Master fiddlers are one of my favorite things in this world and Natalie MacMaster đ¨đŚ 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
Tag: progressive folk music
Album Review / Staran: Staran
Featuring five top musicians in Scottish folk and trad scene, Staran call themselves a collective instead a band. In the olden days of arena rock, this would have been called a supergroup; fortunately we are in another time and another musical cosmos. The lineup of Carnie-Smedley-Lowrie-White-Lindsay leaves no doubts about musicianship - it is what … Continue reading Album Review / Staran: Staran
Album Review / Duncal Lyall: Milestone
As friends of contemporary Scottish music scene know, Duncan Lyall is one of the busiest people working in that field as a musician, composer, producer and whatnot. A multi-talent who, perhaps because of covid, has released only his second solo outing. His previous album, Infinite Reflections, was released in 2013 and it was essentially a … Continue reading Album Review / Duncal Lyall: Milestone
Album Review / Brian Finnegan: Hunger of the Skin
Drums!!! That was my first reaction to Brian Finneganâs 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 / Adenine
I have seen Ailie Robertson live on stage a few times, playing her harp with various excellent people in different Celtic and Folk lineups and combinations. And I got to talk to her briefly after the Outside Trackâs amazing gig at CC2019 - what a lovely person she is! Being familiar with her previous solo … Continue reading Album Review / Adenine
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, Iâd be in trouble because I canât pretend when I write about music. So Iâm totally grateful to Mr. Ainslie for giving the world an hour of music one cannot but love. Relief đ In … Continue reading Album Review / Ross Ainslie: Vana
A âbetter late than neverâ review / Hamish Napier: The Woods
I hate the word organic when itâs applied to the marketing of food. It can mean a variety of things and most of them would be misleading to the customer who tries to make a responsible choice. So I use organic here after careful consideration, and I use it with the word lush. This for … Continue reading A âbetter late than neverâ review / Hamish Napier: The Woods
Album Review / Brian Ă hEadhra & Fiona MacKenzie: Tuath – Songs of the Northlands
...and now for something completely different? The answer is a resounding âyesâ but only if you are not familiar with this innovative teamâs previous album, TĂŹr: Highland Life & Lore, from two years ago. Both Ă hEadhra and MacKenzie are proven and established Celtic musicians who, with TĂŹr, broke some serious ground with a heady … Continue reading Album Review / Brian Ă hEadhra & Fiona MacKenzie: Tuath – Songs of the Northlands
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