FOLK YOURSELF

Bardou - Qui Fait Souffler Le Vent (Belgium 2002) @320

2012-01-31T00:02:00.001-02:00

Most attractive and unrivalled duo Bardou mixes traditional music with original compositions in medieval, celtique and classic styles.

01. Troubadour's Odyssey: Prelude
02. Troubadour's Odyssey: Carolan's Welcome
03. Troubadour's Odyssey: Dream Song
04. Troubadour's Odyssey: Sunrise Jig
05. Blind Mary
06. Slack Tide
07. Whales Spout Jig
08. Amazing Grace
09. Qui fait souffler le vent
10. She Moved Thru The Fair
11. Wild Mountain Thyme
12. Greensleeves Suite
13. Aezenn Vor
14. Scarborough Fair

Kornel - Nyckelharpa
James Kline - 11-strings arch guitar
guests:
Anna Sureda - voice
Ariane de Bièvre - flutes, whistle, percussions
Ariane Plumerel - violin
Nicolas Boseret - uillean pipe, low whistle
André Klenes - double bass

Snaarmaarwaar - Snaarmaarwaar (Belgium 2009) @320

2012-01-20T22:00:00.002-02:00

Originally ripped by Yojik

For 5 years now, the Snaarmaarwaar lads have been working their way through the musical landscape. With their mix of own compositions and traditional tunes they appeal to a very broad audience, from thoroughbred folkies to lovers of the harder stuff. In recent years the band has played regularly beyond Belgian borders. During the last year they have played at Nanjing Jazz and World Festival (China), Festival des Luthiers et Maîtres Sonneurs (F), Rudolstadt (D), Kaustinen Folkfestival (Fin), Kinnersley Festival (GB), Mandopolis (F), Viljandi Folkfestival (Est), Sunrise Celebration (GB),… Their first record “Snaarmaarwaar” (2009) was very well-received and, since then, they have continued to shape their unique string sound. Where mandola and mandolin tumble fiercely over each other, the guitar holds them effortlessly together with tight rhythms and dark grooves.

01 - Kadril van Mechelen - Colonne de la Gavre
02 - Vappu
03 - Bourrée de Montserrat
04 - Hanter dro - Dance to your daddy
05 - Stone's house - Muller's
06 - Waterman's
07 - Valse sanssoucis
08 - Slekkepolka
09 - Noir et blanc
10 - Pentland
11 - Bodabourrée - Faï bon dançar
12 - Architek
13 - De warmwaterkruik

Peter-Jan Daems: mandolin
Maarten Decombel: mandola, song
Jeroen Geerinck: guitar
Guests:
Tine Allegaert: Trumpet
Jana Van Camp: Tuba
Baptiste Argouarc'h: Fiddle
Patrick Michiels: Bodhrán
Fons Vanhamel: Double bass
Michael Horgan: Low whistle

Otabaë - Under the Pharmacy (Russia 2006) @320

2012-01-17T00:58:00.001-02:00

01 - Reels
02 - Saltarella-tarantella
03 - Bailar
04 - Polka-Naiman
05 - Jig
06 - Swedish
07 - La sansonette
08 - Lazersong
09 - Song
10 - Hit
11 - Waltz Petrova

Alexey Belkin: Galician bagpipe, shuttle pie
Dmitriy Shikhardin: Fiddle
Alexey Skosirev: Acoustic guitar
Petr Sergeev: Darbuca
Svetlana Kondesjuk: Galician bagpipe, flute

Guests:
Nataljia Visokikh: Violin
Roman Stankov: Irish buzouki

Alambic - Tournée Générale (France 2004) @320

2012-01-09T22:40:00.000-02:00

Originally ripped by Yojik

With this second album, Alambic offers its own sound in the french "bal folk" spirit. The music is crafted with 100% compositions from the band, original arrangements with a strong rythm section, but always keeps in mind the shape of traditional dances.Thus the challenge is to please both audience's ears and dancer's feet!

01 - La solitaire
02 - Lofoten lights
03 - Polka fébrile
04 - La route du phare
05 - Avis de tempéte
06 - La scoumoune
07 - Tintagel - Dancing spirit
08 - Camisole
09 - Jour et nuit mélès
10 - La grande traversée
11 - Comme là-bas - danse des jumeaux
12 - Gentiane et prunelle
13 - Ya aini

Jean-Pierre AUFORT: violin, mandolin
Julien COUPEY: flutes
Rémy MASSE: guitar
Lionel TESSIER: bouzouki, drums
Guest
Denis CHOULIER: diatonic accordion

Serras - Ø (2008 DEN) @320

2012-01-05T21:40:00.001-02:00

Originally ripped by Yojik

In December 2008 the fourth album was published. The album is entitled “Ø” - the Danish word for island. The new album has been created at five sessions at Brundby Hotel in the Danish island Samsø during the last three years. The band brought at bunch of microphones and some recording equipment and composed and recorded in the hall of the old hotel. The surroundings, the tranquility and a very relaxed mood have had a huge impact upon the music. Most of the new tunes on the new album are far more subdued compared to the earlier albums of Serras. Still there is music with the powerful expression that has always been a trademark of Serras.

Serras has got the line-up as when the band was formed. This means that is has been possible to develop a sound that has become very personal and that still is heavily influenced by the very different musical styles of the single band members.

01 - Setesdal
02 - Motorvej
03 - Grund-Danmark
04 - Dødninge Menuet
05 - Liflig
06 - Stines Vals
07 - Zorrø
08 - Arendal
09 - Ø
10 - Københavns Kanal
11 - Å

Sune Rahbek : Drums
Harald Haugaard : Fiddle
Sune Hånsbæk : Guitar
Mads Riishede : Bass
Hans Mydtskov : Saxophone

Tref - Accordéon Diatonique (2001 Belgium) @192

2011-12-28T21:12:00.005-02:00

What happens when three of the best folk accordeonists of Belgium come together in a band? The result is stunning and makes a surprisingly highly enjoyable listen. Either there is a trend in the Flemish scene to start one-instrument bands (see Trio Viool review!), or the one band got inspired by the other...

Tref are Wim Clays (Ambrozijn, Olla Vogala), Didier Lalo (Pantha Rei) and Bruno Le Tron, plus the odd non-accordenist which is Frédéric Malempré on percussion and berimbeau. The music of Tref is pan European, taking a lot of inspiration in Sweden and Norway (where quite a few of their tunes have their origin), along to the influences from France, Flanders and whereever...

Whoever thinks accordeons are boring, get this album, and you will change your mind. Tref's music is inspiring, it is in no way an accordeon orchestra sound, but innovative modern and lively folk music. It is really fun to listen to this CD, a wonderful collection of tunes (trad, self composed and by other musicians) played in a delightful way. The musicians show not only in their music a sense of humour; their sleeve notes are a wonderful funny mixture of Flemish and French (like the notes of "Walsque": Hé wilde met mij in duo spelen? - Oui. Meer inspiratie was er niet nodig voor dit walsque. 'Ce n'est pas du vent.')

A lot of talent, atmosphere, taste - I loved this album.

01. Pasopvoordetrap! (7:23)

02. Walsque (4:02)

03. La croisière jaune (3:26)

04. Sleepy Pål Karl (5:20)

05. Allez, bourrés! (4:29)

06. Scottische en neige (3:42)

07. Ikea-Sofia (6:12)

08. Valse hésitation (2:49)

09. D'ar Gheivh (2:28)

10. La petite Jaune (3:03)

Wim Claeys: Accordéon diatonique

Didier Laloy: Accordéon diatonique

Bruno Le Tron: Accordéon diatonique

Frédéric Malempré: Percussion, batas.

Déanta - Déanta (1993 Ireland) @320

2011-12-10T22:48:00.001-02:00

Déanta (pronounced: Jaunt-a) is one of the top traditional Celtic bands in Ireland. Formed in Northern Ireland's County Antriam, the group is known for its tight, ensemble, playing and the crystalline vocals of All-Ireland champion singer Mary Dillon. According to Irish Music Magazine, "Unlike some of the other guns currently making waves on both sides of the Atlantic, Déanta have not gone down the well worn route of 'give it a dose of rocket fuel, foot to the floor, out blast The Bothy Band and divil the pillion passenger".

In his liner notes for Déanta's self-titled 1993 album, Jackie Dixon took a similar view, writing, "The old values inherent in traditional music are held intact and are never under threat from modern influences that the band judiciously introduce into their repertoire."

The musical foundation of Déanta was furnished by Katie O'Brien, who played fiddle and viola, and her brother, Eoghan, who played guitar and harp. The original group also featured Paul Mullan (flute, whistles), Clodagh Warnock (bouzouki, fiddle, bodhran, percussion) and Mary Dillon (vocals, synthesizer, guitar, harp). By the time that they released their second album, Ready for the Storm, in 1994, Mullan had been replaced by Deidre Havlin and Rosie Mulholland (keyboards, fiddle) had been added.

Although they were one of the best selling acts on the Green Linnet label, each musician maintained a day job and the group toured rarely. In early 1998, Deanta announced that they were disbanding.
~ Craig Harris, Rovi

01. The Flight Of The Termite 3:22
02. The Green Fields Of Canada 4:33
03. King Of The Blues 3:17
04. Cold Grey Fairyland 3:31
05. Willie Taylor 3:50
06. Harp Airs 5:21
07. Thousands Are Sailing 2:59
08. Gravelly Groove 3:08
09. Dark Iniseoghian 5:17

Kate OBrien: Guitar, Viola
Paul Mullan: Flute, Whistle
Clodagh Warnock: Bodhran, Bouzouki, Percussion
Eoghan O'Brien: Guitar, Harp
Mary Dillon: Vocals, Harp, Synthesizers

Déanta - Ready for the Storm (1994 Ireland) @320

2011-12-08T22:37:00.001-02:00

The storm has hit -- the eagerly awaited second album from Déanta, featuring the lead vocals of Mary Dillon, is here and is more impressive than ever. Mary lends her crystalline voice to standout renditions of "The Lake of Pontchartrain," "Culloden's Harvest," and the title track, "Ready for the Storm," written by Scots singer-songwriter Dougie MacLean. Inventively arranged instrumentals, performed on harp, fiddle, flute, guitar, keyboards and more, are also a hallmark Déanta. Ready for the Storm is an absolutely stellar achievement, capturing one of Ireland's youngest and highly talented traditional bands in peak performance.

01. The Mighty Clansmen
02. The Landsdowne Lass
03. The Lakes Of Pontchartrain
04. An Raibh Tú Ag An gCarraig
05. Hammy's Jigs
06. Culloden's Harvest
07. Let The Hair Sit
08. The Maid That Sold Her Barley
09. Eleanor Plunkett
10. The Party
11. Ready For The Storm
12. The Rocky Reels
13. The Benedy Glen

Mary Dillon: Vocals
Dave Early: Percussion
Deirdre Havlin: Flute, Whistle (Instrument)
Niall Martin: Cello, Keyboards, Mixing, Producer
Rosie Mulholland: Fiddle, Keyboards
Eoghan O'Brien: Guitar, Harp
Kate OBrien: Fiddle, Viola
Clodagh Warnock: Bodhran, Bouzouki, Chimes, Fiddle

Capercaillie - Sidewaulk (1989 Scotland) @320

2011-12-03T15:56:00.001-02:00

The album that brought Capercaillie to international prominence, Sidewaulk must be considered a classic, and a turning point for traditional Celtic music. This is the album that opened up a generation's ears to the perfect combination of tradition and youth.
Featuring the voice of Karen Matheson, the instrumental wizardry of Manus Lunny, with production by his famous brother Donal Lunny, Sidewaulk dared to take the music where it had never gone before.

01 - Alasdair Mhic Cholla Ghasda
02 - Balindore
03 - Fisherman's Dream
04 - Sidewaulk Reels
05 - Iain Ghlinn' Cuaich
06 - Fosgail an Dorus / Nighean Bhuaidh' Ruadh
07 - The Turnpike
08 - Both Sides the Tweed
09 - The Weasel
10 - Oh Mo Dhùthaich

Karen Matheson: Vocals
Marc Duff: Recorder, Whistles, Bodhran
Mánus Lunny: Bouzouki, Guitar, Vocals, Wind Synthesizer
Charlie McKerron: Fiddle
John Saich: Bass, Guitar, Vocals
Donald Shaw: Accordion, Keyboards

Vujicsics - Vujicsics (1988 Hungary) @192

2011-11-26T13:26:00.001-02:00

Re-uploaded

There was a brief period in the late 1980s when eastern European music seemed to be flavour of the month among the UK's burgeoning world music fraternity. Groups such as Muzsikás and The Trio Bulgarka performed here and had albums released on British labels. Vujicsics were also part of this mini explosion of interest and Hannibal Records put out this album having licensed the recordings from the legendary Hungaroton label.

Vujicsics are an interesting band. Named after the composer and musicologist Tihamer Vujicsics they share his passionate interest in the folk music of the ethnic minorities of southern Hungary. So this is a Hungarian band who are perhaps best known for playing Serbian or Croatian folk music. In the case of this album it is the former musical tradition that provides the material. The six band members play a wide range of stringed and woodwind instruments and are joined by four female singers including Márta Sebestyén.

Part of the fascination with this music comes from the simple geography of the region. Whilst Hungary belongs very much to the block of 'central' eastern European countries, Serbia - by contrast - straddles the northern limits of the Balkans. So this is music that has its roots in very different regions. Whilst the fast-paced rhythms and violin playing may suggest eastern Hungary or Romania, the presence of instruments such as the gaide (bagpipe), sopile (shawm) and tambura point more towards south-eastern Europe.

Generally the music is characterised by a backdrop of several tamburas alongside a bass and perhaps an accordion with the lead melody played on instruments such as clarinet, ocarina or flute. The playing is fairly dynamic and although the arrangements have obviously been crafted with care they generally avoid becoming too fussy or 'pretty'. Zoltán Juhász plays the gaide on a couple of the tracks to good effect and the distinctive Balkan flavour of "Zbogom Salo" (with tarabuka accompaniment) provides one of the main highlights. It is also interesting to hear the female singers on this record who contribute a few short a cappella pieces. The voices are clear and strong, recalling Bulgarian singers but lacking the latter's unique timbre.
-the electrician-

01 - Dere
02 - Seljancica
03 - Da je visjna-Tanac-rance-Vranjanka
04 - Malo kolo
05 - Zbogom selo
06 - Svatovac iz pomaza
07 - Madarac
08 - Selom ide-Ovo kolo
09 - Sviraj zlato!
10 - Sokacko kolo
11 - Banatsko kolo-Oj savice-Mimikino kolo
12 - Aj..., sviralka

Mihaly Borbely: Clarinet, Flute, Ocarina, Sopile, Tamboura
Mirosláv Brczán: Bass, Cello, Tamboura, Tambura
Dalman Eredics: Bass
Gabor Eredics: Accordion, Concertina, Conductor, Tamboura
Kálmán Eredics: Bass
Erika Frei: Vocals
Marica Greges: Vocals
Katalin Gyenis: Vocals
Karoly Gyori: Tambur, Violin
Zoltán Juhász: Bagpipes
Márta Sebestyén: Vocals
Ferenc Szendrödi: Guitar, Tamboura

John Whelan - Come to Dance (1999 Ireland) @VBR~256

2011-11-23T03:36:00.001-02:00

English-born button-accordion virtuoso John Whelan retreats from the Celtic-world music fusion experiments of his last few albums to make a straight-ahead, traditional Irish dance record. As such, “Come to Dance” feels like something of a breather.

It’s also a relief. “Riverdance” has popularized Celtic hybrids to the point of cliché. Whelan’s exceptional technique, good taste in tunes and bandmates, and obvious love of the genre helps him skirt that trap while also avoiding the boredom common to many traditional Irish dates.

"Come to Dance” doesn’t break any new ground, but it tills the old sod pretty well.

01 — Jackie Coleman's — Bag of Spuds — Bird in the Bush
02 — The Broadstone Inn — Big Snugs — Beth Patterson's
03 — The Turning of the Season
04 — The Crooked Road to Dublin — Dinkey Dorian — Gan Aimn — The Copperplate
05 — Frances O'Neill's — Jesse and Franchesca's Miracle — Stop the Car
06 — Tracks in the Snow — The Nightlight
07 — Fernoy Lasses — The Old High Reel
08 — Queen Esther's — What Daddy — April's Polka
09 — Simone
10 — Crossing the Shannon — Man of the House — The Five Mile Chase
11 — Mary O'Neill's — Bank of Ireland — Ballinamore
12 — Bob's Garden of Earthly Delights — Broderick's
13 — Concert Reel — Flogging Reel
14 — Dowd's Favorite — O'Gorman's Salute — My Cup of Coffee
15 — Ten Penney Bit — Trip to Athlone — Gallagher's Frolics
16 — Newtown Bridge — The Kerryman
17 — Father O'Flynn — Father Tom's Wager — Lilting Fisherman
18 — Spellan the Fiddler — Gan Aimn — Deacon Harry Doyle

John WHELAN: Accordeon
Robin BULLOCK: Guitar, Cistre, Mandolin
Tom WETMORE: Bass
Jim EAGAN: harmonic
John MCGANN: Guitar, Mandolin
Cillian VALLELY: Whistle, Uilleann pipes

Capercaillie - Live in Concert (2002 Scotland) @320

2011-11-20T12:59:00.001-02:00

For a band that began life as a traditional music outfit, CAPERCAILLIE has never been afraid of venturing into new musical terrain. Through twelve studio albums and countless "live" performances in over 30 countries, the group has continued to develop and hone their craft, adding distinctive, contemporary innovations to a traditional music-based repertoire.

If sales of their studio recordings have helped carry their music to an international audience - gaining them over one million album sales worldwide and one gold and two silver discs in the UK - it is their "live" performances that have reinforced a loyal fan base around the globe. Live In Concert finally captures the magic and energy of that stage set on CD. This, however, is no backward-looking 'greatest hits live' recording. The band continues to innovate and there is a definite new 'feel' - a new energy and vitality to this recording - which reflects a subtle shift in the band's overall sound.

01 - Mo Chailin Dileas Donn
02 - Finlay's
03 - Kepplehall - Osmosis Reel
04 - Nil Si I Ngra
05 - The Miracle Of Being
06 - Dr. Macphail's Reel - Cape Breton Song
07 - The Weasel Set
08 - Inexile
09 - Iain Ghlinn' Cuaich
10 - Bonaparte
11 - The Rob Roy Reels
12 - Coisich A' Rùin
13 - Crime Of Passion
14 - The Tree

Karen MATHESON: Vocals
Manus LUNNY: Bouzouki, Guitar, Background vocals
Charlie MCKERRON: harmon
Donald SHAW: Accordion, Keyboards, Background vocals
Michael MCGOLDRICK: Flute, Whistle, Uilleann pipes
Michael MCGOLDRICK: Bodhran
Ewen VERNAL: Bass, Background vocals
David ROBERTSON: Percussion, Bodhran
Che BERESFORD: Drums

Shooglenifty - Murmichan (2009 Scotland) @VBR

2011-11-09T14:11:00.003-02:00

The progressive celtic mavericks from Edinburgh refuse to sit back on their laurels but continue to stride forward with this ambitious new double album, Murmichan.
The 12th October marks the release date of Shooglenifty’s 7th album, Murmichan, under their own Shoogle Record label. It is an epic double album that features their trademark funky sound that roots itself in traditional music. The powerhouse line of percussion, bass and electric guitar drive forward to the melody of fiddle, mandolin and banjax. “With Murmichan we were trying to fully explore the two aspects of the band with this double album” says band member Luke Plumb, “the first disc captures the energy of what we do in a ‘live’ performance and the second disc allowed us to take advantage of total creative freedom in the studio” he first disc features all new tunes that the band have been touring in the last year. On the second disc they combine some new tunes but rework some from the first disc with the help of artists like the Ensemble Kaboul and Dolphin Boy.

Listen closely to one track and samples of Jay Leno interviewing James MacAvoy about his own band which he cleverly named

Disc One:
1) The Road to Bled
2) The Dancing Goose
3) The Dotteral
4) The Ham In the Boiler
5) Clejcken the Deil
6) The Vague Rant
7) Glenfinnan Dawn
Disc Two:
1) The Wing
2) Up All Might
3) Suphur Mountain Cosmic Ray Station
4) First to Sleep
5) Johnny Cope
6) Would You Like An Olive, Wes?
7) Dolphin Delta Dotteral
8) The Road to Bled (Live)

Angus Grant - Fiddle
Luke Plumb - Mandolin
Garry Finlayson - Banjo & Banjax
Malcolm Crosbie - Guitar
Quee MacArthur - Bass
James MacKintosh - Percussion
with
Ensemble Kaboul
Dolphin Boy

Various Artists - Kerden - Cordes de Bretagne (1998 France) @192

2011-11-09T02:54:00.001-02:00

Kerden is an all-instrumental collection that emphasizes Breton musicians playing stringed instruments such as guitar, bouzouki, and bass. The disc presents a ‘Who’s Who’ of stellar Breton musicians: Roland Conq, Jamie McMenemy, Jacky Molard, Yvon Riou, Dan Ar Braz, Soig Siberil, Frank le Bloas, Jean-Charles Guichen, and so on. The pallette of styles is highly diverse, ranging from relatively straightforward takes on traditional tunes to dark and jazzy compositions. The quality of this diverse material is stunning, making ‘Kerden’ well worth many repeat listenings. Highlights include Jamie McMenemy’s solo piece ‘Margot Maria’, and Gilles Le Bigot’s exquisite fretless acoustic guitar on the tune ‘Pedenn’. Kerden was also separately published as a music book with tablature and notation for all of the pieces on the recording.

01 - Kudel (Jacky Molard)
02 - Ty Moon (Pat O'May)
03 - Take Six (Nicolas Quemener)
04 - Melen Aour (Alain Genty)
05 - Bobine (Jacques Pellen)
06 - Ar Moraer (Frank Le Bloas)
07 - Pedenn (La Prière) (Gilles Le Bigot)
08 - Marche Dardoup-Gavotte Pourlet (Roland Conq)
09 - Jenovefa (Dan Ar Braz)
10 - Dre Ar Wenojenn (Soïg Siberil)
11 - Ugia, Uhellou Glaz in April (Tangi Le Doré)
12 - En Avant ! (PSG)
13 - Ar Plac'h Nanket (Alain Leon)
14 - Margot Maria (Jamie Mc Menemy)
15 - Garzoles (Jean-Charles Guichen)
16 - Deus En-Dro d'ar Ger (Yvon Riou)

La Volée d'Castors - Migration (2003 Canada) @160

2011-10-27T23:42:00.000-02:00

The band from the Lanaudière region was formed in 1993 by Nicolas Froment, Mathieu Lacas, Martin Mailhot and Sébastien Parent. Their first album, Galant, was released in 1994.

In 1995 they were joined by Frédéric Bourgeois from Sainte-Marie-Salomé and, for the first time they performed outside the province of Quebec, at the Northern Lights Festival Boréal in Sudbury, Ontario. Réjean Brunet was added to the line-up in 1996, and for a whole year the Castors were the official musicians of a traditional Lanaudière dance ensemble, les Petits Pas Jacadiens. They also made occasional concerts in and around Montreal and Quebec City.

1997 marked a turning point for the band when they produced themselves at a world folk festival in Saint-Malo, France, in their first international performance. In 1998, their second album, Par monts et par vaux, was launched, and the Castors were invited to various radio and televised live performances which helped increase their popularity. They played for the first time in the United States in 1999 at the New Music Festival, in Vermont, and at the same time they produced a video for Belle embarquez!.

The new millennium saw them performing in concerts all across Canada and also in the United States, notably at the North American Folk Music and Dance Alliance in Cleveland, Ohio. Their third album, VDC, recorded in Saint-Calixte, was released the same year and earned the group a nomination at the Juno Awards 2000 in the Best Roots and traditional album-group.

In 2001 they went on a tour that took them across Canada, Europe, and Quebec where they collected a Félix at the ADISQ awards for the best traditional album. The following year, original member Nicolas Froment quit the band, to be replaced by Steve Boulay from Gaspésie, and again the band embarked on a European tour, in which they took part at the Hebridean Celtic Festival in Scotland and the Tonder Folk Festival in Denmark. Back in Quebec they also performed live with La Bottine Souriante and toured across the province.

In 2003 their fourth album, Migration, was released and the band toured North America, Europe, and for the first time, played in Japan, Malaysia, at the Rainforest World Music Festival, Australia, at the WOMADelaide, and New-Zealand. The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and the Vancouver Folk Festival also welcomed the Castors, who were joined that year by André Dupuis, a percussionist experienced in Cuban and Latin music.

Since 2004, the band has taken care of itself independently, and has continued to make concerts in Europe and North America. In 2005, their first live album, Y'a du monde à messe, was released. A new member, Frédéric Beauséjour, was welcomed the same year.

01 - La voisine
02 - Bonanza
03 - La palette
04 - La belle Province
05 - M’en revenant de Saint Denis
06 - Douce Amélia
07 - Prince Eugène
08 - A la volée
09 - Tristesse
10 - L’embâcle
11 - Me voilà marié
12 - Esprit de l’Est
13 - Caressons la bouteille
14 - UBC
15 - Les coucous

Mathieu LACAS: Violon, Vocals/voix
Steve BOULAY: Mandoline, Violon, Vocals/voix
Frédéric BOURGEOIS: Accordéon, Harmonica, Bongos
Frédéric BOURGEOIS: Spoons, Vocals/voix, Foot-tapping
Sébastien PARENT: Guitare acoustique, Banjo, Vocals/voix
Réjean BRUNET: Basse électrique, Vocals/voix
Martin MAILHOT: Accordéon, Bodhran, Vocals/voix.

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Greg Joy - Winds of Change (2002 Canada) @320

2011-10-22T01:03:00.000-02:00

01 - Way of the World
02 - A Reason for Music
03 - Waterfall Beach
04 - Cast Adrift
05 - Winds of Change
06 - Lost in the Shadows
07 - Synthetic Blue
08 - Impressions of the Park
09 - Spirit of Anisha
10 - Angel
11 - Searching for the Light
12 - Child of Tomorrow
13 - The Wanderer
14 - Song for Anna

Greg Joy: Guitar, Arranger, Composer, Producer
Harold Birston: Cello
Jesse Zubot: Violin
Norman Stanfield: Flute, Recorder (Tenor), Alto Recorder
Rick Kilburn: Bass (Electric), Engineer, Double Bass
Sal Ferreras: Percussion

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Greg Joy - Celtic Secrets (1995 Canada) @320

2011-10-15T04:05:00.003-03:00

Highly decorative 'folk-baroque' guitar stylings and the hauntingly beautiful sounds of flute, recorder, hammer dulcimer and viola da gamba weave a magical spell upon these enchanting traditional Britsh Isles celtic-folk melodies.

01 - Unquiet Grave (Traditional)
02 - A Maid in Bedlam (Traditional)
03 - Scarborough Fair (Traditional)
04 - The Trees They Do Grow High (Traditional guitar arr. John Renbourn)
05 - Wind Dance of the Fairies (Written by Greg Joy)
06 - Lovely Joan - The Spirit Flies Free (Written by Greg Joy)
07 - Sovay (Traditional)
08 - All Things Are Quite Silent (Traditional)
09 - Greensleeves (Traditional)
10 - Breton Dance - Douce Dame Jolie (Traditional)
11 - Sylvie (Written by Bert Jansch, arr. by Greg Joy)
12 - When I Was on Horseback (Traditional)
13 - Ancient Sojourn (Written by Greg Joy)

Greg Joy: 6-string guitar, hammer dulcimer.
Norman Stanfield: soprano, alto & tenor recorders.
Lori Pappajohn: flute.
Trevor Tunnacliffe: baroque viola da gamba.
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Corde Oblique - Volontà d'Arte (2007 Italy) @VBR

2011-10-08T02:24:00.005-03:00

This Napolitan project is a masterpiece. Riccardo, the composer, plays classical guitar and medieval lute accompanied by female voices and musicians from Ashram, Spiritual Front, Dwelling, Argine, Lupercalia. Enter a magical medieval romantic journey surrounded by fairy like female voices.

01. Cantastorie
02. Amphiteatrum puteolanum
03. Casa hirta
04. Before Utrecht
05. Atheistc woman
06. Kaiowas
07. My harbour
08. Kunstwollen
09. Panneggio
10. Cuma
11. La pioggia sui tasti
12. Olhos cinzentos
13. Piazza Armerina

Riccardo Prencipe: Classical guitars, medieval lute

Guests:
Caterina Pontrandolfo: voice (tracks 1, 2, 8)
Floriana Cangiano: voice (tr. 3)
Simone Salvatori (Spiritual Front): voice (tr. 5)
Sergio Panarella (Asrham): voice (tr. 7)
Claudia Florio (ex Lupercalia): soprano (tr. 10)
Catarina Raposo (Dwelling): voice (tr. 12)
Alfredo Notarloberti (Ashram - Argine): violin
Luigi Rubino (Ashram): Keyboards and piano
Eugenio Catone: piano (tr. 11)
Franco Perreca: clarinet and ciaramella
Francesco Paolo Manna: zarb, daf, riq, italian tamburin, sheker, caxixi, bells, cajon, darbouka, frame drum
Alessio Sica (Argine): drums
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Old Blind Dogs - The Gab o Mey (Scotland 2003) @320

2011-09-29T20:26:00.000-03:00

Old and blind maybe, but certainly not lame! Another superb album from the Dogs, with Jim Malcolm’s gorgeous vocals leading the tremendous talent. One of Jim’s greatest assets is to be able to sing even the best-known of songs, and still reveal previously missed meanings - simply because he sings the story, not the folkiness. With a night-visiting song, a sea-chanty, and a bothy ballad amongst others, Jim’s talent can be well appreciated. Wonderful music to back him up, and instrumental sets, with whistles, cittern, bass, fiddle, guitar, percussion, Galician and Border pipes. Smooth vocals, resonant instrumentals, the best of today’s Scottish folk.

01. Monymusk Lads,
02. A Wild Rumpus,
03. Bogie's Bonny Belle,
04. The Whistler,
05. The Wisest Fool,
06. Archie Beag,
07. The Breton & Galician Set,
08. Lads O the Fair,
09. Lochanside,
10. Rolling Home

Jim Malcolm (guitar, harmonica, lead vocals)
Aaron Jones (bouzouki, bass, backing vocals)
Jonny Hardie (fiddle, mandolin, guitar, backing vocals)
Rory Campbell (whistle, border pipes, guitar, harmonica, backing vocals)
Fraser Stone (drums, percussion)
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John Renbourn - Palermo Snow (2011 England) @320

2011-09-23T11:36:00.000-03:00

John Renbourn's 2011 album Palermo Snow, his first new studio recording in 13 years, finds the veteran British guitarist turning in a varied set of acoustic guitar instrumentals that go well beyond the simple designation "folk." Renbourn is joined on some tracks by clarinetist Dick Lee, who first appears several minutes into the seven-minute title tune, a Renbourn original full of textured chording and careful fingerpicking. Lee also adds melodic flavor to such later tracks as the jazzy "Ugly James" and jazz musician Randy Weston's low-key "Little Niles" (which has some of the feel of Charles Mingus' "Goodbye Porkpie Hat").
Renbourn turns classical with his guitar transpositions of Erik Satie's "Sarabande" and Bach's "Cello Prelude in G," the latter sounding like it might have taken quite a while to work out for guitar, even if it lasts less than three minutes. A bluesy style enters with Renbourn's original "Weebles Wobble (But They Won't Fall Down)" and with the closing cover of "Blueberry Hill." This is the work of a master guitarist who has taken his time to come up with a quality record.

01 - Palermo Snow
02 - Dery Miss Grsk
03 - Bella Terra
04 - Cirque D'Hiver
05 - Ugly James
06 - Sarabande
07 - Cello Prelude in G
08 - Weebles Wooble (But They Won't Fall Down)
09 - Little Niles
10 - Blueberry Hill

John Renbourn: Guitar and vocals
Dick Lee: Clarinet, Clarinet (Bass)
Nick Kukich: Guitar

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Griff - Griff (Belgium 2005) @320

2011-09-12T22:45:00.003-03:00

Originaly ripped by Yojik

The band Griff was formed by Rémi Decker and uses the skills of three virtuoso bagpipe players as a starting point (either playing solo or in polyphony), arranged in a modern, though not superficial way. Their repertoire is a balance between new composition and traditional music, using different types of bagpipes, as well as whistles and singing. Guitar, diatonic accordion and double bass provide an attentive and inventive accompaniment that adds rhythm, colour and dynamics to a band guided by intuition, rather than by conventions.

01. Carnaval
02. Rasta Pizza
03. Fils du Roi
04. Lazâr/An Dro Tortue
05. Trolska
06. A la Jolie Fille
07. Leksand
08. Bojyrlig
09. Marivonig An Dorduff
10. Aderyn Du
11. Mladja
12. Antas
13. Autumn Comes

Rémi Decker: bagpipes, whistles
Raphaël De Cock: vocal, whistles, bagpipes
Birgit Bornauw: bagpipes
Pascale Rubens: diatonic accordion
Maarten Decombel: guitar
Pieter Lenaerts: double bass
GUESTS:
Jo Zanders: percussion
Hannes Poussele: cello

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Old Blind Dogs - Tall Tails (Scotland 1994) @320

2011-09-05T22:44:00.000-03:00

'Tall Tails' is one of the best CDs produced by 'The Old Blind Dogs'. A combination of traditional songs combined with fresh new tunes makes compelling listening. The CD strikes a good balance between upbeat tempos, which will get your feet tapping if not dancing round the room, and soft ballads such as 'I'll lay ye doon love.'

The Old Blind Dogs have succeeded again in putting their own definable mark onto well-known and well-loved songs, and their rendition of 'Barnyards O'Delgaty' is one of the most memorable tracks in the collection.

Jonny Hardie's fiddle sings sweetly through the tracks, and he, along with Buzzby McMillan (bass) and Davy Cattenach (percussion)support Ian Benzie's suberb vocals. Although the line up has since changed the quartet has produced an outstanding contribution to modern scottish music. Definitely worth a listen!

01 - The Barnyards O Delgaty
02 - The Burn O Craigie - The Moon Coin Jig - Miss Isabel Blackley
03 - The Banks O Sicily
04 - The Sportsmans Haunt - Mrs Baily of Redcastle - Sherlocks Fancy
05 - A Wife in Every Port
06 - Boondock Skank
07 - The Pills of White Mercury
08 - Miss Sheperd - Sandy Grant - The Hurricane
09 - Lay Ye Doon Love
10 - Wilies Aul Trews - The Auld Reel 1 - The Auld Reel 2
11 - P Stands for Paddy
12 - The Buzzard

Ian F. Benzie (guitar, vocals)
Jonny Hardie (fiddle, mandolin, guitar, backing vocals)
Buzby McMillan (cittern, bass)
Davy Cattanach (percussion)

Carreg Lafar - Hyn (1998 Wales) @320

2011-08-27T01:51:00.000-03:00

A regular helping of traditional songs and tunes with marvellous arrangements and themes. The songs are conveyed in both traditional and contemporary harmonies. The instrumental tracks such as "Afon Yr Haf" (The Summer River) and "Llef Harlech/Aberdulais are performed beautifully with sensitive arrangements between flute, fiddle, percussion, guitar and Welsh bagpipes...(yes - we've got them too!). Overall a well arranged, well produced CD. A fine example of Welsh folk music at its best, and one I'd recommend to anyone.
"The Living Tradition magazine"

01 - Yr Hen Ferchetan
02 - Os daw fy Nghariad
03 - Blewyn Glas
04 - Lisa Lân
05 - Cariad Cywir
06 - Afon Yr Haf
07 - Mari Lwyd
08 - Llef Harlech
09 - Aberhonddu
10 - Dau Rosyn Coch

Simon O'Shea: guitars, mandola, vocals
Rhian Evan-Jones: violin, cello, vocals
Antwn Owen-Hicks: voice, bodhran, drum, whistle, Welsh hornpipe, Welsh bagpipes, percussion
Linda Owen-Jones: voice
Lawson Dando: bass guitar
James Rourke: flute, whistle
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Dalc'h Soñj - Lusk Ar Galon (1998 France) @VBR~192

2011-08-25T21:16:00.000-03:00

Originally created around a duet bombardon - accordion, which were then grafted new musicians, the group Dalc'h Sonj offers a faithful and contemporary music, inspired mainly of traditional song.
His repertoire consists mainly of areas of western Brittany . However, this album was chosen on its land of origin : Vannes area.
Roundness, depth, rhythm, Dalc'h Sonj's music is made for listen, sing, dance, and live it!

01 - Kalon an douar (marche du pays Pourlet)
02 - Hag ar blez man (kaz a-barh)
03 - Mary Jean Jan [La Mort de Jean] (Gwerz)
04 - Ar plach a vro ar c'hallaoued (hanter-dro)
05 - M'en revenant de Paris (Ballade du pays de Redon)
06 - Suite de ridées 6 temps (du pays de Redon)
07 - Na ma zimezo-me (Je me marierais)
08 - Trio - M'en revenant de noce (marche du pays Vannetais)
09 - Ti timat (Laridenn)
10 - Entre deux épines
11 - E pardon plunered (marche)

Alain LANGLOIS: accordions
Jislen AR GWILHANT: vocals
Yann-Ber AR RALLIG: bombardon, clarinet, sax
Emmanuel TRAVERS: guitar
Ronan MELEARD: biniou kozh
Guests:
Marie Claire LOUIS: vocals
Pierre LE TOUX: percussions
Mikael SEZNEC: bass
Antonin VOLSON: percussion

Cristina Pato + Mutenrohi - Misturados (2007 Spain) @VBR~192

2011-08-23T15:18:00.000-03:00

"Ten years ago I went onstage with Mutenrohi to record their first live album "You Dance" (1997). So much has happened since we wanted to celebrate, especially me, because they gave me the space needed to do what later became Cristina Pato."
Today, adapting to new audiovisual media, DVD, we wanted to repeat the experience and record everything we've done over the years... we've mixed and "Mistura" again and the result is here. Almost two hours of music that dazzle fans of Mutenrohi and shall make the repertoire that has marked the history of our careers.

01. Bag Á L´ame 5:32
02. Os Sentidos 4:04
03. Mutenrohi 4:56
04. Tolemia 3:51
05. Escuiten Señores 4:06
06. Eu en Tí 4:19
07. Tenho Sede 4:30
08. Carmiña, Carmela 4:13
09. Alalá - Muiñeiras II 6:29
10. Muiñeiras III 4:01
11. Lozana 6:56

Restarting my ProgRock blog!

2011-08-22T23:32:00.001-03:00

I'm restarting my other blog.
With a new design!
If you like Prog/Avant Prog/Fusion music, you're invited to take a look there:
Brain Damage
You're welcome!

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EmBRUN - EmBRUN (2006 Belgium) @320

2011-08-17T21:24:00.001-03:00

Original ripped by Yojik

At the high days of dance music in Belgium, musicality often seems to be lost. But EmBRUN proves that playing for dancers can also be enjoyable and is not only about swing. With 5 brilliant musicians and a whole load of instruments they can entertain both dancers and listeners. Their compositions sound very traditional and renewing at the same time and are played with lots of dynamics and energy. That’s why EmBRUN is one of the hottest and finest groups in the dance scene.

01 - Gigoloco (Jig)
02 - La Belle Dame - Hanterdrone (Hanter Dro)
03 - De Witte Lens - Taboe - Renedie (Bourrées 3 Temps)
04 - Petekindjeswals - Dépardu (Wals)
05 - Scottish Voor Johan (Scottish)
06 - Purple. L. Hurricane (Scottish)
07 - Sleeping Fingers (Cercle)
08 - Bour1 - 't Goei Doel (Bourrées 2 Temp)
09 - Yazurka 18 (Mazurka)
10 - Il Briganti - De Bus Van St. Agatha (Tarantella)
11 - Isostar (Andro)
12 - Embrun-Polka's (Polka)

Jonas Scheys: double-bass, electric bass
Toon Van Mierlo: pipes (G+C), uilleann pipes, bombarde (F), low whistle,
soprano, baritone and tenor saxophones, clarinet, diatonic accordion
Bert Leemans: chromatic accordion
Harald Bauweraerts: electro-acoustic hurdy-gurdy, synthesizer
Ludo Stichelmeyer: percussion
Guest
Philip Masure: guitar, cittern

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Old Blind Dogs - Fit? (Scotland 2001) @320

2011-08-15T17:12:00.000-03:00

Old Blind Dogs are from Scotland and were formed in Aberdeenshire in the early 1990s by classically trained fiddle player Jonny Hardie, rock-and-reggae veteran bassist Buzzby McMillan along with others who have since exited the group. Old Blind Dogs was assembled originally out of the members' love for traditional music, but with changing personnel over the course of six previous albums, the group has been branching out some, incorporating some non-traditional percussion, such as the African djembe drum.
But the group's primary focus remains on more or less traditional material, and mostly acoustic instruments. They also are very Scottish, singing a number of their songs in a Scottish dialect. The title, Fit? is also from the Scottish dialect called Doric.
It means "what?" and as the CD's booklet points out, it is often used as an expression of disbelief.
The rest of the Old Blind Dogs are lead vocalist and guitarist Jim Malcolm who has had a solo career in his own right; bagpiper and pennywhistler Rory Campbell -- a second generation piper; and Old Blind Dogs' newest addition, teenaged percussionist Paul Jennings, who despite his upbringing on the Shetland Islands plays the djembe, bongos, congas and other African and Latin American instruments, and nary an Celtic bodhrán. While their instrumentation sounds rather traditional, they are not afraid to create some interesting variations on the music in their arrangements. This CD, only their second US release includes about half instrumental pieces, and one acapella track. And while most of the music is from traditional Scottish sources, most of it is unfamiliar even to regular fans of Celtic, which in this country is usually associated with Irish traditional music.
The band's level of musicianship is exceptionally high, and despite their taking some liberties with the traditional material, they remain faithful to the basic direction and quite tasteful, while imparting a contemporary twist to the music.

01 - Is There For Honest Poverty
02 - Come A Ye Kincardine Lads
03 - Much Better Now
04 - Tramps and Hawkers
05 - Country Girl
06 - Sky City
07 - Reres Hill
08 - The Rejected Suitor
09 - Away Whigs Awa
10 - Cuilfhionn
11 - Black-haired Lad
12 - Tatties and Herrin

Rory CAMPBELL: Whistle, Bagpipe, Background vocals
Jonny HARDIE: harmon, Background vocals
Paul JENNINGS: Djembe, Congas, Percussion
Buzzby MCMILLAN: Cistre, Background vocals, Guitare basse
Jim MALCOLM: Vocals/voix, Guitare, Harmonica

2011-08-09T23:54:00.002-03:00

Dear friends, Folk Yourself needs your help again.

My amount of Rapids (Rapids are the virtual currency which has been RapidShare is developed) is valid until the end of this month.

After that I will not be able to continue paying the Rapidshare service.
For new posts I can host them in other free services, but the problem is that all the current albums are hosted in Rapidshare.
Once my account is closed, all Folk Yourself files will be deleted.
Therefore it would be interesting to continue with my account on Rapidshare.

Readers who have, like me, a Rapidshare Premium account, can send me Rapids as a donation.
For one month, the value is 990 Rapids (1 Rapid is worth Approximately 1 Cent (euro cents) or 0.01 euro).

For those friends who find this interesting form of aid, see below how to help:

To Contribute to Folk Yourself you need have a Rapidshare Premium Account.

1) Log into your Rapidshare account and go to the Tab "My Rapidsahre"

2) In the left column of your screen locate the item "Send Rapids to a friend!"

3) A window will appear to type the Folk Yourself public ID.

a) Type the amount of Rapids you want donate.
b) Type this code: 5130
c) Type your password
d) Optionaly send me a message (please, do it!).

That's it.
Maybe this way, with everyone's help, we can continue with this old blog for a long time.

Thanks,
CrimsonKing

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Irolt - Spylman (1983 Netherlands) @320

2011-07-30T11:54:00.002-03:00

Irolt was a Frisian band started in 1975 with Frisian texts on folk -like music. From the beginning, Nanne Kalma (guitars, banjo, mandolin, autoharp and vocals), the driving force. He also composed the music.
In the first occupation played - besides Kalma - Geppy Haarsma (accordion), Hans Kerkhoven (guitars), George Cutter (drums and percussion), Inez Timmer (vocals) and Aart Kuyt (singing) along. Sometimes also played with Peter Cook.
The first album by the folk group, The Sege of texts by Gudrun Sybe Krol, Tulip and Recognize Wijnalda January, immediately received national attention.
From 1980, Sijtse Wagenmakers (accordion) and Jan Ottevanger (bass, guitar and tuba) in the party.
Inez Timmer stopped in 1983 as vocalist with the legendary folk group. Subsequently Ankie van der Meer took this task.
In 1984 the LP Irolt Doarmje with GetOn set texts by the Frisian poet Berber van der Geest.
Irolt received much national recognition and also performed at folk festivals in England.
The group stopped in 1987.
Nanne Kalma and Ankie Both van der Meer subsequently formed a duo and also play Kat yn ' t Seil. Kalis plays in graveyards and in order Ottevanger ' e Noard.

01. De Spylman Yn'E Tram
02. De Jierringen
03. Hospes Tryn
04. Sy Hawwe De Macht
05. Nij Liet Op 'E Grouster Merke
06. Hoe'T De Ienhoarn Fan'E Wrâld Ferdwûn
07. Jabik Ingberts
08. Daging
09. Marij
10. Wa Sit Der Foar It Rut
11. Anne En Ymkje
12. De Wurkdei Sit Der Op
13. Marij Op 'E Mark
14. Utspraak
15. Poffe En Blaze

Sytze Wagenmakers: Accordion
Gjalt Bosma: Banjo
Jan Ottevanger: Bass, Tuba
Syb Erich: Drums [Lytse Tromme], Washboard, Hihat
Wybe Postma: Guitar
Nanne Kalma: Guitar, Trombone, Violin
Inez Timmer: Vocals, Recorder
Ankie van der Meer: Whistle, Bodhrán

Written-By:
Berber van der Geest (track 4), Fedde Schurer (tracks: 1, 3), Inez Timmer (tracks: 7 to 15), Joast Hiddes Halbertsma (tracks: 5), Nanne Kalma, Pyt Jon Sikkema (tracks: 2, 6).
Laura Tietjens: Design, Illustration

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Twalseree - Balswaree (1999 Belgium) @320

2011-07-29T01:22:00.000-03:00

First posted by Yojik

A subtle blend of traditional and original compositions, TAWALSEREE already a part of the largest traditional Flemish renewal as we like to you to discover.
With TAWLSEREE, music and dance must be understood as a source to which they feed to create, perform music of today.
Their repertoire combines research, practical and creative for the immediate pleasure of the dancer, the viewer, listener.

This album could have been taken is also 20 years ago - it offers unspectacular natural Flemish folk music, without possessing many influences from the traditions of other countries. More often I listen to this disc, the better I like it, the ease of arranging beautiful melodies and songs of the CD are a lot of atmosphere. The quartet plays including hurdy gurdy, guitar, harmonica, shawm, dulcimer, bagpipes, violin and flute, all four also sing well - in Flemish.
The songs (songs and tunes ) are written to a considerable proportion of Twalseree 's Jeremy Vervoort, and there are also some traditional and contemporary pieces.
The CD stands out due to their simplicity and honesty - this is hand-made music that offers an evening with a bottle of wine is the perfect atmosphere.

01. Alverdans en Ridee
02. Scheep gaan
03. De Langenreep
04. De Zee
05. Mazurka Trois Monts
06. Taxandria
07. Bacchus
08. Andro Babette
09. Uit de Schaduw
10. Den Luyaert
11. Hanen en Hennen
12. Schotense Scottisch

Jeremy Vervoort: zang, gitaar, bodhran, schalmei, strijkpsalter, dulcimer, draailier, blazeveer, trommel, lepels
Werner Alix: zang, klarinet, doedelzak, draailier, kromhoorn, schalmei
Ingrid Van Delden: zang, diatonische trekharmonica's, blokfluit, trommel
Fries Lefevere: zang, viool ,vedel

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Bukkene Bruse - Steinstolen (The Stone Chair) (1998 Norway) @320

2011-07-20T23:36:00.000-03:00

Four respected Norwegian musicians are featured in this band: Annbjørg Lien is a well-known young fiddler (on Hardanger Fiddle, Nyckelharpe and 'normal' fiddle), Arve Moen Bergset is known for his enchanting singing style, but also plays Hardanger and 'normal' fiddle; Steinar Ofsdal has a reputation as a flautist; and finally Keyboarder Bjørn Ole Rasch. Bukkene Bruse features on the one hand tunes mostly based on typical Norwegian fiddle music, but arranged in a up-to-date way. On the other hand there are the songs that often reflect echos of far away times; the young singer Arve has a beautiful voice with a classical singing style. Combined with flute and keyboards, this style gives the songs their very own, special and magic feeling. The keybords are always well integrated, and do not sound too heavy or discordant for accompanying the traditional pieces.
The material is partly traditional, partly self composed; and you cannot really feel which ones are traditonal and which ones not. All in all it is a fitting ensemble; just the first number sounds quite different than the rest; it is more modern arranged but anyway it is also great stuff.
The peaceful Nordic beauty, with the confounded and innovative Norwegian melodies, displayed on this album is exactly the right thing to listen to at home on cold winter evenigs.

01 - Numedalshalling (Halling From Numedal)
02 - Min Gut (My Boy)
03 - Steinstolen (The Stone Chair)
04 - Springar i dur (Springar In A Major Key)
05 - Folketone fra Sunnmøre (Folk Tune From Sunnmøre)
06 - Runarvisa (Song Of The Runes)
07 - Ein annan halling (Another Halling)
08 - Maria, hun er en Jomfru reen (Virgin Mary)
09 - Margrete
10 - Kjellstadhallingen (The Kjellstad Halling)
11 - Løvehjerte (Lionheart)
12 - Stev
13 - Kjetil
14 - Bruremarsj fra Østerdalen (Wedding March From Osterdalen)
15 - Norafjølls (The Northern Fjords)
16 - Olav Høljesen
17 - Bendik og Arolilja
18 - Fenta (Gypsy Woman)
19 - Til Sætersdal
20 - Nåvårsetermarsjen
21 - Fanitullen (The Devils Tune)

Annbjørg Lien: fiddle
Arve Moen Bergset: fiddle & vocals
Steinar Ofsdal: flute
Bjørn Ole Rasch: Keyboards

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Paul Huellou "Celtic Sounscapes - Songs from Brittany" (2000) @320

2011-07-13T10:08:00.006-03:00

The cover and the album name are pretty unremarkable, if not outright banal. But there are decent musicians there and the music is good

1 Foar Vre
2 Ar Skrilhed
3 Lokarn
4 Nevez Amzer
5 Ar Bloavezh Mat
6 Sacristian, Le
7 O Pa Oan Paotr Yaouank
8 Mesaerez AR Menez
9 Ar Gwezenn Avalou
10 Dro
11 Ar Velinerez
12 Kaeran Rozenn

Paul Huellou (vocals);

Soïg Sibéril (guitar);

Paddy Keenan (Uilleann pipe);

Colum Sands (acoustic bass);

David Hopkins (percussion)

Dremmwel "Lañs" 2006 @ 320 KBPS

2011-07-08T07:25:00.008-03:00

This very energetic fest-noz band comes from the south west of Brittany. On their album "Lañs (released in 2006) they collaborate with famous Louise Ebrel.

Good stuff. I hope the beer with the same name is equally good.

The band site is

http://www.dremmwel.com/

01. Matilin

02. Le prunier de pommes - Ridées

03. An dragon bihan

04. Troellenn

05. Taol lañs

06. Ar sac'h ler - Ibil beuz

07. Klevet - Suite Plinn - ton simpl

08. Klevet - Suite Plinn - bal

09. Klevet - Suite Plinn - ton doubl

10. Tan ha dour

11. A la belle étoile

12. Feunteun ar wasaleg

13. Stok an douar (Dañs Leon)

14. Mississipi Liger (Galop Nantais)

Minuit Guibolles - Ayé Na Donké (France 2002) @VBR

2011-06-29T17:05:00.000-03:00

Five Orleans musicians, accordion, bagpipes, violin, double bass, percussion, folk bal emerging group of French style with a resolutely progressive, open to innovative sound solutions, which takes a prominent African-derived percussion mat constructed from a virtuous Vincent Chazot is no accident that their first CD called " Aye Na Donk " invitation to dance in Mali language.

1. Les sangliers sont lachés
2. Recto Verso
3. De Caraïbes en Scylla - Défaillance Majeure
4. Saint Vincent tournante
5. Jour de pluie
6. Larry D. 8 ans
7. Entourloupe - Fausse facture
8. Ayé Na Donké

Boris TROUPLIN: cornemuse du Centre, veuze, flûtes, steel drum, bouteille d'eau.
Vincent CHAZOT: congas, djembé, tamani, karignan, klave.
Frédéric PEZET: accordéon diatonique, clarinettine, flûte, tar, oeuf.
Pascal SEIXAS: contrebasse, fender basse.

Invités :
Miquéu MONTANARO: (flûte sur 3)
Tah, Mainouna, Fatoma, Ampaté: (chant, ambiance sur 8)

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Mawaca - Pra Todo Canto (2004 Brazil) @192

2011-06-21T01:10:00.001-03:00

The Mawaca is a group that researches and recreates the music of the world's most diverse ethnic groups seeking connections with Brazilian music. Formed by seven singers who interpret songs in over ten languages (Brazilian indigenous languages, Spanish, Bulgarian, Finnish, Japanese, Hungarian, Swahili, Greek, Arabic, Hebrew, Yoruba and Portuguese), the Mawaca in your name reveals the essence of your work.

According to the ethnic Hausa of northern Nigeria, 'mawaka' (singer-shamans) use the magical power of words sung to attract the power of spirits.

In addition to the seven singers Mawaca is formed by an acoustic instrumental group that presents a multiplicity of voices, accordion, cello, flute, violin and soprano sax, bass, and percussion instruments such as Indian tablas, Derbake Arabic, African djembes, berimbau, vibraphone, marimba and pandeirões Maranhão.

The group has four CDs released by MCD World Music. They are: Mawaca CD-Plus (97); tucupira.com.br astrolabe (2000); Mawaca-Remix (Limited Edition Rock in Rio 2001), The Lusiads (soundtrack 2002). The transcriptions and arrangements of these ancient themes are performed by Magda Pucci that in addition to developing the research repertoire, is also responsible for the group's musical direction. The group prepares its fifth CD "Mawaca to everywhere!" To be released in the first half of 2004.

The Mawaca was one of the attractions of having roots in Rock In Rio 2000, participated in festivals in Spain in 2002 as the tour Etnosur when presented to more than 4,000 people, played at the World Music Festival SESC Vila Mariana, presented the spectacle Winds and Sails at the Symphony Orchestra of the RTC - Radio and Television Culture - The Lusiads in the project; Argo Navis the show premiered at the Teatro Municipal of São Paulo next to the Portuguese singer Ne Uphill; Amazônia.br playing at the event along the Indian repertoire Miranda and singers Marlui Tete Espindola and recently debuted the show in Shorashim Culture House of Israel with singer Nicole Borger, playing repertoire Hebrew.

Through a multicultural musical performance, the Mawaca reveals the alchemical element responsible for what makes a song archaic extremely attractive to contemporary ears.

01 - As sete mulheres do Minho
02 - Êh Boi!
03 - Dendê com Curry
04 - Kali
05 - Lamidbar
06 - Acometado
07 - Ankoy Té- Hotaru Koi
08 - Soran Bushi
09 - Mawaca pra qualquer santo
10 - Cangoma me chamou
11 - Tango dos chavitos
12 - Et Dodim
13 - Boro Horo - Hirigo- Bre Petrunko- Suuret Ja Soriat
14 - Salam!
15 - Asadoya Yunta
16 - Gayatri Mantra

Angélica Leutwiller (vocals),
Christina Guiçá (vocals),
Susie Mathias (vocals),
Cris Miguel (vocals),
Zuzu Abu (vocals),
Magda Pucci (vocals),
Sandra Oak (vocals),
na Eliza Colomar (cello, flute),
Armando Tibério (percussion),
Gabriel Levy (accordion),
Paulo Bira (bass),
Valéria Zeidan (percussion),
Ramiro Marques (saxophone).

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Nébeda - Flaugier. sN (Spain 2003) @192

2011-06-11T14:42:00.002-03:00

Flaugier s/n is the result of a particular way of understanding the evolution of the traditional music of universal origin and its translation into actual sounds. traditional instruments fused with other current sounds of our ancestors who must live with sounds
of our descendents.

The project Nebeda born when the core of the band, formed by musicians from the folk and traditional music, he decided to sign players from other styles, from classical music to jazz more orthodox cooler.

The result is an explosive mixture with influences of all kinds, but never lost the charm and traditional acoustic instruments. We work on re-development of folk music adapted to current times, with the eclecticism our flag. Swimming with Balkan rhythms, early music pieces, themes of our land, his own compositions... does not matter. All this is spiced with the special sauce that we make: two sides of boundless energy, a sensitivity and a freshness. Mix well and serve on stage with a good dose of humor.

The ecosystem through which it moves Nebeda is not limited to the stage Catalans, but often develops his artistic actvidad both the Iberian peninsula and abroad.

1. Geamparele
2. Els Funerals del Porc
3. Yiuk!
4. Branle 56
5. Androtex
6. Es Moli de Sal
7. Gankino Horo
8. CLXVI
9. Tul'la
10. Los Set Goigs

Pello García: Sac de gemecs, gaita galega, doedelzak, uilleann pipe, gajda búlgara, low y tin whistles, zanfona, percusiones
Pep Massana: Violín, viola y voz
Jordi de Diego: Guitarras y bouozuki
Franco Molinari: Contrabajo, bajo y teclados
Edu Cervera: Batería, cajón, talking drum, percusiones
Guests:
Albert Pintor: Sitar, oud, bases
Jordi Rallo: Tabla, udu, darbuka, percusiones
Kefree R.: Batería
Lluís Gómez: Banjo
Òscar Zanón: Mandolina
José M. Ribelles: Arpa céltica
Marc Viaplana: Bansuri

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Griff - The False Fly (2011 Belgium) @320

2011-06-09T14:54:00.007-03:00

When I reviewed the former album by the Belgium band Griff, I already showed my enthusiasm about their wonderful music. At that time a trio with all types of bagpipes, this time they added an accordionist, guitarist and a double bass to their great music. The result is a new album with thirteen, more or less, traditional songs and tunes from all over Europe and a handful of original compositions. As a sextet the band sounds better than ever before and this False fly is a serious candidate for album of the year. Again this fabulous bagpipe solos and duets backed by rhythmic guitar, strong accordion and a sober, but real effective bass. It’s amazing how this band make all these influences from several traditions sound so fresh and new. Listen to the title song and you know what I mean, or the very strong original composition by Remi Decker called How many goats which is one of the highlights on this album. A composition full of inventive twists, showing the beauty of the bagpipe and the creative brain of the composer and musicians. They even do some Joik in their personal interpretation of Mari Boine’s composition Gula gula. Very nice try with a good tribe feeling in a more spacey version than the original. With the next song Les mots it’s again Remi Decker who shows his quality as composer. Here in the best Ambrozijn tradition without being a copy, Decker knows to surprise me again with a fine blend of traditional elements, modern and creative arrangements. The album ends as it should end, the bagpipes only. With this new album Griff impresses me and at this moment, only six months from 2012, I consider this as the best folk album of this year so far.

Tracklist:

01. System 7 (Bela Fleck)

02. Visur (trad. Iceland)

03. The False Fly (trad)

04. Parpaioun (trad. France/Griff)

05. How Many Goats... (R. Decker)

06. Tourniquet (S. Salverius)

07. Sendedir (trad. Turkey)

08. Antiphone (S. Salverius)

09. Gula Gula (Mari Boine)

10. Les Mots... (R. Decker/R. De Cock)

11. Searching (trad. England)

12. Genova (R. Decker)

13. Dodeca Medita (M. Decombel)

Rémi Decker: bagpipes, whistles

Raphaël De Cock: vocal, whistles, bagpipes

Birgit Bornauw: bagpipes

Sara Salvérius: accordion

Jeroen Knaepen : guitar

Benny Van Acker : double bass

GUESTS:

Adrien Lambinet : trombone

Johan Dupont : trumpet

Mr Fox - Join Us In Our Game - 1970-1971 (England 2004) @320

2011-06-04T01:32:00.000-03:00

Originally released on the Transatlantic label in 1970 and 1971 respectively, this 2 on 1 includes Mr Fox and The Gipsy, the only two albums by the Yorkshire folk group.

Mr Fox were an early 1970s electric folk or folk rock band. They were seen as in the ‘second generation’ of electric folk performers and for a time were compared with Steeleye Span and Sandy Denny’s Fotheringay. Unlike Steeleye Span they mainly wrote their own material in a traditional style and developed a distinct ‘northern’ variant of the genre. They demonstrate the impact and diversity of the electric folk movement and the members went on to pursue significant careers within the electric folk and traditional music genres after they disbanded in 1972 having recording two highly regarded albums.

01 - Join Us In Our Game
02 - The Banged Man
03 - The Gay Goshawk
04 - Rip Van Winkle
05 - Mr.Trill's Song
06 - Little Woman
07 - Salisbury Plain
08 - The Ballad of Reddy Dick
09 - Leaving The Dales
10 - Mr.Fox
11 - Mendle
12 - The Gipsy
13 - Aint Lucy Broadwood
14 - The House Carpenter
15 - Elvira Madigan
16 - Dancing Song
17 - All The Good Times

Bob Pegg (vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards)
Carole Pegg (accordion, fiddle, vocals)
Richie Bull (banjo)
Alan Eden (drums)
Barry Lyons (electric bass, dulcimer)
Andrew Massey (cello)
John Myatt (woodwinds)
Nick Strutt (multiple instruments)

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Sean Siegfried - Backwoods (England 2011) - Free Group Promotion

2011-05-31T22:53:00.000-03:00

Free Group Promotion

Sean started his guitar studies young and by the age of nine was performing Vivaldi covers in school concerts at the Vienna International School, which he attended until he was Seventeen.

He then returned to England, and, his teenage rock phase behind him, discovered, to his delight, the unadorned but intricate playing of such masters as Bert Jansch, Nick Drake and, his particular God, Dave Evans. He found such players had taken the acoustic guitar to new territories with their invention and power to draw on a variety of musical sources, uniting Delta with Folk, Baroque with Ballad.

After three years in the Film Industry, touching upon the valuable skills of editing and sound production, gripped by the urge to compose music for himself, Sean sought refuge in rural Devon.

Sean's instrumental début, "Backwoods", is now available on CD from his website and as a digital download from Bandcamp . In this work Sean strives to combine inventive technique with his own expressive and moving interpretations.

Web Site: http://www.seansiegfried.com

Listen more tracks here
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Soïg Sibéril & Nolwenn Korbell - Red (France 2007) @320

2011-05-29T23:21:00.002-03:00

The first CD of a meeting between two Breton artists who testifies to the vitality of Breton music worldwide. Nolwenn Korbell about life, love, passion through his songs like swinging his tongue. Complicity is evident with Soïg Sibéril and his guitar magic that shares his love of music open.

01 - Bugale Breizh
02 - Valsenn Trefrin
03 - Billy
04 - Sant Ma Fardon
05 - Gourin
06 - Padal
07 - Anna
08 - Bemdez C'houlou
09 - Daoulamm Ruz
10 - Kanaouenn Katell
11 - Turn, Turn, Turn
12 - Yannig Ha Mai
13 - Glav
14 - News From Town For My Love Who

Nolwenn Korbell: Vocals
Soïg Sibéril: guitars

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The Crooked Fiddle Band (Australia) 2010 - Free Group Promotion

2011-05-25T17:07:00.004-03:00

The Crooked Fiddle Band

www.crookedfiddleband.com

First major European tour to promote their new album "Overgrown Tales"

“The Crooked Fiddle Band are completely surprising. The music is original and quixotic, and yet has the strength of some deep and strong roots. I can't say I've ever heard anything else like it!”
Brian Eno

Having built a remarkable word of mouth reputation as one of Australia's most intense live music experiences, ‘chainsaw folk’ vigilantes The Crooked Fiddle Band are set to bring their unique, incendiary sound to Europe for the first time this summer to promote their debut album "Overgrown Tales".

Driven by the beautiful and furious fiddling of Jess Randall, and underpinned by a rhythm section that blasts, rocks and grooves to the point of dementia, live performances by The Crooked Fiddle Band compel audiences into a joyous frenzy. Live their dark, ecstatic energy rips from the stage as screeches and squeals from the violin to give way to barrages from rhythm guitar, drums and double bass and the group look certain to win critical acclaim and a whole new fan base with their debut European tour.

Fresh from recording their debut long player in Chicago with legendary engineer Steve Albini (Nirvana, The Pixies, Joanna Newsom, Gogol Bordello, PJ Harvey), the band are now ready to hit the road across Europe and their no-holds-barred live shows have wide appeal – mesmerising audiences in concert halls and inciting wild scenes in underground venues.

Combining stunning musicianship with a rhythm and energy aimed straight at romantic hearts and dancing feet, the acoustic four-piece (violin, double-bass, drums, guitar/bouzouki) intertwine folk traditions with modern evolutions and have impressed all who have encountered them such Damien Dempsey who they have supported and Brian Eno, who invited the band to participate in his Luminous Festival at the Sydney Opera House.

“For us, there is a direct link between folk traditions and blast beats: it is the unstoppable energy, that intensity that hits you in the chest and forces you to move,” says The Crooked Fiddle Band’s Jess Randall. “Chainsaw folk” is our attempt to craft a new beast from these influences – coherent but mutated and we can’t wait to hit Europe hard this summer.”

After working earlier this year to capture the raw energy of their live sound, new album Overgrown Tales roams across a wide range of styles and influences yet maintains an intense, vivid energy. But whether you catch them live or on record, The Crooked Fiddle Band are set to twist the blood with their music this summer and if past reactions are anything to go by, music fans won’t even know what hit them.

What people are saying about The Crooked Fiddle Band:

“This band really is a national treasure and testament to the infinite talent that keeps manifesting in our backyard… this group has reinvented folk music as it is known” Vanessa Lahey, Australian Stage

“Crooked Fiddle Band continue their musical manifesto, rallying around the incendiary fiddle of Jess Randall to make music that will make punks tango, grandmas mosh and metal heads hoe-down.”
Lucky Oceans, ABC National Radio Australia.

“So this is what Sepultura sound like in a parallel universe where they’re a travelling gypsy band. It’s the soundtrack to a hyperactive version of ‘O Brother, Where Art Thou?’ Awesome!”
Dom Alessio, Triple J Radio

European Tour Dates:

18/06/2011 Ulmer Zelt Festival, Ulm, Germany
25/06/2011 Arteganza Festival, Amersfoort, Netherlands
01/07/2011 TFF Rudolstadt, Rudolstadt, Germany
02/07/2011 TFF Rudolstadt, Rudolstadt, Germany
03/07/2011 TFF Rudolstadt, Rudolstadt, Germany
06/07/2011 The Clipper, Camborne, Cambridgeshire, UK
07/07/2011 Jacob’s Ladder, Falmouth, Cornwall, UK
08/07/2011Wattsfest, Devon, UK
09/07/2011 The Bike Shed, Exeter, UK
10/07/2011 Chichester Festival, West Sussex, UK
11/07/2011 Lichfield Festival, Staffordshire, UK
12/07/2011 Lichfield Festival, Staffordshire, UK
13/07/2011 Hare and Hounds, King’s Heath, Birmingham UK
14/07/2011 The Fleece, Bristol, UK
15/07/2011The Garage, Kentish Town, London, UK

The Crooked Fiddle Band’s single "Countess Bathory's Finishing School for Girls" is currently available as a free download via the band's website www.crookedfiddleband.com.

For more information about The Crooked Fiddle Band, interview opportunities and to request review copies of Overgrown Tales, please contact ben@quitegreat.co.uk / 01223 403333.

Also watch The Crooked Fiddle Band here:
The Rom Rebellion: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ex-D9_TmRVg
The Milkman: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dq_4LYohOf0
Bohemian Masquerade Ball: http://www.vimeo.com/15417327

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La Bandina - "13" (2008 Asturia) @320

2011-05-22T14:03:00.003-03:00

La Bandina was first formed to re-create the music of the old-time bandinas (little bands), playing traditional music exclusively for dancing. They were known as La Bandina les 47, making reference to the 47.000 pesetas they were payed by the local Town Hall every time they performed there.
The name was shortened to La Bandina, mainly because they were the only band
using the old-time format at that moment, so it stuck. Even now, with the resurgence of the bandinas, they have kept the name.

Tracklist:
01 - Guetu nigru
02 - Gardelamoné
03 - Ala vera de Borín
04 - Ficiste la maleta I
05 - Ficiste la maleta II
06 - Valse coxu
07 - Pumba
08 - Pel puirtu
09 - Una d'oricios
10 - Sal a tiempu
11 - Nun vas sola
12 - Perlindango
13 - Danza - Dixebra

SANTI CALEYA: Saxofón, gaita, bombarda
MERCE SANTOS: Zanfona
DAVID VARELA: Acordeón, voz
PABLO PUMARADA: Percusiones
JUANJO DÍAZ: Percusiones
PEDRO CLAROS: Bajo eléctrico
AGUS LARA: Trompeta, fliscorno
TOÑO GÓMEZ: Trombón, bombardino

John Doyle - Wayward Son (2005 Ireland) @256

2011-05-21T00:22:00.000-03:00

John Doyle (b. 1971 in Dublin, Ireland) is an Irish musician and songwriter. For four years he served as acoustic guitarist with the Irish/American band Solas. He is now an active solo artist. He has written many traditional-style songs and has collaborated with the likes of Kate Rusby, Susan McKeown, Karan Casey and Heidi Talbot.

Doyle also has producing credits on several albums including Heidi Talbot's debut solo release Distant Future, renowned American fiddle player Liz Carroll's Lake Effect, and his father Sean Doyle's CD, The Light and the Half Light.

Doyle is a highly accomplished guitarist with a trademark style for backing up other musicians. A left-handed player, his style involves the use of bass string damping with the heel of the left hand combined with a constant, metronome-like strumming pattern and nimble movement up and down the neck with the right hand to incorporate bass lines and chordal variations. Combined with other dynamic techniques such as string choking with the right hand, the resulting sound is full and highly rhythmical.

01. The Gallant Poacher
02. Jack Dolan
03. The Glad Eye / The Journeyman / The Wayward Son (Jigs To Reel)
04. Captain Glenn
05. Bitter the Parting
06. Old Bush / Expect The Unexpected (Reels)
07. The Apprentice Boy
08. Tie The Bonnet / Monahan Twig / A Fair Wind / The Convenience Reel (Reels)
09. The Month of January
10. Little Sadie
11. Eddie Kelly's / Reavy's Tribute To Coleman (Reels)
12. The Cocks Are Crowing

John Doyle (vocals, guitar, bouzouki)
Kate Rusby, Linda Thompson, Tim O'Brien (vocals)
Alison Brown (banjo)
Liz Carroll, Stuart Duncan, Casey Driessen (fiddle)
Michael McGoldrick (flute, whistle)
Seamus Egan, John McCusker (whistle)
John Williams (concertina)
John Burr (piano)
Danny Thompson (bass instrument)
Garry West (bass guitar)
Kenny Malone (percussion)

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Härdellin, Hallberg, Hertzberg, Ståbi - Love Letters & Russian Satellites (Multi-national 2005) @224

2011-05-14T15:52:00.001-03:00

Four fairy-like and angelic voices, and a Swedish tour de force through the Nordic world of myths and legends. Emma Härdelin sings with Garmarna and Triakel, Katarina Hallberg with Trio Fata, Johanna Bölja Hertzberg with Ditt Ditt Darium and Kapten Bölja, and Kersti Ståby once sang with Svart Kaffe and Envisa. The tunes are arranged and interpreted in different styles, mostly modern and contemporary. Tragic love songs, lullabies, mucking songs and medieval ballads from Hälsingland: "Kråkvisan", for example, is a 17th century song that tells of the many different ways of using a shot crow. Five blankets can be made out of the feathers, the skin is good for twelve pairs of shoes, etc. "Ro, Ro Fiskeskär" is an instruction guide to fishing and distributing the catch. The title song "Två Ryska Satelliter" is a contemporary and ironic song that tells the story of the 1960's Russian satellite mission.

01 - Skämtvisa om roddare
02 - Oväntad bröllopsgäst
03 - Driver dagg faller regn
04 - Ro, ro fiskeskär
05 - Förargas ej på mig
06 - Tar du e' dellboska
07 - Två ryska satelliter
08 - Se fåglarna på dessa gröna kvi
09 - I denna ljuva sommartid
10 - En visa vill jag sjunga
11 - O, kristi du som ljuset är
12 - Två kärleksvisor
13 - Kråkvisan
14 - Lars Persson
15 - Sullan lullan litet bar
16 - Sullan lullan
17 - Gullvagnen
18 - Sov i ro
19 - Långt borst i skog

Emma Härdelin: Vocals
Katarina Hallberg: Vocals
Johanna Bölja Hertzberg: Vocals
Kersti Ståby: Vocals
Urban Andersson: Dragspel
Görgen Antonsson: Fiol & Altfiol
Jonas Olsson: Cittra & Kontrabas
Ola Hertzberg: Nyckelharpa & Kontrabas
Tomas Lindberg: Gittar, Mandola, Bosoki

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Imogen Harper - Charcoal Heart [EP] (Australia 2010) @256 - Free Group Promotion

2011-05-10T11:54:00.003-03:00

Free Group Promotion

At just twenty one, Imogen Harper is a woman to be reckoned with. There’s the fact she’s been playing piano for more than half of her life, started songwriting when fourteen and made her live debut a bare year later at Sydney’s oldest jazz venue Bar Me (Sinatra played there!). Add to that the lure of her siren’s voice and the rock & roll side project in the form of Sydney’s fast-rising Guineafowl and you’d be forgiven for wondering if she maybe isn’t just too good to be true – but make no mistake, there is nothing saccharine in her sweetness.

Brought up on Disney movies and her parents’ folk-heavy record collection (Leonard Cohen, Carole King), Imogen’s songs are elegant meditations of love’s crooked paths; and more Joni Mitchell than the Lion King, though she swears they’re both central in her musical heart. No slouch in the live stakes, as a jazz singer for hire she’s perfected an envious chanteuse style although debut EP Charcoal Heart leans more piano balladry than dive bars and late nights. As an artist in her own right she’s taken to the stages of the Basement and Vanguard amongst others, and sold out her EP launch earlier this year at Raval. Student days spent at open mikes at the Surry Hill’s Excelsior fuelled both her writing skills and seductive stage presence and maybe also contributed to the taste for bourbon she’s retained to this day as pre-show drink of choice.

The Guineafowl connection was a serendipitous accident involving a physiotherapist’s receptionist, an out-of-joint musician and an overheard conversation regarding the need for a female vocalist, and she’s been with the band ever since. Their first live show was an exercise in the contradictions of Imogen’s musical double-life, as a solo performer she was shell-shocked by the sheer volume of a full band onstage but she’s long since transformed that energy into a compelling performance. Of course the killer cheekbones don’t hurt any - just look what they did for Stevie Nicks - but there’s a devil in Ms Harper’s smoky voice when she goes to her rock and roll side.

With a sold out EP launch and an extra night added by popular demand to her Vanguard dates at the end of the month, Imogen’s poised to steal the hearts of more than just the boys in the Guineafowl crowds this year.

01 - Cling To Me
02 - Distractions & Mistakes
03 - Charcoal Heart
04 - Dilute This Love
05 - Release Me
06 - I'll Take The Trouble From Your Eyes

Go to Stream and listen...

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Freres de Sac - Bag Brothers (France 2002) @192

2011-05-09T21:46:00.000-03:00

This is a very enjoyable CD, and a brilliant debut. The accordeon shows off its multiple personalities to great effect, and the flute sparkles on every track. Bag Brothers is full of little twists and surprises, but I won't spoil the fun: listen for yourself.

01 - Le chant du départ...
02 - Kost ar c'hoad
03 - Beanfield / La belle inconnue
04 - Bourrée à F. Vidalenc / Bourrée de Maurienges
05 - Après l'turbin
06 - Change pas d'main
07 - Les dernières volontés d'un danseur
08 - Hanter dro
09 - Le bonheur du grain de sable
10 - Gavotte de l'Aven
11 - ... le chant du départ

Jean Loup SACCHETTINI: accordéons diationiques
Christophe SACCHETTINI: flûtes à bec, cornemuse du centre
Guests:
Jean Banwarth (bouzouki)
Jean-Luc Peilhon (harmonica)
Norbert Pignol (accordéon diatonique)

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Tud - Setu! (France 2001) @320

2011-05-04T20:47:00.000-03:00

Setu! the new record! (released June 2001) promises to be a turning point in the band's career: always as respectful of tradition, TUD has indeed been enriched by new sounds and expand its audience, with this new album is once again TUD a reference for all lovers of music and dances of Brittany.
TUD is an original which is marked by great musicianship and some wonderful discoveries. This album swings with fluidity and ease to achieve a remarkable level. Would recommend without restriction.

01 - Zone De Frettes
02 - Dans Ar C'hamm
03 - Heuliad Gavotennoù Ar Menez (Gavotte)
04 - Heuliad Gavotennoù Ar Menez (Bal)
05 - Heuliad Gavotennoù Ar Menez (Gavotte)
06 - C'est La Goutte D'or Qui Fait Déborder La Valse
07 - An Dro
08 - Heuliad Dansou Plinn (Plinn Ton Simpl)
09 - Heuliad Dansou Plinn (Plinn Bal)
10 - Heuliad Dansou Plinn (Plinn Ton doubl)
11 - Scottische À Belle-Maman
12 - Rond De Saint-Vincent
13 - Kost Ar C'hoat
14 - Pilé Menu
15 - Laridés
16 - Gavotenn Ar Vosenn

Olivier Boedec - Contrebasse
Frederic Lambierge - Accordions & Guitar
Carolyn Langelier - Flute
Franck Le Rest - Guitars, Bouzoui & Mandolin
Eric Ollu - Hautbois & Biniou

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Millish - Millish (USA 2005) @320

2011-05-03T20:09:00.000-03:00

"Calling Ann Arbor-based Millish merely a Celtic band is a little like calling Eric Clapton just a guitarist."
-The Ann Arbor News

"These guys are bound for glory. The most creative and imaginative outfit out there today. If this band don’t rock your soul get someone to check your pulse."
-Dave Deegan

Millish is comprised of two time State Fiddle champion Brad Phillips, National Jazz Soloist winner Mike Shimmin, three time All-Ireland Uilleann piper Tyler Dunca and guitarist Jesse Lee Mason.
Never forcing a preconceived notion of "fusion," the band has let their music coalesce over the past several years, and it's already turning heads worldwide. Their debut album earned them an International Acoustic Music Award - before it was even released.
Millish is united by a single musical goal: to participate in the evolution of modern music. Judging by their accolades, they're well on their way.

01 - Parachute Man
02 - The Mighty Pickle
03 - Dusty Miller - The Scholar - Blue Rondo A La Turk
04 - Asanul
05 - Chetvorno Horo
06 - Stairway To Heaven
07 - Hungry Man #1
08 - Kirstie's - Colleens Reel - The Happy Aunt

Jesse Mason: Acoustic guitar.
Brad Phillips: Fiddle, mandolin.
Mike Shimmin: Percussion.
Tyler Duncan: Low wihistle, uilleann pipes, bodhran.

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Noluen Le Buhé, Annie Ebrel, Marthe Vassallo, Andre Markowicz "Gwerziou" 2009 @ 320 KBPS

2011-04-25T06:05:00.004-03:00

Recorded in Theatre de Cornouaille in October, 2008, Breton classical gwerziou are performed by finest voices of Brittany. I would omit French translation in-between, though.

1. Ar prins yeuvank (Noluen Le Buhé) 10'23

2. Ar sorserez (Annie Ebrel) 8'31

3. An aotrou Liskildri et Fantik Pikard (Marthe Vassallo) 6'13

4. Ar Breur hag ar c'hoar (Marthe Vassallo) 11'13

5. Ar Jaouis (Noluen Le Buhé) 8'53

6. Renean ar Glas (Annie Ebrel) 14'33

Rosenbergs Sjua - R7 (Sweden 1999) @192

2011-04-21T11:44:00.000-03:00

The music of R7 is mainly based on the original arrangements of Susanne, Sven Ahlbäck and later also Eva Åström Rune. The style of arranging for vocals in this way was then never tried in Swedish tradition and is more related to the bulgaric voice settings but also to old vocal singingstyle and the polyphony of old choral singing and some arcaic old scandinavian style. Strong, stylish, powerful and modal at the same time. The stringtrio in R7 are riff based, rythmical and modal and together with the voices creates the special sound of R7 success.

01 - Leja tjänstepiga
02 - Min bröllopsdag
03 - Jag haver ingen kärare
04 - Artos julpolska
05 - Silibrand
06 - Pris vare Gud
07 - Jorid - Lockrop
08 - Tre slängpolskor
09 - Mellanspel
10 - Balladen om liten Karin
11 - Lillgubben
12 - Geten
13 - Nattöga
14 - Nu vilar hela jorden

Susanne Rosenberg: Vocals
Sven Ahlbäck: Fiddle
Eva Åström-Rune: Vocals
Ulrika Bodén: Vocals
Sofia Sandén: Vocals
Annika Wijnbladh: Cello
Ellika Frisell: Viola
Hady Prett: Viola

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Flukt - Drufiacc (Norway 2004) @320

2011-04-16T11:12:00.000-03:00

On the second CD by this wonderful Norwegian group traditional Nordic music meets classical and blues, driven by a trio of fiddle, accordion and percussion to produce a compelling and driving sound. The purest of tunes and the simplest of moods exemplifies the mastery of Sturla Eide (fiddle, hardangerfiddle), Øivind Farmen (accordion) and Håvard Sterten (percussion) as the bend the borders and break some rules on their way to discoivering new turf for Norwegian folk music.

01 - Felespinn, Sturla Eide
02 - Hodalsbrura, e Jo Gjermunds
03 - Bryllupsgården, trad
04 - Dimisjonspols, Sturla Eide
05 - Oksens dans, Oyvind Farmen
06 - Bayer og bananer, Ronny Kjøsen
07 - Vegards vuggevise, Øivind Farmen
08 - Flaten II, trad
09 - Sjåttis, trad
10 - Hallvals, trad
11 - Førdenatt, Eide-Nyhus-trad

Sturla Eide: fiddle, hardangerfiddle
Øivind Farmen: accordion
Håvard Sterten: percussion

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Agnes Buen Garnas - Draumkvedet (1984 Norway) @320

2011-04-14T21:29:00.000-03:00

Requested by our friend & contributor Wally

This is a single 42-minute work, performed as a single piece. The sound is all minor-key and very strong and mournful. The piece flows in a natural way, despite its length. The instrumentation, organ, fiddle, saxophone and all feel quite sad and dark, and the touches of harp are the one piece of brightness in the music, and make welcome touches. Not music to listen to on a dark dark in winter unless you're in the mood to wallow in it, but it has its own power and beauty.

01 - Draumkvedet

Agnes Buen Garnås: vocals
Harald Gundhus: flute, tenor saxophone
Knut Buen: Hardanger fiddle
Warren Carlstrøm Kåre: Nordstoga

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Agnes Buen Garnas - Tusseliten Og Trippeliten (1996 Norway) @192

2011-04-11T18:53:00.000-03:00

Requested by our friend & contributor Wally

Agnes Buen Garnås (born 23 November 1946) is a Norwegian folk singer from the county of Telemark. She comes from a famous musical family from the town of Jondalen, and is known particularly for her singing of ancient unaccompanied Norwegian ballads, as well as her updated arrangements of these songs in collaboration with the Norwegian saxophonist Jan Garbarek on the ECM album Rosensfole.
From 1975 to 1977, she studied at the Telemark University College.
Other family members who are well-known as traditional musicians include her brothers, Hauk Buen and Knut Buen, and her son Per Anders Buen Garnås.

01 - Kom Heim Halvor Skamson
02 - Upp I Li
03 - Rukan Krugan
04 - Tusseliten Og Tusseladden
05 - Gutten Og Mann
06 - Kjëringa Med Staven
07 - Talregle Etter Tora Buen (Herming Etter Gulspurven)
08 - Gutter Og Jenter (Herming Etter Låvesvala)
09 - Da Fuglene Lërte Å Synge. Frå Små Sagn Om Store Ting, Av Dan Lindholm
10 - Vipa Sitter På Gjerdet
11 - Høna Og Hunden. Frå Rikard Berge, Norske Folkeeventyr.
12 - Me Rodde Frå Moen Til Munkøya
13 - Vesle-John (Vesle-Margit)
14 - Katten Og Musi Frå Rikard Berge, Norske Folkeeventyr.
15 - Lova, Lova Line
16 - Lars Langelår. Frå Tussar Og Trolldom Av Tov Flatin.
17 - Det Va' To Trollegutar
18 - Nordavinden, Vestatrolle'
19 - Nord Og Sud-Gauk. Gamalt Trad. Ordatak.
20 - Kvi Ror Du So Fort
21 - Bånsull Frå Hol
22 - Osten
23 - Jeg Er En Liten Undulat
24 - Tvinne, Tvinne Snëllegån
25 - Epler Og Përer
26 - È Mine Visur Dei Ë So Mange
27 - Vent Der Ë I Viningskyrkjun
28 - Lill, Lill Lye. Frå Rikard Berge, Norske Folkeeventyr.
29 - Kva Heiter De Jente I Saueflokken
30 - Vil Du Vite Hvordan Bonden
31 - Båntullen Til Gommo Buen
32 - Ro, Ro Til Fiskeskjër
33 - Igleflaska
34 - Tå Og Fingerregle
35 - Erter, Kjøtt Og Snmør. Frå Dan Lindholm, Små Sagn Om Store Ting.
36 - Gullhøne, Gull Høne
37 - Hente, Brenne, Knuse Koke Kaffien
38 - Musi Som Hadde Ete Så Lite
39 - Bøkår Rennar, Springar - Må Eg Vera Më-Ë-Ë, Eventyr
40 - Dikkons Krëtur Gjeng På Okkons Jord
41 - Musi I Sylvkruset. Frå Rikard Berge, Norske Folkeeventyr.
42 - Kjërringa På Hadeland
43 - Hanen Og Høna. Frå Rikard Berge, Norske Folkeeventyr.
44 - Stekte Harar Og Gjødde Svin
45 - Kan 'kje Du'n So Kan Vël Eg'n
46 - Ola Trondson
47 - Eg Ruggar For En Kaving
48 - Heimefuglen
49 - Hanen Stend På Stabburhella
50 - Gamlestev Frå Telemark
51 - Mann Og Kjërringa Som Skulle Tel By'n, Etter Tora Buen
52 - Å Reven Ruslar Yve Risa
53 - Tor Baggje
54 - Te Jondal Og Fri
55 - Datt Du Ned, Du
56 - Sumarlauv Og Sale
57 - Telebondesvend
58 - Romlepotta, Eventyr Etter J. Tjønnstaul
59 - Imyljo Jul Og Kyndelmesse

Agnes BUEN GARNAS: Vocals
Finn KVALEM: Synthesizer
Guttorm GUTTORMSEN: Synthesizer, Flute
Knut BUEN: Hardingfele [Norwegian fiddle]
Olav SNORTHEIM: Langleik

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Maëlstrom - Quartet à Cordes de Bretagne (France 2003) @224

2011-04-09T12:26:00.002-03:00

Maëlstrom Quartet is a new band, a string quartet.
It naturally takes off in Britain because its members are musicians known and recognized for their participation in famous groups such as Breton: Skeduz, Hastan, Hudel, Filifala, Cabestan.
Maëlstrom is a quartet that presents the first record on a repertoire of original music and traditional tunes in europe with a score of chamber music the most beautiful effect. Three violins and a cello are exploring different types of songs from countries where the fiddle is king.

01 - La souris dans l'évier (rond de Loudéac)
02 - Maëlstrom Vals
03 - Mr Ivanov - Pavno makedonsko
04 - Mr Ivanov - Pravo chopsko horo
05 - Son an disparti (mélodie moldave)
06 - Les Néreïdes (Pierre Stephan)
07 - Absynthe (P. Stephan)
08 - Ur plac'h diouej ereujet (mélodie Tregor)
09 - Panlou (marche, Thierry Moreau)
10 - Les maux de ventre - Chant de gageries
11 - Les maux de ventre - Ridée
12 - Gradalvax - Bourrée
13 - Gradalvax - Air (Lancashire)
14 - Bonus track

Jean-Pierre Andrieux: Violin, Alto,
Pierre Stephan: Violin
Laurent Dacquay: Violin, Saz
Thierry Moreau: Cello
Guests:
Annie Ebrel: Vocals
Leonardo Ivanov: Gadulka (Bulgarian string instrument)

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Filippo Gambetta - Andirivieni (Italy 2009) @VBR~256

2011-04-05T21:37:00.000-03:00

It has been almost ten years after the onset of record Filippo Gambetta. Recorded in late 1999, Stria gave the start to a promising artistic career to the next so many awards, including international ones, would have confirmed every step. A particular technical skill and musical taste have led it to be one of the best Italian diatonic accordion.f Goaea Pria (2002) had pointed out the talent in a rich dimension of different perspectives is now the turn of the new coming and going to characterize a phase of strong thematic and compositional maturity. While not denying the European tradition of instrument which has until now been soaked, Filippo Gambetta's work here on grounds more relaxed, which ensures the music an amplitude of reflexivity is not so. This is the case of songs like Kevat, and Mr. Pippi (composed and arranged by Riccardo Barbera).
But Runaway Lane or lettuce turbulent songs from more accelerated pace, keeping a happy aplomb that distances them from certain emergency youth a bit 'too discoveries. Gigi is an edgy ballad instead of sure grip radio made by the soothing voice of guitarist Claudio de Angeli and structured on the basis of a reel. South American accents appropriate recovery are down on tiptoe to Fica Mal com Deus Geraldo Vandré, while the bouncy swing and gypsy Mariù, recorded a duet with her father and guitarist Beppe, to round off a job that can not be nothing but admiration in those who claim to music with pleasure and deep contents. Among the collaborators, in addition to the aforementioned Barbera (bass) and De Angeli, reported Michel Balatti (flute), Antonio Experts (bass clarinet) and Mario Arcari (oboe).
Filippo Gambetta, has always been involved in the dissemination organ music in different contexts, has developed a personal technique on an instrument with three rows, studying and drawing inspiration from many sources (local tradition, the rhythmic and harmonic forms Balkan, French music , classical and contemporary sounds). It is remarkable that in the coming and going can also be found in the guise of mandolin, clarinet and percussion, as proof of its vitality and musical curiosity.

01 - Kevät
02 - Pippi
03 - Conosci te stesso
04 - Mistero
05 - Runaway lane
06 - La Lattuga turbolenta
07 - Serra, la
08 - Gigi-Gigi's reel
09 - Fica mal com Deus
10 - Mariù

Filippo Gambetta: three row diatonic accordion, mandolin, clarinet, percussion
Claudio de Angeli: acoustic guitar
Riccardo Barbera: upright bass, classical guitar
Guests:
Michel Balatti: irish wooden flute
Mario Arcari: oboe d'amore
Beppe Gambetta: acoustic guitar
Antonio Esperti: bass clarinet

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Ilgi - Saules Meita (Latvia 1998) @320

2011-04-04T17:12:00.000-03:00

In concept and content, their most groundbreaking CD. While dedicated to the archetypal Latvian woman who plays a central role in so many Latvian folk dainas, the spirited arrangements add a new dimension to the traditional sounds and rhythms of Latvian music. Ilga Reiznieces’ voice and violin, and Māris Muktupāvels virtuosity on folk instruments is nhanced by the singing of Mara Kalniņa and the bass guitar and sound engineering of Gatis Gaujenieks.

01. Vissbija
02. Tautešami roku devu
03. Sēj, brālīti, kaņepītes
04. Es tev lūdzu
05. Skait māmeņa
06. Bur man' būri
07. Dieva dēli, Saules meitas
08. Māte mani audzēdama
09. Tumsa mani tautās veda
10. Upe saka tecēdama
11. Teku, teku pa celiņu
12. Kalnā kāpu skatīties

Ilga REIZNIECE: Voice, violin
Maris MUKTUPAVELS: Bagpipes, accordion, recorder
Gatis GAUJENIEKS: bass
Vilnis STRODS: Drums
Egons Kronbergs: Guitars

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Cristina Pato - The Galician Connection (2010 Spain) @192

2011-04-03T21:17:00.002-03:00

"The Galician Connection" is an intimate, mature and introspective album that reaffirms her successful career as a global artist. Cristina Pato has evolved as a musician and this album shows it.

With collaborations by singer Rosa Cedron (ex-Luar na Lubre, Mike Oldfield), accordion player Victor Prieto and his trio, canadian mezzo soprano Patrice Jegou, Javier Cedron's string quartet, Carlos Beceiro's bouzouki and her band members Laura Amado (voice), David G. Outumuro (percussions), Xan Padron and Raquel Pato. "The Galician Connection" was recorded in New York, Madrid, Galicia and Lisbon; produced by Cristina Pato for Zouma Records the cd includes 12 works composed by Cristina Pato, Victor Prieto, Xan Padrón, Rosa Cedrón and Raquel Pato among others.

In "The Galician Connection" Galician bagpipe and piano connect from contemporary music to jazz…this is the album in which Cristina Pato has opened a new way for the Galician Bagpipe: the synthesis of her classical training and her love for the instrument.

"The Galician Connection" is the beginning of a new step for one of the most international stars of the gaita. A pioneer on the use of the Galician bagpipe as a global instrument, Cristina Pato continues showing the possibilities of her instrument through contemporary music and her own language.

01 - Mundos Celtas
02 - Meniña Gaiteira
03 - O Loito do Mar
04 - Abella Durminte
05 - A Pomba Dourada
06 - Caronte
07 - Miña Nai Lúa
08 - Lamento
09 - Rubias Envidias
10 - Nos Altos de Washington
11 - Arena y Aire II
12 - Negro Caravel

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Lúnasa - Lá Nua (2010 Ireland) @320

2011-03-26T21:44:00.000-03:00

Lúnasa celebrate the arrival of a new decade with Lá Nua (Irish for ‘new day’). After a 4-year hiatus from the studio, this highly-anticipated album came out of extensive rehearsal and recording on location in the beautiful Cooley mountains in the northeast of Ireland. This environment, rich in the history and culture of ancient Ireland, inspired much of the creativity and new writing on the recording.

01 - Ryestraw
02 - The Raven's Rock
03 - Tro Breizh
04 - Fruitmarket Reels
05 - Doc Holliday's
06 - Unapproved Road
07 - Island Lake
08 - Snowball
09 - Pontevedra To Carcarosa
10 - The Shore House

Kevin Crawford: Flute, Low Whistles and Tin Whistles
Trevor Hutchinson: Double Bass
Paul Meehan: Guitar, Bouzouki and Mandolin
Sean Smyth: Fiddle and Low Whistle
Cillian Vallely: Uilleann Pipes and Low Whistle

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Luar Na Lubre - Solsticio (Spain 2010) @320

2011-03-24T23:54:00.000-03:00

"Solstice", the new release from the renowned Galician Folc Band Luar Na Lubre .
It's leader, Bieito Romero, in a recent interview with Europa Press, said that Luar Na Lubre is "fully fit" more than 25 years after its birth, and celebrate with "the longest drive of its career, which also opens new avenues in sounds, "for their traditional way of making music now with medieval elements."
As already mentioned, they plunged into the medieval Galician Portuguese lyric and have worked considering the merger of the traditional pagan music of Galicia and some other European areas "with medieval music more educated, more Christian." In fact, "hence the title, the ancestral worship of pagan origin."
"The album opens a new cycle of styles precisely because we have not tried yet so deeply. It is the first time that we get well into the medieval music, with a certain chamber treatment , performing it as the troubadours and the courts in the XII Century. We got something completely different and new, and open a new cycle in the sound," he underlined.

01 - O Son Das Pedras
02 - Caminyo Do Norte
03 - Mia Irmana Fremosa - Muinyeira De Poio
04 - Unha Volta Polo Medio
05 - Doentes
06 - Schiarazulla Marazulla - A Carolina
07 - Quantas Sabedes
08 - Monte Pindo
09 - A Minya Amiga
10 - Na Frouseira - Maravillosos Et Piadosos
11 - Ven Bailar Carminya
12 - Via Lactea
13 - Sabor A Santa Maria - Con Gran Razon
14 - Trasmontana
15 - Romance De Don Gaiferos

Sara Louraço Vidal: Voice
Xulio Varela: Bouzouki, Vocals & Percussion
Bieito Romero: Bagpipes, Accordion & Zanfoña
Eduardo Coma: Fiddle
Patxi Bermúdez: Bodhran, Drum & Djimbek
Pedro Valero: Acoustic Guitar
Xavier Ferreiro: Latin Percussion & Effects
Xan Cerqueiro: Flutes
Additional musicians:
Pat Kilbride: Acoustic guitar on tracks III and VIII, voice on tracks III and IV.
Miro Casabella: Voice on track VII
Xocas Meijide: clarinet and bass clarinet on track VIII
Diana Navarro: Voices on track IX
Xulia Cea: Voice on track X
Choral "Canta Compaña" Voices on track X
Miguel Queixas, Miguel Cabana and Rubén Montes: bata drums on track X
Rubén Montes: Cajón on track XII
Nani García: Keyboards on tracks IX, X and XV

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Roland Becker - Immrama (France 2010) @ 320

2011-03-23T14:40:00.007-03:00

The latest album by Breton sax and bombarde player Roland Becker is his magnum opus for sure. Becker plays on a huge variety of instruments (bombardes, oboes, flutes and many many more) He is backed by an ensemble on bagpipes, hurdy-gurdy and various drums.

The album is about Immrama that "for over thousand year described navigation of Celtic heroes to other worlds"

1. Yoff
2. Tachenn Glas
3. Kerguzengor
4. Ti En Tis
5. Locqultas
6. Malsaha
7. Ouarioua
8. Er Yoc'H
9. Cromenah
10. Bortifaouen
11. Mané Guen

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Chateau Neuf Spelemannslag - Curing Norwegian Stiffness (2001 Norway) @320

2011-03-18T16:53:00.000-03:00

Chateau Neuf Spelemannslag are, in my opionion, probably the most exciting and unique band on the Scandinavian scene. CNS are more of a folk orchestra, with 16 highly talented band members, creating a terrific blend of Norwegian traditional music, jazz, classical and rock music. The band combines an eclectic and exciting range of traditional and modern instruments, featuring hardanger fiddles, tenor and soprano saxophones, clarinets, accordion, whistle, bagpipes, guitar, piano, electric bass and drums/percussion. Add to that four brilliant female singers, and plenty of innovative ideas, fun of playing, and backgrounds as diverse as traditional, classical, jazz and rock - and you have CNS.
The music sounds at times more like a quality jazz bigband - with the one exception that the band plays not "boring" jazz classics, but instead sexy Norwegina traditional tunes. And even though the band has 16 members, every single one will get detailed attention. This is most exciting music, that crosses musical borders in a natural way, without compromising the roots of the music. The music is groovy, filled with joy, yet also with a pinch of the typical darkness of Scandinavian music, and new pleasant musical surprises are waiting for the listener every minute.
This is an essential album for fans of Scandinavian music, as it is for fans of individual bigband jazz. 46 minutes of entertaining, exciting and impressive music. As this album is already three years old, hopefully we can expect soon the next album of this terrific band.

01. Bukkehornlåt / Finnskoghalling
02. Reilender Fra Åseral / Ellinga Vellinga
03. På Brakka
04. Kvelden Feller Skuggar
05. Direktørvalsen Or Waltz For Grete
06. Vals Etter Vidar Lande
07. Reinlender Etter Thorvald Trondsgård
08. Gje Eg Ha Vore Heima
09. Je Vet Så Væl
10. Ringländer - Halling / Nå Begynner Vi
11. Finnskogpolser
12. Velsignet Være Jesu Navn

Linn KORSSJØEN: Vocals
Gine HEIEN: Vocals
Line NILSEN: Vocals
Ingrid FORTHUN: Vocals
Ragnhild MO: Fiddle, Hardingfele [Norwegian fiddle]
Hans Hinrich THEDENS: Fiddle, Hardingfele [Norwegian fiddle]
Elizabeth GAVER: Hardingfele [Norwegian fiddle], Alto
Elisabeth VATN: Clarinette, Clarinette basse, Bägänna
Carl Petter OPSAHL: Clarinette, Clarinette basse
Tellef KVIFTE: Saxophone soprano, Harmonium, Rebec
Eivind SOGNÆS: Saxophone soprano, Saxophone ténor, Flûte
Mikael NYBERG: Saxophone ténor, Vocals
Ragnhild KROGVIG KARLSEN: Hautbois
Randi ROSENDAHL: Piano, Accordéon
Åsmund REISTAD: Basse électrique, Contrebasse, Guitare
Ingar ZACH: Drums, Percussion, Vocals
Additional Musicians:
Knut KVIFTE NESHEIM: Vocals
Guro KVIFTE NESHEIM: Vocals
Eli STORBEKKEN: Vocals

The Duellists - English Hurdy-Gurdy Music (England 1997) @256

2011-03-16T21:22:00.002-03:00

Requested from the friend contributor anonymous(123)

The Duellists, a trio of Nigel Eaton, Cliff Stapleton & Chris Walshaw, play newly written dance music inspired from, and rooted in, the English and French traditions. With bagpipes and hurdy-gurdies, they provide driving dance music and bewitching rhythms underpinned by the exciting and primitive combination of melody and drones.

Nigel Eaton originally played piano and 'cello, moving to the hurdy-gurdy when his father, Christopher Eaton, started to make them in 1981. In 1985 he joined the groups Blowzabella and Ancient Beatbox with whom he has toured extensively in Britain, Europe and South America and recorded six albums. He also appears on numerous records with artists ranging from Robert Plant, Scott Walker and Marc Almond to The Philharmonia and The New London Consort, and soundtracks for films such as Aliens and The Name of the Rose. Nigel has recently returned from a year long world tour with Robert Plant and Jimmy Page (of Led Zeppelin) and is currently one half of Whirling Pope Joan with Julie Murphy.

From his years with Blowzabella and The Drones, Cliff Stapleton, will be known to many as a fine hurdy-gurdy player. Since leaving them Cliff has established himself in the world of theatre and puppet theatre as a composer and musician. He currently works with Banyan Theatre Company and recently appeared in their production of Baba Yaga Bony Legs at the Leicester Haymarket. However, his inventive tune writing (the pen that brought you 'Man in a Brown Hat') and musicianship are not lost to the roots music lovers, for he can also be seen playing with Chris Wood and Andy Cutting in the Waltzer.

Chris Walshaw, on the pipes, has a long history of playing in dance bands including Edinburgh's Ceilidh Collective and Culture Shock and has occasionally guested with Chris Wood, Andy Cutting and Cliff in the Waltzer. In addition he has worked with Jean-Pierre Rasle on productions of his show Cornemusiques for both Radio 3 and on stage at St Chartier and the Purcell Room. Currently he also plays with the dynamic English ceilidh band Stocai.

Together they make up The Duellists. Most of their material is newly written - much of it by themselves - and they are available for dances, concerts and bagpipe and hurdy-gurdy workshops.

01. Starters (Eaton)/Alfriston (Walshaw)
02. Miserden (Walshaw)/Indigo (Stapleton)
03. The Duellists (Eaton)
04. Doyenne (Stapleton)
05. Capriole (Stapleton)/Drystone (Walshaw)
06. Kate at the Gate (Eaton)
07. Magog/Monkey Puzzle (Walshaw)
08. Bluesaussis/Biscuit Shuffle (Stapleton)
09. Baba Yaga's Cat (Stapleton)
10. Poolside (Stapleton)

Chris Walshaw: Bagpipes
Cliff Stapleton: Hurdy Gurdy
Nigel Eaton: Hurdy Gurdy

Chateau Neuf Spelemannslag - Stolen Goods (Tjuvgods) (1997 Norway) @320

2011-03-15T01:00:00.000-03:00

Requested from the friend contributor anonymous(123)

The traditional music of Norway is preserved through the efforts of the 11 musicians and five female vocalists who comprise Chateau Neuf Spelemannslag. With traditional Norwegian instruments, including fiddle, Hardanger fiddle, accordion, and Norwegian recorder, combined with saxophone, clarinet, oboe, electric bass, guitar, piano, and percussion, the group resurrects the musical spirits of Norway's past. Formed in 1994 by musicians and singers whose prior experience included stints with classical, rock, jazz, and pop groups, Chateau Neuf Spelemannslag continue to learn traditional melodies by ear and collectively work out intricate arrangements. Their 1997 album, Tjuvgods, was reissued in the United States as Stolen Goods with 16 tracks. Chateau Neuf Spelemannslag performed their debut London show in the summer of 1999.

01. Halling from Numedal
02. Guten Min/Fille-Vern (My Boy/Rag-Vern)
03. Den store pai-polsen (The great pie pols)
04. Fjellmannjenta (The mountain girl)
05. Si vil do med meg (Do you want to make vows to me?)
06. Halling after Thorvald Tronsgard
07. Roseleiken
08. CP-slatten/Vetleguten (Tune for CP/Lullaby for Vetle)
09. Hopparen (The jumper)
10. Skalle-Per
11. Wedding March from Engerdalen
12. Jentelokk (Girl call)
13. Tversover'n (The bow tie
14. Faut Marit's Polska
15. Gubben Garberg (Old man Garberg)
16. Lilleboa (Little brother)

Åsmund Reistad - Bass
Elisabeth Vatn - Clarinet
Carl Petter Opsahl - Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Conductor
Ingar Zach - Drums, Percussion
Ragnhild Mo - Fiddle, Hardingfele
Hans-Hinrich Thedens - Fiddle, Hardingfele, Fiddle [Electronic]
Randi E. Rosendahl - Grand Piano, Accordion
Ronny Yttrehus - Guitar
Ragnhild Krogvig Karlsen - Oboe
Tellef Kvifte - Soprano Saxophone, Bagpipes
Eivind Sognnæs - Soprano Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Flute
Eline Monrad Vistven , Mikael Nyberg - Tenor Saxophone
Gine Heien , Ingrid Forthun , Linn Korssjøen , Siri Kathrine Rude - Vocals

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2011-03-12T00:26:00.000-03:00

Dear friends, Folk Yourself needs your help again.

My amount of Rapids (Rapids are the virtual currency which has been RapidShare is developed) is valid until the end of this month.

After that I will not be able to continue paying the Rapidshare service.
For new posts I can host them in other free services, but the problem is that all the current albums are hosted in Rapidshare.
Once my account is closed, all Folk Yourself files will be deleted.
Therefore it would be interesting to continue with my account on Rapidshare.

Readers who have, like me, a Rapidshare account, can send me Rapids as a donation.
For one month, the value is 495 Rapids (1 Rapid is worth Approximately 1 Cent (euro cents) or 0.01 euro).
If enough people contribute with a little quantity of Rapids, I can keep this blog with all its contents.
Those who contribute by sending 50 or more rapids, you can choose 2 albums on my list to upload, which will be posted immediately.
For to do it, when sending the rapids, put the user name (or blog-nickname) and the names of the albums you want.

For those friends who find this interesting form of aid, see below how to help:

1) Log into your Rapidshare account.
2) In the left column of your screen locate the item "Send Rapids to a friend!"

3) A window will appear to type my public ID.
Copy and paste this code: 4912EB6BF1EB1D3ACCC26EFA6B129FA8

4) for those who want to contribute more than 50 Rapids, is allowed to send a message to me.
Put in the message, your nickname and ask to upload two albums.

Maybe this way, with everyone's help, we can continue with this old blog for a long time.

Thanks,
CrimsonKing

Braia - ... E o Mundo de Lá (2008 Brazil) @320

2011-03-11T21:53:00.000-03:00

If you're into Folk Metal you probably know Bruno Maia, the singer and leader of the Brazilian combo Tuatha De Danann. We didn't have a lot of news from the band since the release date of their last album "Trova Di Danu" in 2004 but finally it seems that Bruno is not sleeping anymore! "...E O Mundo De La" is his first solo album and you can be sure that you'll be able to listen to good Folk Rock with this release!

Don't expect anything Metal here but if you like Celtic melodies and sonorities, "...E O Mundo De La" is a must definitely. Accompanied by a legion of Folk musicians plus the female singer Fernanda Ohara, Bruno Maia proposes a really cool and peaceful album. The melodies are sweet really dancing with a lot of different Celtic instruments like flutes, whistle, violins or bouzuki. So yes this is not Metal but it doesn't mean that it's poor or not even linked to your favorite music. Actually I think that we can say that "...E O Mundo De La" is like a soft version of Tuatha De Danann with female (and male too of course) vocals without distorted electric guitars. The ten songs are classy really catchy and you will just have to listen to "Dança No Abismo" or the first track "Slaint A La Brasilis" to be transported in a Irish Pub. This is not Metal but I think that every metalhead can enjoy this kind of music drinking some beers with mates. Bruno Maia knows what good Folk music is no doubt!

The production of the album is perfect and all the musicians and singer are really good. "...E O Mundo De La" is varied and its influences comes from a lot of folklores from Gipsy to Irish music of course. Plus the songs can be really happy like dark and sad there are lot of variations in each songs it's hard to say anything wrong about this release expect of course (and this is not bad for me) that it's not so Metal musically speaking but believe me the spirit is here and if you like the really original music of Tuatha De Danann you'll like "...E O Mundo De La".

"...E O Mundo De Lá" is a refreshing album full of great melodies. When you know how bad the world is nowadays, I promise you that this "innocent" release is a perfect way to do a magical journey which will only give you smiles in the end. Don't take "...E O Mundo De La" too seriously, this album is just something done to have good peaceful moments and it does it really well. Folk people and music lovers who want to travel across the world "...E O Mundo De La" is a must!

01 - Slainte a la Brasilis
02 - Tempos Idos
03 - Dança No Abismo
04 - Hamlá
05 - Juras Promessas
06 - Lua
07 - Brunebriante Papoula Dançante
08 - Falalafada
09 - Bloom (Ode a Joyce)
10 - A Pinga do Duende Maluco
11 - Lua (Bonus - demo version)
12 - Juras Promessas (Bonus - demo version)

Bruno Maia: Vocals, guitars, violin, mandolin, bouzuki, ti whistle, flute, percussions
Guest musicians:
Fernanda Ohara: Vocals
Isabel Tavares: Vocals on "Falalafada" e "Dança no Abismo"
Adriano Jamaica: Vocals on "A Pinga do duende Maluco"
Renata Barretom: Vocals on "Bloom" and "Lua"
Mael Saout: Guitars on "Falalafada"
Giovani Gomes: Bass
Anderson Alarça: Drums
Edgard Britto: Keyboards "Hamlá", "Juras Promessas" and "Bloom"
Rafael Castro: Keybaords on "Falalafada", "Tempos Idos" e "A pinga do duende maluco"
Cian O´Sulivan: Irish Flute on "Sláinte a la Brasilis"
Dan O´Sulivan: Uilleann Pipes on "Sláinte a la Brasilis"
Marta Pacífico: Violins on "Brunebriante Papoula Dançante" and "A Pinga do duende maluco"
Marcus Viana: Violin on "Bloom"
Michelle O´Brien: Fiddle on "Sláinte a la Brasilis"
Waltinho: Pandeiro on "Sláinte a la Brasilis"
Jacques Mathias: Programations

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Maddy Prior & Rick Kemp - Happy Families (1990 England) @320

2011-03-01T00:08:00.000-03:00

Teamed with Rick Kemp, Prior turns in her best non-Steeleye Span folk-rock performance, with heavy amplification, crisp electric guitars, and accordion for support. Her airy vocals and the heavy electric sound make this a superb adjunct to the best rock sides by Steeleye (Commoner's Crown, etc.), although this stuff has more of a contemporary feel, relating to Prior's Steeleye Span work roughly the way Dylan's best '70s and '80s stuff relates to his '60s folk and folk-rock sides, with a definite rock beat and pop music feel. There's also a strong social consciousness at work, with topical songs dealing with unemployment and privation amid love songs and a very playful cover of "Who's Sorry Now."
~Bruce Eder (AMG)

01 - Happy Families (Prior & Kemp)
02 - Good Job (Prior)
03 - Rose (Prior & Kemp)
04 - Mother And Child (Prior)
05 - Here Comes Midnight (Kemp)
06 - Bewcastle (Prior & Kemp)
07 - Who's Sorry Now (Kalmar, Ruby & Snyder)
08 - Fire On The Line (Kemp)
09 - Goodbye (Kemp)
10 - Alex (Prior)
11 - Low Flying (Kemp)
12 - Happy Families (reprise) (Prior & Kemp)
13 - Bewcastle Instrumental (Prior & Kemp)

Maddy Prior - vocals
Rick Kemp - bass, guitars, vocals Simon Edwards - guitaron, Ashbury bass
Roy Dodds - drums, percussion
Kim Burton - accordion, kaval, gajda (goat)
Nick Holland - keyboars
Ian Kellet - keyboars
Chris Baylis - jet guitar
Pete Crowther - cello
Richard Lee - acoustic double bass

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Talitha MacKenzie - Sòlas (USA 1993) @320

2011-02-25T22:33:00.000-03:00

Producers: Iain McKinna, Chris Birkett, Talitha MacKenzie.
Recorded at Palladium Studios, Edinburgh, Scotland and CB Sound, London England.
Starting from a multilayered treatment of a Hebridean waulking song nestled in electronics, this solo release by the Mouth Music alumnus keeps getting better -- until the halfway point, when the disc doesn't so much run out of steam as abandons its smarts. The best cuts show how the eccentricities and earthiness of Celtic music lend themselves to various traditional and avant-garde marriages, like "Sein O," which embeds a clipped-syllable puirt-a-beul lyric in a bogle rhythm introduced by a hair-raising sample of Huun Huur Tu's Tuvan throat inging. But the ode to positive thinking "Owen's Boat" belongs in a TV movie, and "Chi mi na Morbheanan/JFK" uses St. Jack soundbites about fighting tyranny without a trace of irony -- hallowing our descent into Southeast Asia. Decent songs do follow...
~ Bob Tarte

01. Hoireann ó
02. Sheatadh Cailleach
03. 'S Muladach mi ('s mi air m'aineoil)
04. E hó hì
05. Seinn O!
06. Uamh an Oir
07. Owen's Boat
08. Chì mi na Mórbheanna/JFK
09. Rol hol ill leò
10. Funky Bird Medley
11. Théid mi dhachaigh

Talitha MacKenzie (vocals, piano, keyboards, percussion);
Ross MacKenzie (spoken vocals);
Chris Birkett (vocals, guitar, keyboards, percussion, programming);
Ian Plested (vocals);
Ian McKinna (guitar, bass, percussion, programming, background vocals);
Moray Rumney (fiddle, background vocals);
Gavin Marwick (fiddle);
Gary Spacey-Foote (flute);
Richard Allan (saxophone);
Mike Nolan (piano, keyboards);
Gary West (pipe drone);
Jim Walker (drums);
Dave Aitch (percussion);
Alasdair Macleod (clarsach, background vocals);

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Gráda - Off to Sardinia (2001 Ireland) @320

2011-02-14T15:12:00.000-02:00

By request

Gráda is a traditional Irish music band, founded in 2001, whose members are a mix of Irish and New Zealand musicians. Gráda are based in Dublin and Galway, Ireland, but spend much of their time touring internationally. In 2006, Gráda played in 16 different countries.

The group draws from a wide range of influences, which has seen them working with Dave Hingerty (ex Frames drummer, now working a lot with Josh Ritter); Vyviene Long (cellist with Damien Rice); and, as a producer, Trevor Hutchinson (Lúnasa, Sharon Shannon, The Waterboys). Further additions have included Dublin based trumpeter Bill Blackmore and percussionist Rasmus Skovmand.

01 - Arty House Set (Reels)
02 - Song of Choice (Song)
03 - Kiwi Set (Jigs)
04 - If You Ever Go Down To Dublin Town (song)
05 - The Dub Dub Set (Reels)
06 - Maggies Set (Hornpipes)
07 - Skibbereen (Song)
08 - Sweet County Clare (Song)
09 - What the Feck! (Reel-Jig)
10 - Johnny Be fine (song)
11 - Off To Sardinia (slow Reel)

Alan Doherty: Flutes, Whistles, Vocals, Percussion
Andrew Laking: Double Bass, Vocals, Guitar
Brendan O'Sullivan: Fiddle, Background vocals
Gerry Paul: Guitars, Vocals
Anne-Marie: Vocals, Bodhran
Frankie Lane: Dobro, Background vocals.

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