Les Tireux d'Roches "Tarmacadam"
Coop Les Faux Monnayeurs, 2017
French-Canadian rock throwers Les Tireux d'Roches[50]
are known as experienced troubadours who rock the stages worldwide and receive enthusiastic responses from their
audiences.[48]
Accordeonist and lead vocalist Denis Massé is pulling focus with his fierce attitude.
Pascal Veillette plays the mouth harp and amazes with his distinctive Québécoise feet-tapping.
Luc Murphy sets an interesting course by playing the saxophone besides the more traditionally appropriate flute.
Last but not least, Dominic Lemieux and David Robert build the solid rhythmic foundation on guitar and percussion, respectively.
First and foremost, their music is distinguished by the magnificent harmonies of all men chanting together.
Les Tireux d'Roches have travelled many a mile since setting out twenty years ago from St-Élie-de-Caxton, Mauricie.
Already in its title, their 6th studio album "Tarmacadam" (i.e. asphalt) is a nod to their journey so far,
which created an outfit tighter than a construction gang.
"The show lasts 90 minutes," muses Denis Massé, "that leaves another 22.5 hours of vans, planes, hotels and restaurants."
The new album offers a fine selection of traditional songs and original music.
Les Tireux d'Roches are still keeping one ear to the ground, both feet anyway,
while the other is looking for sounds and grooves from all over the place.
Have a look at the lovely video for the song "Le mariage des gueux" (The Beggar's Wedding)
to form your own opinion, or let me put it by quoting one of their song titles:
Il est grand temps, it's a great time...
© Walkin' T:-)M
Fränder "Fränder"
Own label, 2017
There is a medieval Swedish ballad called "Vänner och Fränder," meaning Friends and Relatives;
relatives in the broad sense encompassing family and kin.
"Vänner och Fränder" has been recorded by pioneering folk group Folk Och Rackare in 1978,
as well as Swedish folk rock group Garmarna[16]
and German folk-metal group In Extremo[48]
in the 1990s. Fränder don't play "Vänner och fränder," the group's name rather refers to the sibling ties of
Natasja (lead vocals, fiddle), Gabbi (string instruments such as Swedish bouzouki, vocals) and Daniel Dluzewski (double bass, vocals).
They were dreaming of writing music together for a long time. Three years ago, they put their dream into action by
forming a band and establishing ties with Estonian flutist Säde Tatar, who became the fourth member of the clan and added
an interesting Baltic flavour to the overall sound. In a little while, Fränder found themselves winning an international
music competition in Estonia and hitting the road that led them all over the world. Eventually, they offer their studio debut,
recorded in Estonia as well. It is a beautiful showcase of contemporary folk music, featuring haunting tunes and imaginative
arrangements. There is a youthful energy at play and a spirit of adventure. They focus on matching solo vocals and harmonies.
The canny union of cordial melancholy and acute enthusiasm
makes a huge impression and underlines stories as "Älvefärd," a traditional ballad also know as "Herr Olof"
with original music by Ulf Gruvberg and Carin Kjellman of Folk Och Rackare fame. There is an awesome multilingual track
with original music by Fränder, "Hällilaul / Vandrar stum," Natasja put some Swedish words to the traditional Estonian lyrics.
My personal favourite is the enthralling traditional song "Vabadus" with new music by Säde and Gabbi.
The catchy tune constantly plays in my head and it is a grand signature for a productive musical career to come.
© Walkin' T:-)M
Andrew D. Huber "Mockingbird Gallows"
Northlight Records, 2017
I have no clue if Andrew D. Huber has any Irish ancestry,
his name certainly suggests rather origin from the Alpes than the Emerald Island.
Anyway, these days Celtic music is not restricted to a flawless pedigree,
and "Mockingbird Gallows" is a clean and straight Celtic folk rock album.
Most of the time Huber acts out as the frontman of the guitar-pop group The Gecko Club.
As a solo artist Huber has a fondness for melodies of the Irish/Scottish variety.
He didn't deny it before; FolkWorld's David Hintz wrote about his latest album "Mercury Gets A Moon":
"Huber has a fine folk-rock approach with brisk songs that rock out just enough for a rousing night in the club, but hold
on tightly to a fine catchy melody. He has a touch of Irish in the mix, but not in any overwhelming sense. It almost
approaches a certain Eastern Canada/UK hybrid folk style."[57]
On his fifth solo album Huber goes for the full monty and ploughs the field claimed by
MacGowan's Pogues[22]
or McDermott's 2 Hours.[29]
His up-tempo songs are rabble-rousing, his ballads are hymn-like, you can sing along either way.
Though at first sight, "Mockingbird Gallows" seemed ok but not too exciting,
I became fond, nearly addicted, after repeated listening. Yes, it is the real deal when it comes to folk rock music:
smart and memorable!
© Walkin' T:-)M
Ray Cooper "Between the Golden Age & The Promised Land"
Westpark Music, 2018
Ray Cooper is a British singer/songwriter residing in the hinterlands of Sweden for almost 2 decades.
He left the Oysterband as their bass player in 2013 after the successful "Ragged Kingdom"
album and tour,[46][49]
and has wholeheartedly thrown himself into a solo career[51]
with a grand debut album "Tales of Love War & Death by Hanging"[42]
followed by the charming "Palace of Tears."[54]
Ray's third solo album defines his specific musical style once and for all.
It is very homely, all instruments are played by Ray himself, namely guitar, mandolin, cello, piano and harmonica.
The album kicks off merrily, he is reminiscing when he was sweet sixteen and
drunk on youth, love, gin, and summer in England. The song swings along with the traditional English
dancing tune "Speed the Plough". The music stays cheerful, though his topics are the
unknown soldier of the Great War or the boat people in the Mediterranean today.
Ray crosses the stormy oceans from England to Flanders, from Italy to the Lebanon.
This includes the old American hymn "Wayfaring Stranger" and the shanty "Adieu Sweet Spanish Ladies":
It is the most patriotic song I sing (about British soldiers and sailors after the Peninsular War in 1814)
and it's about loving foreigners (leaving their Spanish wives behind).
All tracks address the romantic dream of the Golden Age and the Promised Land. Ray is aware he will never get there,
but he acknowledges that the journey is the reward. In the meantime we are happy with a beautiful silver disc with
lovely tunes and excellent lyrics.
© Walkin' T:-)M
The Transports „The Transports - a tale of exile and migration”
Hudson Records, 2017
Written by the legendary Peter Bellamy, The Transports is a folk music musical telling the story of common people whose family is destroyed by poverty and crime, and who are deported into Australian exile in the 1780s. Using the original Peter Bellamy Songs with fresh script and musical arrangement, the production features a stellar cast of some of today’s best folk singers and musicians on the English folk scene. Thus this album not only presents a moving and well told story but also the highest quality of music and song. The tale is told by Matthew Crampton, and features as singers and characters in the story: The Young’uns, Faustus, the wonderful Greg Russell, Nancy Kerr and Rachael McShane. Having been on its second tour this January, now we can also experience this tour de force at home on CD. Top Floor Taivers “A delicate game”
A very promising debut album of this quartet of young Scottish ladies. Top Floor Taivers are presenting contemporary Scottish folk music, focussed on modern folk songs - there are brilliant version of Leonard Cohen’s “Everybody knows”, Richard Thompson’s “1952 Vincent Black Lightning”, Findlay Napier “Princess Rosanna” and Andy M Stewart’s “Rambling Rover”. The girls also dip their toes into songwriting, with impressive results - both “Jeannie and the Spider” and “10 Little men” are modern songs in a very traditional style. As well as having great singing voices, the four are also gifted musicians - the music features piano, an energetic fiddle, clarsach and ukulele, as well as some percussion. Claire Hasting, Grainne Brady, Heather Downie and Tina Jordan Rees are four musicians to look out for, with top Floor Waivers being already with their debut a top Scottish band.
Night Tree “Night Tree”
An exciting and unique debut album of this Celtic six piece band from the States. Night Tree’s Music may be most steeped in Celtic folk music, yet doesn’t know any musical boundaries, venturing into classical, Klezmer, Afro-Cuban styles. Most of the titles are written by band members. For example, Sunniva Brynnel’s Song “Thanksgiving” is a beautiful song featuring a catchy calm chorus about life bringing ‘a million stars and a million tears’. There are fiery tunes, often Celtic based, featuring at times a wild saxophone and fiery fiddles, and sometimes leading into improvisational noises. Featuring violins, accordion, saxophone, cello and percussion, Night Tree is full of excitement and surprises, brimming with musical ideas and talent. Brilliant Seamus Egan, founder of Solas, produced this album and brought the very best out of this new top band on the folk scene.
Kip Winter & Dave Wilson „Cutting free“
English singer/songwriter duo Winter & Wilson present on this album 13 self-penned songs. I am not clear why we have received this album now for review, given that it is from 2013, and the duo has released two newer ones since, but it does remain a pleasant album. Christine Primrose „Gradh is gonadh guth ag aithris - love & loss - a lone voice“
The ancient tradition of Gaelic singing stripped back to its essence - just a lone voice singing. Christine Primrose is one of the stalwarts of Gaelic song, and on this solo album she presents 11 newly recorded songs plus 3 previously recorded bonus tracks. The booklet contains plenty of historical background to each of the songs. An album with an archaic feel.
Taarka “Fading mystery”
This American band takes its listener on an exciting journey to a range of music styles. Starting off with a classy folk/jazz/pop song, followed by two original ballads, one in the style of an English ballad, and an Appalachian fiddle tune, it takes until track number 5 for Taarka to reveal its other and most exciting side. “I could really use you” is the first song on the album representing the band’s gipsy jazz side, featuring an energetic fiddle lead in a song with very catchy melodies. Across the album, the four-piece band visit bluegrass, pop, Americana, old time and Celtic folk, but for me the highlights are whenever Taarka ventures into their Django Reinhardt-esque gipsy jazz, with the superb combination of a fiery fiddle and jazzy guitar. An attractive album full of variation.
Denez Prigent „Denez live“ [CD/DVD]
As one of the leading traditional Breton style singers, Denez Prigent has a large following both in Brittany and abroad. His latest album is a live recording, and in addition to the audio CD there is a live DVD of the concert, featuring six identical songs and three other songs compared to the audio CD. Los Cinq Jaus „Vara via“
This album presents traditional music and song from Central France, primarily from Haute Loire. The music features bagpipes, hurdy gurdy, fiddle and accordion, whereas the songs are usually a Capella with some attractive harmony singing, particularly counter singing. Many of the songs are in a local French dialect; the booklet provides translations into French. I particularly enjoy the songs with their harmonies, while the instrumentals are a bit heavy on drone sounds.
The Jeremiahs „the Femme Fatale of Maine“
This exquisite Irish trio celebrates singing and songwriting at its very best. Stylistically somewhere in the contemporary Irish and English folk camp, the Jeremiahs are excellent interpreters of new folk ballads - most of them penned by themselves. Yet they are also great instrumentalists, featuring fiddle, guitar/Bouzouki etc, stomp Box and some wonderful guesting flute and whistle playing. The album closes after 45 entertaining minutes with a strong new version of Alan Burke’s „Derry Jail“ from Alan’s Afterhours days. Highly recommended.
Anna Falkenau & Lena Ullman „I can hear you calling“
Fiddle player Anna Falknenau has teamed up in this duo with five string banjo virtuoso Lena Ullman. The material on the album brings together tunes from Irish and American folk composers, as well as a few tracks composed by Lena and a couple of songs. And no other than folk legend Andy Irvine is a fan of these two; he is quoted on the album: “…the combined talents of Anna and Lena … take me back to the thrilling sounds I listened to in my youth”. An album steeped in the classic American banjo/fiddle duets, blending American and Irish folk traditions.
Myllargutens Gammaldansorkester „vol. 2“
As the album title suggests, this is the second release by this Norwegian folk orchestra. Only about half of the 15 musicians of this ensemble are actually Norwegian, the other half come from other European countries. Despite this international component the music is very much old fashioned Norwegian spelemanslag music, with plenty of ensemble fiddle playing. Well played relaxed yet very traditional music.
India Electric Co. „Seven Sisters“ [EP]
Now two things stand out with the India Electric Co. - their music has not a trace of Indian music traditions, and is not electric but fully acoustic. And while their name might be misleading, the music of this duo is outstanding too. The material on this 6 title EP is focussed on self-penned songs, plus one instrumental track. Cole Stacey’s singing style tends to be more pop than folk, and even though the songs are catchy, for me as a folky they would not be particularly remarkable - if there weren’t the incredible instrumental talents of his duo partner Joseph O‘Keefe who contributes (apart from percussion) all instruments on the album. His fiddle playing beautifully weaves its way around the pop songs, and on the album, he has also added guitars, accordion and piano to accompany himself and Cole - creating a highly attractive folk band sound. How the duo pulls off this band sound in live, I don’t know. I have found though that the six tracks on this short album are addictive and cry out for more.
Mairin Mannion “Will o’ the Wisp”
The warm dreamy and gentle voice and singing style of this young Irish singer/songwriter reminds me of England’s Kate Rusby. However, Mairin is much more focussed on her own songwriting, with principally all songs on this album written by this talented young lady. The songs cover typical traditional Irish topics, and are presented in a way that blends traditional and contemporary folk. The music accompanying the singing is gentle, and the impressive roaster of guesting musicians - including Dervish’s Liam Kelly and Brian McDonagh and Flook’s John Joe Kelly - shows that this singer is already very well respected on the Irish music scene.
Otros Aires “presents Balkan Airs”
And just when we thought we heard it all before, this album comes along - blending Bulgarian gitane with Argentinian tango music and song. Balkan Gipsy sounds constructed around saxophone and clarinet naturally merge with Argentinian accordion, and the two languages meet as if they were the most obvious neighbours. Produced by the band’s bassist Boyko Petrov, the album was recorded and produced between Sofia and Buenos Aires. And if it’s not the uniqueness of the collaboration that catches your eye, the sleeve design certainly will, with its musical creatures of an accordion cat and a hamster playing the horn. This wonderful new and energetic music style might well catch - so watch out for “BalkanAirs” as the next big world music fashion.
Bob Delyn a‘r Ebellion „Dal I ‚redig dipyn bach“
This singer and his band spearheaded the Welsh folk revival of the 90s, yet it took the band 14 years since their last album. Scocha “Live on the border”
Hailing from the Scottish border region, Scocha call their music style “folk’n’roll”. With the band featuring primarily guitars, bass and percussion plus vocals (there may be bagpipes on one track, but otherwise hardly any sounds of trad instruments), this is folky rock, sometimes heading towards folk punk rock sometimes folk pop. The double album features a blend of new and trad Scottish songs. The traditional songs include “Ye Yacobites”, “I will go” and “Auld Lang Syne”. Monika Stadler “Song of the Welsh hills”
Despite the title, this album does not have its origins in the hills of Wales, but in an even more mountainous country: Austria. “Song of the Welsh hills” is a beautiful album of harp music from this talented Austrian harpist. The tunes are all but one composed by the musician, and take mostly inspiration from Celtic music traditional music. Yet Monika Stadler takes in a number of influences in her music - be it jazzy improvisations or tango (in a tune where her harp is accompanied by a Latin sounding accordion). Her concert harp carries the sound of the music in all tracks, while some of the tunes are being given some extra depths by the addition of some percussion or e-bass or, on the title track, beautiful cello sounds.
Jim & Susie Malcolm „Spring will follow on“
This is a debut really – as it is the first proper duo album of Susie and Jim Malcolm. Jim, one of Scotland’s greatest folk singer songwriters, has had 13 solo albums, and while his wife Susie featured on several of them on backing vocals, here we find them as a duet playing equal singing roles. Seb Lagrange & Friends „Morvan Massif- Live“
I had never before heard of Seb Lagrange until this album landed on my desk - I just wonder why, as judging from this album the French musician is presenting himself as one of the leading accordion players and composers on the folk scene today. Duo de Schepper-Sanczuk „Perron 12“
The album is published 40 years after the original version of Peter Bellamy, and with the original featuring many the stars of the time (including the Watersons, Martin Carthy, June Tabor), it is only right and proper that this new recording stars the best of today’s English folk scene.
As an addition to the Peter Bellamy material, the album features a new song which is already now, six months after its first publication a classic and should be seen as perhaps the folk song of the decade: „Dark Waters“ by the Young’uns’ Sean Cooney, a modern migration tale of a Syrian fleeing his home country and taking the drastic decision to swim the Aegean Sea. This new recording is as moving as the one recorded on the recent Young Uns album. While this modern migration story relates well to the older narrative, the position of the song in the middle of the album, dissecting the story, is a bit odd - it would have worked better as a bonus track at the end of the album.
This album will become as much a classic as the original was.
Own label, 2016
Own label, 2017
Own label, 2013
The topics are largely songs of today - songs of lost love, of redundancy, the endless rounds of staff consultations in the public sector, of the retired free to travel the world, or emigrants to New Zealand. A couple of songs are also about the past, telling stories of World War I. As a bonus, there’s a beautiful song written by the late and much missed Scottish folk hero Nick Keir about Kip‘s mum and her time on a Croft during World War II, interpreted in a great a Capella version. Both Kip and Dave sing on the album, and most of the songs feature just Dave‘s guitars, mandolin or banjo, with a few additions of accordion by Kip.
Temple Records, 2017
Own label, 2017
Coop Breizh, 2016
Denez‘s singing has all that mystical magic of Breton song, mesmerising and beautiful. Whilst all tracks are fully focussed on Denez‘ voice, the recordings feature a strong seven piece line up providing exciting contemporary arrangements featuring instruments from violins and accordion via bombarded, soprano saxophone and double bastion a range of percussion instruments. The DVD recording is able to take the viewer to join the magic and intensity of a Denez Prigent concert. While most of the DVD features the same band as the audio CD, for a grand and impressive finale Denez is joined by two sets of Breton dancers, a whole Bagad band and further musicians.
AEPEM, 2017
Own label, 2017
Own label, 2017
Own label, 2017
Own label, 2017
Own label, 2017
Galileo Music, 2017
Sain, 2017
Bob Delyn’s real name is the Twm Morys, a Welsh poet who in a’r Ebellion combines this poetic with his musical talents. The majority of songs on this album are thus written by Twm, mostly in Welsh yet a couple also in Breton language. While the band has been described as folk rock, on this album it displays itself more as contemporary poetic folk pop. Unlike previous albums, the arrangements were less of a band effort, with Twm taking the lead, and perhaps as a result, the most dominant features on the album are Twm’s singing and guitar playing. There is still a host of band members represented, providing atmospheric and melodic arrangements on instruments such as harp, bombard, trumpet, sax, fiddle, double bass, drums and percussion - varying between more folky, jazzy, poppy. It’s a calm album which I believe can be even more appreciated if you understand the Welsh language.
Own label, 2017
I have no doubt that this style will be very popular in Scocha’s homeland. This album has been recorded live just across the border in England, in the old border town of Berwick. It does offer plenty of music: 17 songs on two CDs.
Galileo Music, 2017
Own label, 2018
This is a lovely and relaxed album. The two voices harmonically combine and blend on a fine selection of songs. The majority of tracks are traditional Scottish, and even the two self-penned are based on popular Scottish fiddle tunes and thus have a trad feel. In addition to Jim’s usual guitar and harmonica playing, Jim shows off his new skills on the trumpet on a few tracks, to great effect. On a few numbers there are guest musicians - Sandy Malcolm on flute, Pete Clark on fiddle, Marc Duff on bodhran and whistle and Dave Watt on keyboards.
A relaxed and positive album of wonderful trad Scottish folk music with a Jim Malcolm styled contemporary twist.
Own label, 2017
This album is the result of the organisers of a French accordion festival offering Seb to put together his own project for the festival. Thus Seb gathered himself an all-star band with a gorgeous sound: Centring around a core band of Seb on accordion, Scottish guitarist Ross Martin, Irish pianist Caoimhin Vallely and French fiddler Didier Gris, the CD sees also appearances on some of its tracks of hurdy gurdy (Franck Huguenin), uilleann and French pipes (Gael Rutkowski) and more French bagpipes (Gilles Desserprit).
Seb proves himself a very versatile player and composer - the album starts off with a Cajun set before venturing to a mix of Celtic reels and jigs, waltzes in a musette style, French bourrees and mazurkas. Most of the tunes are composed by Seb himself, in a traditional music style.
The album was recorded live at the festival, with a very high sound quality (only criticism is that the recording also includes the introductions to the tunes which interrupt the flow of the album). This is wonderfully varied and engaging music, played by passionate and skilled players led by a very gifted accordionist. I hope this band formation was not just a one off but will form a touring band, as I would love to experience them live!
Appel Rekords, 2017
