I feel almost silly, having to write another "oh this album makes me so happy!" review only a few days after I went joyfully bananas over Ampouailh's latest release. But here we go... Let's begin by noting that Woodlands and Bäckafall are two separate entities that created this album as a unit. Woodlands Duo: Kristina … Continue reading Woodlands Bäckafall’s “Traditional Colours”: joyful and borderless northern folk
Tag: trad music
Westlin Winds by The Wilderness Yet: a folk a cappella treasure
A couple of years ago I wrote a few lines on the previous The Wilderness Yet album, What Holds The World Together. It seems I appreciated it but said it's not my exact cup of tea stylewise. I wonder now why I said that because on later listening, I have loved it! Only goes to … Continue reading Westlin Winds by The Wilderness Yet: a folk a cappella treasure
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
Looking for unfiltered English folk? Go to Granny’s Attic!
Over the past decade or so, Granny's Attic have risen to the very top of English folk music, and deservedly so. The trio of Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne, George Sansome and Lewis Wood are masters in their craft and they are among the finest musicians keeping the tradition fresh and vital. What I particularly appreciate about their … Continue reading Looking for unfiltered English folk? Go to Granny’s Attic!
You know you are getting older when…
…your body starts to give you smaller and bigger hints that it's not keeping together the way it used to. Decades do their work and there comes a point when you cannot escape the facts. Which is to say I've been on radio silence in this blog for a while now, due to health issues … Continue reading You know you are getting older when…
Throwback time: “Otherworld” (1999) by Lúnasa
Just a quick note here. It had been years and years since I had listened to this wonderful album before I pressed play on it yesterday and was energized all over again. 26 years after its release, Otherworld remains a treasure trove of vision and energy. The guys at the time were already experienced and … Continue reading Throwback time: “Otherworld” (1999) by Lúnasa
Brief notes from Celtic Connections 2025
First, apologies for not keeping to my promise of writing here more often in 2025. It's been a bit rough first weeks of the year, with some health issues (again) and, frankly, the state of the world causing me some chronic stress and tiredness as well. And as we are psycho-somatic beings with everything affecting … Continue reading Brief notes from Celtic Connections 2025
Kennedy & O’Leary’s “Hydra” is not a beast, it’s a beauty
I was delighted to witness Nuala Kennedy and Eamon O'Leary perform at the Edinburgh TradFest 2022. It was an intimate and lively set and I well remember the warm atmosphere and the brilliant musicianship of these Irish masters. And now they have released an absolutely magical album. I believe this is the first time they … Continue reading Kennedy & O’Leary’s “Hydra” is not a beast, it’s a beauty
Love fiddles? Then let The Snake embrace you!
My instrument is the drums. I can play the guitar a little, also the bass just a wee bit. Any keyboard instrument is beyond me but even more so the fiddle, or the violin, if you want to go classical. Any string instrument with a fretless neck is a completely mysterious object to me, especially … Continue reading Love fiddles? Then let The Snake embrace you!
Altan’s shining “Donegal” feels like a rebirth
The iconic/legendary Irish band's latest release, Donegal, is another victim to my by now too sporadic listening to and writing about music. The album came out months ago and you may have heard it and read about it... but I really need to put in a few words. So, I only listened to it carefully … Continue reading Altan’s shining “Donegal” feels like a rebirth
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