As Karine Polwart's Scottish Songbook was released a while back, I realized I had let her previous album, Laws of Motion, mysteriously slip by in late 2018. So, I thought, here's a chance to write about them both – what could be better than a Polwart double feature! Laws of Motion was preceded by A … Continue reading Album Review / Karine Polwart x 2: “Laws” + “Songbook”
Tag: Scottish music
Quick Take album reviews: The Askew Sisters, MacDonald&Gamauf
The Askew Sisters continue their ”low-key but very intense” forays into the more shady forests of English folk. Enclosure is worthy of its name: a cosmos of it own, inhabited by songs mostly about various injustices, the minimal-yet-strangely-rich arrangements and the strong vocal performances by the sisters. As on their earlier albums, the overall mood … Continue reading Quick Take album reviews: The Askew Sisters, MacDonald&Gamauf
Quick Take Album Reviews: “Allt”, Fàrsan, Còig, Mary Ann Kennedy
This is a quick look at some albums I've listened to lately and wish to note for their quality even if I have nothing too insightful or clever to say about them 🙂 - The stellar Fowlis-Conway-Dooley-McIntyre ensemble released Allt almost a year ago already but only now it's really been on power play here. … Continue reading Quick Take Album Reviews: “Allt”, Fàrsan, Còig, Mary Ann Kennedy
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)
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 / 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 / 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
Album Review / Gnoss: Drawn From Deep Water
I discovered Gnoss last year; their EP Brother Wind was impressive, not just because of the truly stunning bodhran work of Craig Baxter. The songs were solid and full of spirit and I marked them as a band to follow closely. And the new album certainly does not disappoint. It's full of their quicksilver playing … Continue reading Album Review / Gnoss: Drawn From Deep Water
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