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.
Eilin Ni Bheaglaoich "Mile Dath: A Cloak Of Many Colors" (Clo Iar-Chonnachta, 1992)
Nice Gaelic vocal tunes, with subtle, sympathetic accompaniment. It's nice enough, faintly formal, but mostly pretty lovely. These songs are usually performed sean-nos, or unaccompanied, but here the piano and guitar accentuate and underscore her voice without overshadowing it in any way. I'd tell you more, but the liner notes aren't bilingual... Oh, well! Certainly worth checking out, if you can track a copy down.
Maighread Ni Dhomhnaill "Gan Dha Phingin Spre (No Dowry)" (Gael-Linn, 1991)
A notable solo album by Maighread Ni Dhomhnaill, sister of Michael and Triona Ni Dhomhnaill, and a fellow member of the short-lived band, Skara Brea. Accompanied by her siblings and the venerable Donal Lunny, Liam O'Flynn, and others, Maighread sings a fine selection of haunting, Gaellic-language romantic ballads... In theory, I'm totally down with this, though I have to admit I find the tenor of her voice to be grating and a bit unruly. For other folk fans, though, this may be a pure, unadulterated delight.
Nobody You Know "Irish Pub" (Snarling Pika, 1995)
Unpretentious folkie trad, with echoes of old-schoolers such as the Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem, et al., much like the music you might hear in, yes... an Irish pub! This Montreal band builds around a simple sound -- banjo, mandolin, and Andy Irvine-ish vocals. The set is packed with well-known oldies ("Lannigan's Ball," "Tell Me Ma," "Lark In The Morning...") and well-chosen covers, including Shane McGowan's "Sally Mac Lannan" and fellow Canadian Stan Rogers's rousing "Barrett's Privateers." This isn't an earthshaking album, but it's nice -- an unadorned, straightforward indie release.
Noirin NiRiain "Seinn Aililiu" (Gael Linn, 1978)
An odd, unusual Gaelic-language folk album from Ireland, which features bouncy jazz arrangements that vaguely bring to mind some early Pentangle albums. At first it's kind of cool to hear Gaelic sung this fast, almost in a scat-like fashion, but after a while it starts to feel static and her voice gets to be a little grating. Micheal O'Suilleabhain performs and did all the arrangements... A little off the beaten track, for sure.
Nomos "I Won't Be Afraid Any More" (Green Linnet, 1996)
Nomos "Set You Free" (Green Linnet, 1997)
I had the good fortune to see Nomos's bouzouki player Gerry McKee sit in during a trad set at some pub in his hometown of Cork, probably around the same time this album came out... I say that I "saw" him, because the crowd was so loud you couldn't hear a bloody thing as far as the music went, but still, it was interesting to note the buzz that followed McKee as his sat down and started jamming with the local tradders: there are a bazillion great musicians in Ireland, but not all of them get to make a record... Anyway, these fellas have a nice, light sprightly touch to their work, and it's fine stuff. (Personal note: this was the first record I danced a little jig to with my daughter, when she was three months old... I held her out in my arms and bounced her about, and she smiled the biggest little smile ever... So that's what all those jigs and reels are for...!! Now I get it!) (PS - the beer was pretty good in the pub that night: Murphy's, of course. Helps with the music appreciation quite a bit, as well.)
North Cregg "Summer At My Feet" (Greentrax, 2003)
Fun, bouncy reels, jigs and such, from a playful, youthful Irish band, hailing from lovely, traffic-choked Cork. Lilting, light-voiced singer Fiona Kelleher adds several nice songs, and the whole album has an airy, cheerful feel to it. Apparently this is their third album; I look forward to tracking the first two down some day, and steering you towards those ones as well. (In the meantime, here's the band's website so you can check them out yourself.)
