FolkWorld Issue 41 03/2010

FolkWorld CD Reviews

Notty’s Jug Serenaders "Welcome to the Saint"
Label: Blue monkey records; 0509; 2009
For over 25 years the Notty’s Jug Serenaders do what their name suggests, making a bit nutty music with jug influences. This Suisse trio releases with Welcome to the saint their latest album. A combination of vivid jug, rag, blues, folk, country and similar styles. Brought with a smile in easy going musical arrangements without pretention. From traditional pieces to original compositions and a rolling stone cover. This is such a group that would do very on stage in a pub with a few beers, but sitting at home it’s a bit too much cabaret-folk after my personal taste, although occasionally some wonderful melodies rise to the surface like the title song, which is not only a beautiful melody but also shows the quality of a good guitarist. A band for a lot of fun and I get the feeling that is exactly what they want so, mission accomplished I guess.
www.nottys-jug-serenaders.ch
Eelco Schilder


Lemmy Constantine "Indifference"
Label:
Plus loin music; 4519; 2009
Lemmy Constantine is an US guitarist who fell in love with Django’s music and today is not only a respected musician but an actor as well. His voice is worldwide known from many commercials and other television and cinema things. I can imagine that his voice is perfect for commercials, voice over etc. It’s a full, rich and civilized voice. The same for his music, easy going jazz-swing with gypsy and soundtrack influences. Constantine is here to please his audience and that is what he does, no risk, all under control, music for each moment of the day.
www.lemmyconstantine.com
Eelco Schilder


Minne Graw "Ausgeträumt"
Label:
Broken silence; 12650; 2009
Minne Graw was the lead singer of the famous German folk-rock band Ougenweide. The past three-four years the albums of Ougenweide became available on CD (FW#32, #34) and now a solo project Minne Graw recorded over twenty years ago is available for the first time. When the songs were recorded in 1986 and 87, nobody wanted to release the songs but thankfully the recordings were well preserved and the Sireena label surprises the world with these unique recordings. Graw is backed by several Ougenweide musicians and the opening track Langeweile is one of the songs that easily would have made it to an Ougenweide album, very nice and strong composition. But as the CD continues the style changes and Graw slowly shows her own style. Träume leben is a nice, dreamy ballad which is influenced by the time it was recorded but still is strong enough to survive time, especially because of the fabulous voice Graw has. Ausgeträumt and Am morgen do go even a bit further towards the eighties pop music with Graw playing the keyboards herself. Again, great vocals, but these songs do sound a bit dated with these typical keyboard sounds. Or what to think about Urlaub which is Deutch-pop and too stereotype for that time to impress. Fortunately the album ends nice with the demo Ausgespuckt and Die nacht in which the vocals play the main role and not the sounds of the keyboard. A strange album this is, starting with two strong compositions but then changes into a middle of the road eighties pop album on which Graw’s voice, which I love so much, doesn’t get the attention it deserves. For me as a big Ougenweide and Minne Graw fan this album is nice to complete the collection, but it doesn’t give me the feeling I really missed something twenty years ago.
www.sireena.de
Eelco Schilder


James Yorkston & the Big Eyes Family Players "Folk songs"
Label:
Domino records; WIGCD236P; 2009
James Yorkston is a singer/musician from Fife, situated just above Edinburgh. His impressive discography counts several studio and live albums with folk and blues music. On these albums he is joined by a changing group of musicians, on this new output it are the Big eyes family players that are helping making this a beauty of an album. On Folksongs Yorkston recorded eleven traditional songs, beautifully rearranged in an acoustic setting. I love his version of Just as the tide was flowing which I know from Shirley Collins and the Albion country band. Yorkston and band record this in a more intimate way, with fragile female backings. One of my favourites is Martinmas time with a distant, but unavoidable beat giving the listener a haunted feeling. Back to the early seventies psych-folk in Thorneymoor woods Yorkston proofs to be a master in singing English folksongs. Not only the songs, also an instrumental part like Pandeirada de entrimo has the right mixture of tradition and modern musical arrangements. Folk songs is one of the best English folk albums from 2009 and if all previous work is as good as this, I order his complete catalogue right now.
www.jamesyorkston.co.uk
Eelco Schilder


Umnachter Project "Schall und Rauch"
Label: Own label; 2009
Behind the Umnachter project you might expect a whole group of musicians, but there actually is only one; Robert Polsterer. This multi instrumentalist and composer is part of several (Austrian) folk and metal related bands in which he takes care of the guitar and the overtone singing, amongst others. This Schall und rauch is a solo project on which he combines the guitar and overtone singing with mouth harp and didgeridoo. The result is twelve original compositions with sparkling guitar and hypnotizing vocals. I’m surprised by the nice compositions which have both a traditional and sometimes almost classical approach. Polsterer plays in a melodic way and intrigues with his mixture of uplifting and bit misty and mystical music. Polsterer found the right balance and impresses me with his solid songwriting and strong play.
www.umnachter.com
Eelco Schilder


Jackie Tice "Morningsky Drum Song"
Label: Sajamaka music; 2008
Jackie Tice is a multi talented musician. With her Native American Cherokee and Eastern European roots she stands firmly into two different cultures. Her music has been awarded several times and she recorded in both acoustic and more rock orientated styles. This new album is of the pure, acoustic kind and has Tice’s flute compositions and vocals as center of the songs. With some soft percussion and gentle guitar play added, this album mixes a beautiful folk ballad like The dawn and Four days with spiritual pieces like Ceremony and Triangle and even some spoken word in White blanket. I’m impressed by the way Tice sings the folk ballads, I’m not a big fan of the spiritual part although it’s well played and brought from the heart, this just isn’t my style of music. Jackie Tice is a singer that I will watch closely and I think that you should do the same. When the next album is a more folk orientated one, I will definitely try to get hold of a copy as those songs are of the highest quality. For those who are interested in the more native sounds, this album might be yours.
www.jackietice.com
Eelco Schilder


Jump 4 Joy "Tasty"
Label: Groove; CD0901; 2009
Jump 4 Joy is a Swedish band with Ulf Sändstrom and Bo Gustafsson in the centre of the stage. A real party band with energetic and feel good music and that is exactly what you get on this new album Tasty. Together with percussionist Kenneth Björnlund and bassist Surjo Benigh the duo brings an attractive mix of Rhythm and blues, funk, rock and soul. Uncomplicated compositions with a relaxed sound and played in an entertaining way. This band is not about inventing new music, but tom play good old styles with as much fun as possible. I can imagine It must be great to see them play live on stage. Personally I miss the atmosphere of the concert hall on a studio album like this.
www.jump4joy.se
Eelco Schilder


Mazzeltov & Rolinha Kross "Mayn umru"
Label:
Frea; MWCD4065; 2009
Over fifteen years Mazzeltov is one of the leading Dutch Klezmer bands. Their previous album Amsterdam was a highlight in the bands' oeuvre and in my personal top 10 of best Klezmer albums ever. So you can imagine I’m more than curious to hear their new album Mayn umru. This time not translations of Dutch and French songs, but new material and a few traditional songs. The album contains some beautiful Yiddish poetry and happily the booklet includes both Dutch and English translations of the poems. This new album has a more serious and melancholic character than their previous output. Some fabulous instrumental pieces like Bessarabian autumn with superb accordion and violin solo’s that make my heart shiver. Nice is the happiness in Oy khaveyrim, the fury in Dirty Harry and the Moldavian sher. Besides these instrumental pieces wonderful songs like Mayn umru fun a volf which has a mystical, sad lyric beautifully sung by lead singer Rolinha Kross. Gentle and almost fragile is S’hot malkele der karshnboym, in which the beauty of a blossoming cherry tree is described. The Shiker is a Yiddish version of Brel’s song L’ivrogne which turns out to be very suitable for a Yiddish make over. With Ikh vel dikh nisht oyfvekn the bands carefully tries to play some midnight jazz. A nice intermezzo, not more than that. With Mayn umru Mazzeltov published a strong album and proofs that they belong at the top of the European Klezmer/Yiddish music charts.
www.mazzeltov.nl
Eelco Schilder


Xarnege "Ixo.sho"
Label:
Collectif Pyrene; PYR003; 2009
Xarnege is a musical project that brings the Basque and Gascony traditions together, show the similarities and unite the uniqueness of these two cultures into a fabulous, creative, passionate style. The five musicians are all part of several known and lesser known folk bands including Ganbara, Euritan blai, Landerida and many others. Traditional instruments like the hurdy gurdy, Salterius, Txanbela, local bagpipes and many more give a refreshing new interpretation of traditional tunes and songs. Electric sound effects are added, but in such a way that the compositions keep their original touch and this album is more a modern-traditional one than a trad-rock one. I love the way the musicians play with sounds, using difficult rhythmic patterns and fabulous play. Listen the heavy hurdy gurdy sound, the exploding (cow) horns and the unexpected twists in the musical arrangements. Each time I listen to this album I hear new sounds, new melodies and I just get more and more enthusiastic. At some moments it reminds me of the best work of Hedningarna, on other moments it’s like the village musicians meets a sound lunatic and it all works. This album took me by surprise and must be played over and over again. What a fantastic and refreshing CD, it makes me curious to hear more of the musicians other projects, so if you excuse me I’m going to do some research and refresh my knowledge on Basque and Gascony traditional music. In the meanwhile you should close folk world and visit the bands webpage to buy their album.
www.xarnege.com
Eelco Schilder


Aeschbacher "X Solo"
Label:
Narrenschiff; 2009057; 2009
Soyka Stirner "Tanz"
Label: Extraplatte; 2325; 2009
Deux Accords Diront "Eisherz"
Label: Homerecords; 4446062; 2009
A few albums with the accordion on the front stage. First Werner Aeschbacher, an Accordionist from Switserland. Much is more than a musician only, a man with a deep passion for the instrument and the sound it can produce. He has recorded albums with his own trio, with percussionist Martin Hägler and this is his second solo album with accordion only and a few moments of percussion played by the master himself. The first thing that I notice is the rich and warm sound of his instrument, as if an orchestra is playing in front of me. With unbelievable pure play he changes from old dances to modern compositions, French styled tunes and Southern Tarentella and Bolero’s. From pure happiness to melancholic sounds as if he wants to show the world all the things he is capable of on one album. Maybe a bit too much variation for one album, but nevertheless a real master at work and some amazing music on this one. From Switserland to their neighbors in Austria. Soyka Stirner is a duo with concertina player Walter Soyka and Karl Stirner on the cither. Tanz is this duo’s first album together and the process towards it has taken seven years. Seventeen recordings, not only suitable for dancing but a joy to listen to while sitting still and just enjoying the quality of the musicians. The booklet explains a bit of the background of each track and tells what kind of dance it is and where it originally comes from. Soyka and Stirner do improvise in their music but keep very close to traditional sounds of compositions. Their acoustic music creates pictures and is almost like a soundtrack of a slow film with beautiful images. Dancing? No, closing my eyes and let their music take me away on an endless trip in my imagination. Nice! Finally the most experimental one of the three. The Belgium duo Deux Accords Diront and their album Eisherz. This accordion duo was born twelve years ago when Anne Niepold and Aline Pohl decided it was time to start playing together. Their aim was to stop the clichés and the prejudice against their instrument. They wanted to discover new ways to regain the interest of people. This is their fourth album and Eisherz is entirely composed by Anne Niepold and the duo is backed by three musicians on brass instruments and a drummer/percussionist. Niepolds composition are a mixture of jazz, classical and folk styles. This is far from easy listening but sometimes complicated compositions with subtle the brass and accordions alternately taking the lead. Now, twelve years after their start it’s easy to conclude that they broke any form of cliché hanging around the accordion. This is modern, almost avant gardistic music. Well over thought compositions and strong play, an album that intrigues and needs time to reveal all its secrets.
www.aeschbacher.li, www.soykastirner.com, www.deuxaccordsdiront.be
Eelco Schilder


Bern, Rodach & Brody "Triophilia"
Label:
Jazzwerkstatt; 071; 2009
Triophilia is a project of accordionist/pianist Alan Bern, guitarist Michael Rodach and trumpet and flugelhorn player Paul Brody. Three top musicians with lot of experience in several styles, especially in jazz. On this album they recorded eleven compositions all written by one of the band members. Their intense way of playing and strong composing makes this album a real treat to listen to. I’m impressed by the trumpet and horn solo’s that have a warm feeling. Interesting how they manage to create the right balance between two outspoken instruments as the accordion and the trumpet/horn. These musicians know how to dose their music to create the right sound and give each other space to show their quality. With classical themes and sometimes some roots influences this is an interesting jazz album that deserves a (short) review, even in a folk magazine.
www.bernbrodyrodach.com
Eelco Schilder


V/A "Ein Abend für Rasmus Storm" [DVD Video]
Label:
folkBALTICA; 2009
The German/ Danish festival folkBALTICA has a strong reputation and is considered as one of the nicest festival in the Northern part of Europe. They released a DVD with recordings of a live concert on April the 26th 2009 in the St. Marienkirche in Flensburg. The theme of the evening is the Danish song collector Rasmus Storm (1733-1806) and a collection of Danish, Swedish and Finnish musician play work out Storm’s collected works. The DVD is interesting because of the gathering of many known and lesser known names in folk like Harald Haugaard, Tapani Varis, Trio Mio and many others. Besides (more or less) professional musicians, there is also a presentation of the school of music in Flensburg. Musically spoken this DVD is a beauty. Nice acoustic folk recordings of high quality. Beautiful melodies, fast dances and all played at a high level. Nice how the music school students play an overwhelming violin part. The production of the DVD is unfortunately amateurish. The concert is filmed almost constantly from one point in the church which gives the film a static character and at two moments I’m looking at musician sitting in a row, looking into the church where somebody is singing and the other moment the students arrive with their violins. I don’t mind this for ten seconds, but looking at a stage were nothing happens for about three minutes is at least a strange experience. But besides that this DVD has enough to offer to all those who are interested in traditional music from Denmark and further north.
www.folkbaltica.de
Eelco Schilder


Zugluft "13 collagen für U"
Label:
Narrenschiff; 2009053; 2009
Zugluft is a Swiss trio on clarinet, accordion and percussion. This is the bands second album and includes thirteen new compositions. All three have experience in several styles including Klezmer, jazz, folk and rock styles. This album is a nice combination of Klezmer influenced melodies with jazz, chanson and mid European styles. On Chanson d’enfer they invited singer Ines Florin to sing with her deep voice which is in nice contrast with the more frivol sound of the accordion and clarinet. It’s an easy going album with nice ‘light footed’ music although a tune like Riss im horizont has a slight dark edge. Nice how they reach a modern-beat sound with acoustic instruments only in this. Also their composition with violinist Andrea Kirchhofer is a more explicit than other tracks because of the raw violin part and the way the trio anticipates on this. Zugluft follows the right course and develops their own musical identity more and more. Interesting to follow in future and to enjoy today.
www.zugluft.net
Eelco Schilder


Jienat "Mira" [CD & Blue-ray]
Label: Own label; 2009
When last December I was listening to the album Daja by the Norwegian band Jienat, I wondered what became of this band which I liked so much. Only a few days later I got an email from Andreas Fliflet, the main force behind the band, asking If he could send me their latest album. I think you understand that I didn’t say no and within three days the postmen brought a beautiful designed double cd/blueray album with high tech music from upper North. This is what I liked from the first moment, Jienat always follows a different course than other similar groups. The nice blue box contains the new album two times. First on audio CD and second disc on Blue ray in 5.1 surround. As you might guess the sound quality of the album is superb and this digital piece of art is perfect to reflect the ice cold music the band plays. Eleven new compositions by Fliflet, often minimalistic with vocals, bass, percussion only. Those songs are strong in their soberness, with intriguing rhythms and Fliflet singing as if he is standing alone on a snowy mountain, talking to himself. On some tracks he is joined by a female joik singer and he jumps into the world with occasional some light African or South-American influences. All this without losing the typical Jienat 2009 sound, minimalistic and pure. Mira is an intriguing album with interesting Nordic music with some southern influences. Flieflet succeeded to record his music in such a way that the way of producing and recording supports the atmosphere of his compositions. A new step in the history of Jienat and again a surprising one.
www.jienat.com
Eelco Schilder


The Wishing Tree "Ostara"
Label: Intact Records; 2009
Ten years after their first release “Carnival of Souls” singer and lyricist Hannah Stobart from California and songwriter and Marillion guitarist Steve Rothery (guitars, bass, keyboards) from rural Buckinghamshire, England, have written, recorded and produced eight new songs for their follow-up album “ostara”. Each of them has written as well as recorded his part in his own place and some additional recordings of drums (Paul Craddick), backing vocals (Jo Rothery), keyboards and percussion (Mike Hunter) were added in England.
The title track starts with Hannah’s alluring voice, Steve’s great playing and Paul’s intoxicating rhythm. Fine guitar solos and hauntingly beautiful singing are the earmarks of the duo. Hannah’s voice as well as the beautiful melodic songs remind me of Kate Bush while the guitar sound is rather Hard Rock style. “Hollow Hills” is a fantastic tender song with guitar, piano, percussion and Hannah’s brilliant singing and “Seventh Sign” stands out with bluesy Americana sound. The CD ends with the beautiful Rock ballad “Kingfisher” and the final love song “Soldier”.
The Wishing Tree is an interesting project that has been born on two opposite places of our world and the outcome is a hauntingly beautiful album somewhere between Rock, Pop and Folk music. Hopefully it won’t last another ten years to hear more of their music .
www.thewishingtree.com
Adolf 'gorhand' Goriup


Catie Curtis "Hello Stranger"
Label:
Compass Records; 2009
Catie Curtis hails smoothly from Nashville, Tennessee, with her latest project produced by Garry West. Together with some of the finest local musicians she recorded new versions of five of her well known original songs as well as six brilliant cover versions.
Catie starts off with her tender and passionate singing on “100 Miles”; Alison Brown’s awe-inspiring banjo playing and Stuart Duncan’s fine fiddling make it my favourite song. Then she sings classic Country tunes like “Walking on a Wire” (R. Thompson) or the rhythmic title track by A. P. Carter featuring a great duet with Mary Gauthier. The band also includes Kenny Malone on drums, Todd Phillips on acoustic bass, George Marinelli on guitars and mandolin and Darrell Scott’s backing vocals. Another highlight is their playing together and Catie’s hauntingly beautiful singing on “Be sixteen with me” (D. White). Soft ballads like “Dad’s Yard”, bluesy songs like “Passing through” and the rhythmic “Saint Lucy” complete the amazing program.
Catie Curtis ninth album “Hello Stranger“ is one of the finest Americana albums I’ve heard. Brilliant musicianship, wonderful singing and a fine choice of great original and covered songs make it stand out of the mass of new recordings.
catiecurtis.com
Adolf 'gorhand' Goriup


John Jones "Rising Road"
Label:
Westpark Music; 2009
After 30 years as lead singer of the Oysterband John Jones teamed up with friends to produce his solo album „Rising Road“. He already introduced it to his fans on a small tour in spring walking from his home in the Welsh Borders 200 miles from venue to venue. Together with his band mates Alan Prosser (guitars) and Dil Davies (drums, percussion) and Seth Lakeman (tenor guitar, fiddle, viola, vocals), Benji Kirkpatrick (acoustic guitar, mandolin, bouzouki, piano, vocals), Ian Kearey (banjo, dulcimer), Rowan Godel (vocals), Sophie Walsh (harp), François Deville (pedal steel guitar) and producer and multi instrumentalist Al Scott he recorded five new self-crafted songs and seven traditional songs.
Jones has a beautiful voice and his singing doesn’t need a big Line-up to accompany him. Thus he starts the CD with two nearly a capella performances: His original song “Let me fall” is a dramatic song with steady guitar licks, fine piano playing and electronic effects and the traditional “Polly on the Shore” stands out with terrific polyphonic singing and intoxicating rhythm. In spite of the pack of excellent musicians, the arrangements are rather simple like on Jones’ guitar accompanied “Walking through Ithonside” or on the traditional “Rocks of Bawn”; Prosser, Kearey, Kirkpatrick and Lakeman (viola) bedazzle the latter with their string instruments. Godel sings a hauntingly beautiful duet with Jones on “Searching for Lambs” and fiddle, mandolin and guitar fuel “One Morning in the Spring” with their rhythmic playing. “Fire Marengo” stands out with awesome Choir singing as well as with brilliant fiddling and mandolin playing and Walsh embellishes “One Night as I lay down” with her beautiful harp playing. The CD ends with the Oysterband song “Boy in the Window” and the traditional ballad “Newlyn Town”.
For me Jones’ solo debut is one of the best albums released in 2009. The traditionals are well chosen, the original songs are great, the musicians are first class and last but not least Jones is one of the best male singers I’ve ever heard.
www.myspace.com/johnjonesoyster
Adolf 'gorhand' Goriup


Dan Krikorian "Colors and Chords"
Label: Own label; 2009
When I think of college basketball players successfully going into music, I first think of the late, great Wayman Tisdale. Dan Krikorian did not become anywhere near as famous on the court, but like Tisdale, is headed full-time into playing music after hanging up his sneakers. No jazz here, just good California singer-songwriter styled pop songs. Krikorian sings and plays guitar. He is supported by an additional guitar, a rhythm section, and keyboards. There are some lush arrangements as well, but as Krikorian co-produced and self released this album, I will presume it is exactly as he wants it. And he succeeded with an excellent sound. The music is solid and Krikorian’s voice is good. I preferred the deeper songs, as his soft voice can be quite emotive and bring forward his songs nicely. The breezier songs and rockers suffer from a lack of variation in singing. There was the lacking propulsion that is needed to place the listener into a more assertive place. A good record, but more of a medium range jump shot as opposed to a slam dunk.
www.dankrikorian.com
David Hintz


J.D. Souther "Rain – Live at the Belcourt Theatre"
Label: Slow Curve Records; 2009
J.D. Souther was a mere 63 years old when this was recorded, although it seems he has been around longer than that. I remember the days when he lead the Souther-Hillman-Furay band which lasted all of two albums. Even more fame came as a songwriter for the Eagles and Linda Ronstadt. But he was always a good performer in his super-group or as a solo act. Considering his long run, his voice is surprisingly strong and clear and the real highlight of this live recording. The band is mostly jazz in a blues-rock base. The recording is clear and mixed well. The mastering is a little lazy as song breaks are akin to someone running a live tape, pressing pause and record between songs with a noticeable gap mid-applause (just like I would do if I was making a CD-R quickly). There are six songs here, all of which sound great, but the problem with this release is that four of these songs are on “If the World was You”, a live album released in 2008. That album has this same band plus some guests and has eleven songs total. The two new songs here are “Silver Blue” and “New Kid in Town” (well, not so new). As this is a good album, I would recommend it for completists or for people who really want to hear this band’s version of his hit song co-written by a couple of his more famous Eagle buddies, Don Henley and Glenn Frey. If you have the previous live album, you should be happy with that.
www.jdsouther.net
David Hintz


Georg Schroeter & Marc Breitfelder "Sugar & Spice"
Label: analoghaus; 2009
Schroeter leads the duo on keyboards and vocals with Breitfelder offering up tasty harmonica licks throughout. Countless (well, fourteen) guest musicians fill in for a full band sound of light bluesy rock-based music. There are only five original songs written by either of the duo here. They blend in with some classic blues songs and a couple of John Fogerty songs. There are some nice performances amidst the 14 songs, but the music is quite safe and sanitary. If I want to hear someone tackle Willie Dixon’s “I Just Want to Make Love to You”, I would rather hear Foghat mangle it in their inimitable style rather than the treatment here. Although the electric guitar work is good, the singing is only a bit bluesier than that of any average lounge singer. Sonny Boy Williamson’s “Blue Bird Blues” works best as it has a far more authentic feeling than much of the other material. Singers weave in and out and there are some style shifts, but overall there is a very simple safe approach to the blues at work here.
www.bluestour.de
David Hintz


Kieran Kane "Somewhere Beyond the Roses"
Label: Dead Reckoning; 2009
There are three main centers of music in the USA at present: Brooklyn, New York; Austin, Texas; and Nashville, Tennessee. Brooklyn features thousands of bands. Austin has an eclectic mix of many styles of bands and singer songwriters. Nashville has the songwriters, session musicians and some established bands mostly in the country genre. Kieran Kane comes out of Nashville and veers well away from the established country scene. He has an Americana style that is more rooted in folk with some blues and jazz overtones. Kane plays banjo and sings in a simple clear voice that sometimes slides into near talking in a story telling mode. He is supplemented by guitar, drums, and baritone sax. The sound is solid but there is room to breath and it creates an effective atmosphere for his good songs. The album plays through very well from end to end with the highlights being “Way Down Below”, “Marriage of Convenience” and “Anybody’s Game”. Kane captures a nice place in my listening universe between David Ackles and David Eugene Edwards (Woven Hand, 16 Horsepower) with a spot closer to Ackles. A very nice record here by a true artist in many areas, evident by the fact that his main website (www.kierankane.org) is devoted to his paintings.
www.myspace.com/kierankane
David Hintz


Jude Davison "Circo de Teatro"
Label: Own label; 2009
This work is a rock opera or song cycle with a study of characters and the lifestyle of the travelling carnival. The carnival has long been an interesting palette to work on and has had great works of art including Ray Bradbury’s “Something Wicked This Way Comes” and Tod Browning’s “Freaks”. The stories are good and the music is fun and varies from light rock to Americana with mariachi tossed in for good measure. The music is very good and sounds like a soundtrack to a play or movie, obviously because of the united theme, but also due to Davison’s style. He plays all the core instruments and is supplemented by some musicians playing brass and percussion. Davison has a long history of interesting projects in production and song writing that aspire to more than just a collection of songs. This work is ultimately successful and will hopefully will gain an audience.
www.judedavison.com
David Hintz


V/A "La Route de la Soie – Silk Road"
Label:
Airmail Music; 2009
The theme for this collection of music is the connecting countries along the ancient Silk Road made famous by Marco Polo. This disc begins with music from China and ends in Greece with stops in seven countries in between. Each country has two songs with one excellent song from Iran. All music is traditional and mostly instrumental aside from some chants and an occasional lead vocal. The music is pretty lively throughout which makes it an enjoyable listen. The Armenian music had a nice droning quality to it and there were some psychedelic moments in the manner of what Brian Jones tried to bring out in “The Pipes of Pan at Jajouka”. I would always recommend some world music in everyone’s collection and this is a nice place to start or to supplement your collection.
www.airmail-music.com
David Hintz


Taschakor "Ravensnest"
Label: Own label; 2009
This band is primarily a solo project by Ralf Neumann who writes all the songs, sings, plays guitar, drums and keyboards. His band mates include Erich Manfeldt on bass and Sabine Altenschmidt who is not credited with anything specific on this release. Their website lists them as a three piece with the first two members and a drummer. The band is augmented with additional drums, viola and cello. It is pretty straight forward mid-tempo rock music with a focus on the song and not any virtuoso playing. The band is German, but all lyrics are sung in English. Too much of the time, the music was safely middle of the road without a lot of flair. There were some exceptions such as “Out of Focus” and “Silver Lining” which had a nice punch in the songs and reminded me of mature Jethro Tull rock songs. “Berlin ’86” had some tasty guitar work as well, so there were some nice touches within this release.
www.taschakor.de
David Hintz


Grand Atlantic "How We Survive"
Label: Laughing Outlaw; 2009
I was reading a review of a live show I attended featuring The Church from Australia with Adam Franklin (Swervedriver) opening. The reviewer felt there was too big a gap between the jangly power pop of the headliner with the light intricate shoegaze/psyche of the opener. This brings me to Australia’s Grand Atlantic who I feel would have been the perfect transition between the bands at that show. Grand Atlantic’s songs are very catchy and in a modern pop style. Some songs have a lush shoegaze feel, while others rock ahead steadily. Songs like the title track and “These are the Times” have a real epic feel with strong detailed arrangements that are like some lost soundtrack to an urban western. They remind me a bit of the Kinks when Ray Davies was writing cinematically. This band is spending some time in the western USA before making a pilgrimage to the South by Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas where bands migrate every year in hopes of breaking through. A gutsy move for an Australian band, but based on this release, this band has the chops to make it. I will be pulling for them.
www.grandatlantic.org
David Hintz


Christine Lavin "Cold Pizza for Breakfast"
Label: Yellow Tail Records; 2009
Christine Lavin is a veteran folksinger and guitarist with 20 CDs to her credit. She also is a writer and very active in a wide variety of music related activities (cooking, sewing, comedy, etc.). It would be hard not to enjoy her music on some level. She writes smart, clever songs with humor, history and great observations—pretty much the hallmarks of most folksingers that make a go of it. The music is pretty much all her singing and playing guitar with just a bit of strings and bass filling out the sound some. There is an excerpt from an upcoming memoir (or mem-wha as it is here) and a bonus live track of one of here funnier songs, “Good Thing SHE Can’t Read my Mind”. My favorite track was “Attractive Stupid People” which was about one of the worst US Presidents, Franklin Pierce. Of course, this song, like many others has a lot more to say about issues beyond a forgotten president. This is an enjoyable listen on its own, but also has me interested in seeing Ms. Lavin in a live performance where I think she would be in full command of an audience.
www.christinelavin.com
David Hintz


Allan Taylor "The Endless Highway" [DVD Video]
Label:
Stockfisch Records; 2009
This is a lovely straight-forward documentary about a talented English guitarist who is not often thought of with the Grahams and Janschs of English folk. That is a shame because Allan Taylor has an excellent body of work and has a fluid style that is easy to enjoy. Although his story does not have the dramatic power of say Nick Drake or Roky Erickson, thankfully his life has been a lot cleaner than their lives were. Allan Taylor wrote the narration and tells his history of a travelling guitarist from Brighton to London to New York to Brussels to Paris and then on again to the next hotel room. Years ago, I bought his first album “Sometimes” from a collector friend and have returned to it many times since while also purchasing his many future releases. Taylor’s music has always provided such a solid framework for the listener--steady, creative with a story to tell. This film does a nice job of alternating between his travels, his life style, the musical history and beat influences and even some wonderful technical bits such as how he fleshed out his song “Piaf” by showing a simple arrangement, then an intermediate on and on to his final more complex arrangement. Then it is back on the road with performances in between. There is enough quality to the filmmaking and enough interesting passages to make this film of interest to anyone who likes folk music and finger style guitarists.
www.allantaylor.com
David Hintz


V/A [Samplers, EP's & Demo CD's]

The Beer Mats "Peace one day in time" (EP): 4 tracks EP from an Irish folk ballad quartet from Ballyfermot founded in 1993: 2 songs by Brendan Phelan, one of them co-written by the band's singer Colm Gibbons, a whistle instrumental by the band's flutist Tono Brennan, and the title track from Ballyfermot's Finbar Furey (FW#35).
www.thebeermats.com, www.peace-one-day.com

Plantec "Live": FolkWorld received a 'burned' CD which might have to do with the announced double CD/DVD recorded live at the Festival Yaouank in 2008. Plantec being a young band from Britanny mixing bombarde and biniou with electronics and electric guitars (FW#32, #35).
www.plantec.new.fr

Lindsay Sugden & The Storm "Lindsay Sugden & The Storm" (EP, 2009): 4 tracks EP from Scottish singer-songwriter-guitarist featuring fragile vocals, ethereal acoustic music (cello, glockenspiel, djembe) and lyrics between innocence and perdition. An album is announced for 2010.
www.secretcds.co.uk, www.myspace.com/lindsaysugden

V/A "Indies Scope 2009" (Sampler, MAM458-2, 2009): Czech's premier label introduces new recordings by Tomas Kocko (#32), Jiri Pavlica (#36) and Hradištan (#33), Zambosi (#32), etc. Watch out for reviews of Al-Yaman (#31), BraAgas, Ida Kelarova and Tim Eriksen (#29) in the next FolkWorld issue!
www.indies.eu

V/A "Kirkelig Kulturverksted - The No1 Norwegian Label" (Sampler, NNCD 30, 2010): Kirkelig Kulturverksted label (KKV) started in 1974, a genre-crossing company, featuring lately the likes of Mahsa Vahdat & Mighty Sam McClain (#41), Kari Bremnes (#39) and Knut Reiersrud (#30).
www.kkv.no

V/A "100% Music Songwriting Contest 2009" (Press Sampler): 9 tracks from the 9 winners of a songwriting competition (from more than 1,500 entries), featuring acoustic music (Lisa Jaeggi), world music (Benjamin Violet ), pop, rock, jazz, hiphop ...
www.100-music-songwriting-contest.com


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© The Mollis - Editors of FolkWorld; Published 03/2010

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