Hello! This page is part of an opinionated overview of Celtic and British folk music, with record reviews by me, Joe Sixpack... This is not meant to be taken as a "definitive" resource, but rather as a record of some of the music which has caught my interest. I am always looking for more good music to explore, so your comments and suggestions are welcome.
Robin Laing "The Water Of Life" (Greentrax, 2003)
This set of pepped-up trad tunes (with modern instruments added atop the old lyrics) is a little slick for my tastes, though the further into the album I got, the more accessible it became... An interesting, unusual modernization of the old Scottish folk sound, with arrangements that sound at times like late-'60s Dylan records, on other tracks a bit like Dougie MacClean.. By the way, all the songs are sung in honor of whiskey... Whiskey, dear whiskey. Not only that, but this is Laing's second album on the same theme... I bet he's fun to drink with.
Grey Larsen & Paddy League "Dark Of The Moon" (Sleepy Creek Music, 2003)
American-born Grey Larsen has written the book on Irish piping and tin whistle playing... literally. This fine all-instrumental album is a companion to Larsen's new instructional/historical tome, Essential Guide To Irish Flute And Tin Whistle, which may be one of the definitive works on the subject. By itself, however, the album is quite lovely and impressive, a beautiful set of flute and tin whistle tunes, with a grace and melodic depth to match other recent masterpieces such as Joannie Madden's solo work... A lovely and very listenable set... Highly recommended!
Lindisfarne "Fog On The Tyne" (Elektra, 1971)
This English folk-rock act, featuring the late singer-songwriter Alan Hull, was one of the big pop successes in the post-Beatles, progadelic era of the early 1970s. This was their second album, and their biggest commerical hits, improbably cracking into the British Top Ten based on the strength of the bouncy single that lent the album its title. Not really that "trad," for the most part this album is a dreamy, drifty acoustic psych-folk exploration, much along the lines of the Incredible String Band, or the early albums by the Dransfield Brothers. Often the lyrics are embarassingly hippie-dippy, yet the album will grow on you, particularly the hit, "Fog On The Tyne," which is the kind of tune that sticks in your mind for hours if you hear it play just before you walk out the door to run errands. A goofy, but unassuming and sweetly naive acoustic prog album... worth checking out!
Lindisfarne "We Can Swing Together -- The BBC Concerts: 1971" (BBC, 1971/New Millennium, 1998)
This CD, which collects two concert performances hosted by the late, legendary Beeb deejay John Peel, provides an excellent snapshot of a newly-broken band still on its ascendant climb in the British charts. As the band glides through melodicized bar-band blues, cheerfully clompy folk-rock and harder, louder material as well, their versatility and tight performances are impressive, especially coming on the heels of the most excessive years hippie-era rock. You can kinda get why they were being touted as a band that could credibly fill the vaccuum left by the dissolution of the Beatles, although it has to be said that after a dozen or so songs, they outstay their welcome a bit. But if you wanted to check Lindsfarne out, I would say that this disc, even more than their famous debut, gives a great sense of the excitement they generated, and of their energy and talent. It's good stuff.
Lindisfarne "City Songs" (BBC/New Millennium, 1998)
Similar to the We Can Swing Together album, this collects three BBC appearances (one with John Peel, two with Bob Harris) and a short, live concert set, all recorded in 1971-72, when Lindisfarne were at the top of their game. An acoustic, folkie, mandolin-a-licious, Fairport Convention-y vibe predominates, although they were also clearly rockers as well... At any rate, this is a the sound of a skilled, lively and enthusiastic band, and while there are elements that clearly date the material, it still holds up pretty well. Worth checking out!
Lindisfarne "Here Comes The Neighborhood" (Park, 1999)
A nice album, with a soft, roots-rock/Americana feel. In the wake of Alan Hull's passing, guitarist Rod Clements wrote or co-wrote most of the songs, but he stays in the background while Billy Mitchell, Marty Craggs and Ray Laidlaw split up the vocal chores. This disc doesn't have the same mystery or flair as their old, classic stuff, but it's certainly no discredit to the band... It's a pretty solid album, all things considered; several songs are quite nice.
Lintie "Celtic And Contemporary Vocal Harmonies" (Self-Released, 2000)
A fine set of a capella vocals sung by this unassuming California-based duet. Kim Hughes and Crista Burch are both devotees of Scottish traditional song, and they've picked a fine selsection here, as well as a few more modern folk songs, such as Eric Bogle's widely recorded pacifist anthem, "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda," and Adam McNaughton's "Farewell To The Gold," previously heard on Nic Jones's Penguin Eggs album; nice version of "The Widow And The Devil," too! Nice voices and a real feel for the material... if you like Christine Primrose, June Tabor, Shirley Collins or Niamh Parsons, this album is certainly recommended!
Trevor Lucas "Overlander" (Reality, 1966)
Cheerful Australian folk tunes, focussing on tramping about, shearing sheep and sailing away to live in a new, young land. Guitarist Lucas, perhaps best known for his work inside and outside the Fairport Convention alongside his wife, the late Sandy Denny, frequently dipped into his native Aussie folklore, as on this fine, understated album. Perhaps also of interest would be the similarly-slanted work of Antipodean poet Martyn Wyndham-Read. This album, recorded well before his folk-rock heyday with bands such as Eclection and Fotheringay, is certainly not for everyone, but might prove good for hoisting a pint or two, for those in the right frame of mind! (For more about Lucas, check out
this fan site.)
Lunasa "Lunasa" (Compass, 1997/2002)
An all-instrumental album featuring some of the new up-and-comers in Ireland's trad scene, including members of Sharon Shannon's band, and the Waterboys. Lunasa shed most of the severity of old-style jigs-and-reels, mixing in a sly melodic bounce without sacrificing their traditional cred. No synthesizers or sampling here, just a creative new approach to the classic Celtic style. This is their debut album (reissued in 2002 with some extra material), with live performances that reveal them as canny modernists, smoothing out the tinny blare of the jigs-and-reel sound, while avoiding the saccharine tendencies of many Celtic fusion bands. If, like myself, you're normally not that big on Celtic instrumentals, this might be an album you'd want to check out.
Lunasa "Otherworld" (Green Linnet, 1999)
Another nice instrumental album, this time with perhaps a bit more production gloss and a troublesome electric bass riff here and there... But overall, pretty nice!
Lunasa "The Merry Sisters Of Fate" (Green Linnet, 2001)
Another lovely all-instrumental album by these winsome Irish virtuosi. The piping, in particular, has a fluidity and expessiveness that's nice to hear... Notable for its propulsive (and deceptive) simplicity and catchy melodies... Recommended!
Lunasa "Redwood" (Green Linnet, 2003)
Yet another fine set of lighthearted Irish instrumentals by this skilled ensemble. Jigs and reels shorn of the stylistic severity that most Celtic players have held as a mark of authenticity, yet also thankfully free of goopy modern production. No synthesizers or misplaced electric instruments, just solid musicianship and a very listenable selection.
Lunasa "The Kinnitty Sessions" (Compass, 2004)
A wickedly dazzling live performance, recorded without overdubs or interruption in the halls of Kinnitty Castle, County Offally, Ireland. Not only does the old place have great acoustics -- these fellas have got major chops. Another great album.
