I've never been much taken with the Gothard Sisters, the talented Celtic trio from the American Pacific Northwest. They started their musical careers very young indeed and now, as they have released their 17th (!!!) full length album, they are still young. Amazing. But there was always been something about their music that kept me … Continue reading A happy surprise: “Moment in Time” by The Gothard Sisters
Tag: singer-songwriter
Pettit & Gira’s “Here to Stay”: winning fiddle/cello mastery with excellent tunes
It's always super nice to discover by chance artists you have never heard of and find out they're great! That's what's happened to me this week when I came across the North American fiddle/cello combo of Jocelyn Pettit and Ellen Gira. They are 2024 Canadian Folk Music Award Winners so it's high time I became … Continue reading Pettit & Gira’s “Here to Stay”: winning fiddle/cello mastery with excellent tunes
Salt House hits another 10/10 with “Scarrow”
Scarrow - faint light, reflection, the shadow of a crow or hill, the faint light from a wall. Something gleaming intermittently or indistinctly.ˈska(ˌ)rō. plural -s. Scots. Salt House's previous album, Riverwoods, was one of my absolute favorites of 2023, an utterly entracing, beautiful work that radiated nature in music. A couple of years have passed … Continue reading Salt House hits another 10/10 with “Scarrow”
Gwilym Bowen Rhys: Aden – impressive music from Wales, in Welsh
I how zero idea how Aden got on my list of albums to check out but there it was. Someone may have pointed it out to me. Or maybe I had read a positive review. Doesn't really matter, since this, my first encounter with Gwilym Bowen Rhys, was very positive. I now know that Aden … Continue reading Gwilym Bowen Rhys: Aden – impressive music from Wales, in Welsh
Apples, history, local pride and a deep musical heritage: Jim Causley’s “The Georgic”
I have never been to Devonshire and I did not know what a Georgic is. I have no immediate plans to visit Devonshire in the near future, but I did look up the meaning of Georgic: A poem or book dealing with agriculture or rural topics, which commonly glorifies outdoor labor and simple country life. … Continue reading Apples, history, local pride and a deep musical heritage: Jim Causley’s “The Georgic”
M G Boulter’s “Days of Shaking”: beautiful poetry, exquisite music
A couple of years ago, I was still totally unaware of M G Boulter - and then I heard what I believe is his breakthrough album, Clifftown. It seems I was not the only person who then sense a remarkable similarity between him and Paul Simon. Mostly it was his singing voice, but there was … Continue reading M G Boulter’s “Days of Shaking”: beautiful poetry, exquisite music
“When They All Looked Up”: Kate Rusby’s solid return
...and has it really been six years since Kate Rusby released an album that's not a Christmas buffet, a covers album or a look back at her earlier years? It seems so, as the fabulous Philosophers, Poets and Kings came out in 2019. And I thought that was a couple of years ago. Tempus does … Continue reading “When They All Looked Up”: Kate Rusby’s solid return
“Her By Design”: Jenn Butterworth takes center stage and shines brightly
As you all probably know, Jenn Butterworth has been the go-to guitar player in the (mostly) Scottish trad and folk scene for years now, and a visible fixture in Celtic Connections, playing with almost everyone (not to mention an epic on-the-fly guitar string change on stage during a tune). But as a headlining artist, no … Continue reading “Her By Design”: Jenn Butterworth takes center stage and shines brightly
Into the woods: Kate Young’s “Umbelliferæ” is a unique journey in the wild
"Apiaceae or Umbelliferae is a family of mostly aromatic flowering plants named after the type genus Apium and commonly known as the celery, carrot or parsley family, or simply as umbellifers." - Wikipedia You know the feeling when a movie or a book or a work of music you know nothing about comes your way, and it's a revelation. I knew nothing about Kate … Continue reading Into the woods: Kate Young’s “Umbelliferæ” is a unique journey in the wild
Cara Dillon’s “Coming Home” is a great work that requires your attention
Coming Home is the latest album by Ireland's fabulous Cara Dillon. It came out already in February, but as is so customary of me, I only found time to really listen to it now in August. My first reaction was "well this is decidedly not background music or sing-along stuff". Compared to the airy singer- … Continue reading Cara Dillon’s “Coming Home” is a great work that requires your attention
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