Issue 14 6/2000
Label:
Greentrax; CDTRAX 188; 1999; Playing time: 54.15 min
Variety is a key term actually - the
arrangements are as complex and varied as has become common practice with Scottish folk ensembles, the pace alternates
between stomping dance tunes and more reflective melodies, and the lead vocal on the songs is taken in turns by Rod
Paterson and Wendy Stewart. Coherence is provided by the recognisable band sound, comprising harps, flutes, pipes, guitars
and, where suitable, unobtrusive drums and keyboards.
Further info and MP3 from
MusicScotland
Anja Beinroth
Label:
Appleseed Recordings; APR CD 1032; 2000; Playing time: 66.44 min
A couple of other
songs have Lucy Kaplansky singing harmony vocals, and they are the ones I like best. Some of the recording was done in
Mississippi using local musicians (73-year-old drummer Sam Carr and guitarists James "Super Chikan" Johnson and
Kenny Brown), giving those songs an edgier, more bluesy feel and sound than the rest.
Lots of illustrious guests, lots
of reasons to like it, and I still can't figure out why it simply doesn't excite me. Try for yourself.
Eric Andersen's website; More CD info from Appleseed
Anja Beinroth
Label: Sonifolk; 20138; 2000; Playing time: 62.04 min
The recordings were made between the late
1970s and 1997 in villages and towns around Spain by music enthusiast Pedro Vaquero Sanchez, who set out with a tape
recorder trying to capture what he could of Spain's traditional music before it could disappear and be forgotten in an age
of televisions, radios and bland international commercial pop.
The album has been compiled by his widow, Mercedes
Santamaria, as a tribute to the man and his work. It's a great introduction to and overview of Spain's many different
regional folk musics, proving once and for all that there's much much more to it than just the internationally popular
flamenco.
Contact Sonifolk
Anja Beinroth
Label: Coordinate Records; HT 917; 1997; Playing time: 68.58 min
Label: Coordinate Records; HT 918; 1998; Playing time: 71.37 min
Label: Coordinate Records; HT 919; 1999; Playing time: 70.49 min
Dan Lambert himself sums it up perfectly in the booklet of
"Melodies": "Sometimes I think of myself as a piano player, trying for a nice, rich fabric of sound. At
other times, I'm a sax player, flying up high with some extended melody line while I provide my own accompaniment down
below. Sometimes I'm a cellist or a bassist, singing down in the lower, earthier range of the guitar. And other times, I'm
a piper, my sound echoing against the hills and drifting across the moors. And maybe during the last set, after a good
black and tan, I'll actually get this picture of myself as a guitar player."
The first two albums use some overdubs,
giving them a slightly fuller, richer sound than the third, which explores the possibilities of the solo guitar. This may
make "Melodies" the best choice for fellow guitarists who are interested in the technical side of the playing.
My personal favourite is "Plaids" which has a few truly wonderful tunes, but there's not much to choose between
them and they're all worth seeking out for acoustic music fans.
More info on the albums and Dan Lambert; Another page with Dan Lambert information
Anja Beinroth
Label:
Grappa Musikkforlag; GRCD 4170; 2000; Playing time: 74.01 min
The booklet
also give a short summary of the contents of each song, so the listener has at least an impression of what is being told -
and for the benefit of Norwegian speakers (or language students) the full lyrics are included as well. Musical
arrangements are by Sinikka Langeland, who sings (in part unaccompanied) and plays a Finnish 39-string kantele. The
slightly harp-like sound of the instrument adds to the bardic quality of the recording. The atmosphere is quiet and
intense, transporting the listener into an ancient, medieval world where the oral tradition of mythical storytelling was
very much alive.
A very evocative recording which demands a lot of attention from the listener, but rewards the
effort.
Grappa Musikkforlag; contact Sinikka
Langeland
Anja Beinroth
own label; SH001; 1998; Playing time: 57.02 min
Louisa John-Krol's website
Anja Beinroth
Label:
Greentrax; CDTRAX 192; 2000; Playing time: 45.59 min
The will to experiment and to transpose
the music into the present also shows itself in the use of unusual instruments - from the stylophone (rarely heard in a
folk context since The Lost T-Shirts of Atlantis disappeared from the British scene) to a Swiss Army knife (which
apparently makes a good slider for a guitar). The album has a nice, spontaneous feel to it - the musicians sound very much
at ease. An interesting musical journey, both innovative and faithful to its roots.
Jack Evans' website; Further info
and MP3 from MusicScotland
Anja Beinroth
Label:
RAW Records; RAWCD 5; 1999; Playing time: 46.42 min
Nothing
particularly wrong with this; it's quite nice really, but not exactly a must-have.
Find out more from Alan Wooley; Tel. or Fax +44 1332 834438
Anja Beinroth
Label:
Heilo / Grappa Musikkforlag; HCD 7155; 1999; Playing time: 46.43 min
It is a strange concept and it seems even stranger that it is so
successful. This may be because Tone Fedt is a good singer with a strong voice, or it may be because of the creative
backing, which is very inventive and full of variety, emphasizing all the atmospheric changes suggested by the
singing.
Certainly an album which is difficult to describe! If you've become curious, I suggest a visit to the
Føyk website which has some Real Audio samples.
Føyk Homepage
Anja Beinroth
Label: own; LJECD 1; Playing time: 52.08 min
The songs have something to say - the title track in particular deserves to become a
classic - and the tunes rock. I bet this lot are a cracking live band. They certainly sound like they're enjoying
themselves on the album. A safe bet for anyone who likes the genre, I'd say.
Little Johnny England, P.O. Box 1957, Eathorpe, Leamington Spa, CV33
9YG, England
Anja Beinroth
Label:
Jaro Medien; JARO 4230-2; 2000; Playing time: 72.03 min
The
Farlanders have an impressive female singer in Inna Zhelannaya, a strong male voice provided by Sergey
Starostin, two reed and woodwind players (the former and Sergey Klevensky) and a strong rhythm section including an
unusually creative electric bass player (Sergey Kalachev), a drummer and a percussionist. The sound is highly individual,
taking Russian folksongs from various regional traditions and transporting them into the modern age, using the
unrestricted freedom of expression and spirit of improvisation and harmonising usually only found with jazz musicians. The
interplay of the double reed / woodwind (clarinettes, flutes, whistles, cow horns, bagpipes...) is particularly
fascinating.
The audience is fairly low in the mix, but it is obvious they were wildly excited by what they were
experiencing - here's a chance to share their enthusiasm.
Farlanders webpage; Contact JARO
Medien, Bismarckstrasse 43, D 28203 Bremen, Germany; Tel.+49 421 705771 Fax +49 421 74066
Anja Beinroth
Label:
Jaro Medien; JARO 4226-2; 2000; Playing time: under 30 minutes
The background: the Bulgarian Voices Angelite choir went on a long concert tour with Sergey
Starostin and Mikhail Alperin of the Moscow Art Trio. Spending plenty of time in each other's company, they - inevitably
perhaps - started to experiment with singing together, each contributing material from their own traditional background.
They were so pleased with the intensity and beauty of the result that they felt it should be heard outside of hotel and
dressing rooms. At the Edinburgh Festival in 1999, the opportunity arose to make a recording in Grey Friar's church. And
here it is.
The album presents pure unadulterated vocal music, beautiful and deeply relaxing, almost meditative.
Perhaps to increase this effect on the listener, it includes about 9 minutes of trailing silence - to stop you rushing
back to your stressful lives after diving into this sea of calm.
A journey well worth taking. The only minor criticism
is that it is so short. It will leave you wishing for more.
Contact JARO Medien, Bismarckstrasse 43, D 28203 Bremen, Germany; Tel.+49 421 705771
Fax +49 421 74066
Anja Beinroth
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© The Mollis - Editors of FolkWorld; Published 6/2000All material published in FolkWorld is © The Author via FolkWorld. Storage for private use is allowed and welcome. Reviews and extracts of up to 200 words may be freely quoted and reproduced, if source and author are acknowledged. For any other reproduction please ask the Editors for permission.