… 🤘 There is a metal subgenre called Folk Metal where folk melodies spice up the metal attack, or sometimes function as a launching pad for the riffs and melodies. However, the two great albums I checked out this week I’d like to label Metal Folk: tunes very much in the … Continue reading Headbangers Ball at FolkNotes: Blackbeard’s Tea Party & Ritva Nero
Celtic Connections 2023: Dreamers’ Circus, with Frigg and the Kinnaris Quintet
It was essentially a Nordic - or Northern - night at the RCH main hall on Saturday night, Feb 4. With Denmark and Sweden represented in Dreamers’ Circus and Finland in the shape of Frigg, Scotland’s own Kinnaris Quintet fitted in nicely as another member of the Nordic family - premonition of times to come, … Continue reading Celtic Connections 2023: Dreamers’ Circus, with Frigg and the Kinnaris Quintet
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