Two Pipers Piping
self titled
reviewed by Jason Hohl

Well, it appears that spring has arrived in it’s full glory and you know what that means: In whatever neck of the woods you live, the Scottish Highland Games festivals are just around the corner!  To get yourself in the mood, check out the recently released CD by Two Pipers Piping, which is aptly called “Two Pipers Piping”.  TPP consists of mother/son duo Sharon and Kyle Grasty from Oxford, PA.  Kyle is also a member of the rocking pipe band Tartanic.  In addition to playing the pipes, Sharon also handles the tribal drums on the album.

The album is a real joy to listen to.  It opens with the majestic sounding Steam Train to Mallaig, with some really nice bagpipe harmonies.  Next up is a set of fast tunes, nice and clean with one pipe and drum together.  The third song, The Sleeping Tune, really threw me for a loop at first.  Try to imagine an instrument that you could never imagine being paired with a Highland Bagpipe. Okay, what did you come up with?  How about a harp?  Sounds crazy, but it totally works.  It really is a beautifully arranged tune.  A little later is a pretty straight ahead version of Amazing Grace.  You can’t really have a bagpipe CD without that song can you?  The album closes with some fingering fireworks on Hellbound Train.

Overall, this is a really good album. You may be thinking, “I don’t know if I can handle an entire album of bagpipes”.  I get it.  I love the pipes, but even my ears get worn out after a while.  No worries, this album clocks in with 9 songs and just over 22 minutes long.  Just enough music to get me warmed up while heading to the Highland Games this summer!

You can buy the CD at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/twopiperspiping

Check out their website at http://www.2piperspiping.webs.com/

Jason Hohl is head of reviews for 67 Music and is a Celtic musician himself.  Most recently part of Portland Irish rock band Sons of Malarkey.

Be sure to ‘like’ 67 Music on Facebook for all the latest news, reviews, and features!

The Kilt.  A few yards of fabric and a belt.  For most people, just saying the word Kilt will conjure up images of Renaissance Fairs and Braveheart.  We live in an appearance driven society, and the wearing of a kilt is one of those fashion statements that seems only acceptable when worn in context.  The public library or the local grocery store may not seem to be appropriate Kilt wearing venues, and the wearer may receive more than a few odd stares and comments.  Admittedly, there will be an individual who will wear a kilt just to draw attention to themselves, but for many, the kilt is not a fashion statement.  It is an acknowledgment of their heritage and culture.  And for an even smaller group, it becomes the daily way of life.

On his 50^th birthday,  Rick Baldwin decided he would spend that next year, every day, everywhere, wearing a kilt.  What began as the project “A Year in a Kilt” and which has now evolved into “Life in a Kilt”, is the Facebook chronicles of, as Rick puts it, “The Adventures of a Steadfast Kilt wearer”.  With well over 10,000 “likes” as of this writing, Rick proves that photo close-ups of a man’s knees beneath a colorful Tartan, can hold our attention.

One would think that before attempting this yearlong venture, Rick would have been a casual kilt wearer; slowly ramping up his Kilt-wearing to a full time commitment.

“I had never even touched a kilt before I started doing this.  I’d always wanted a kilt but I knew nothing about them.  It’s probably a stroke of luck that I didn’t wear it backward for the first few weeks.  I was completely ignorant of anything about kilts” admits Rick.  “My problem was I didn’t really have any place to wear a kilt.  I’d been to a couple of Renaissance Fairs, which I loved, but there were no regular events close by that would excuse me purchasing a kilt.  I said to my girlfriend, “Maybe I should just get one and wear it every day that I’m 50.”  That sort of turned into a dare and it took off from there.”

In the beginning, Rick had decided that he would take a low profile, mono-chromatic approach on his kilt choice.  However, blending into the scenery is not an option while wearing a kilt.

“I wore utility kilts a lot at first because I thought they were a little more like pants and wouldn’t draw as much attention to myself.   After I got up enough nerve to wear the tartans in public I realized people could identify more that I was wearing a kilt and not just a skirt.  I got more compliments in the tartans and more people came up and told me their Scottish stories.  I started enjoying the tartans more too to the point that I almost never wear utility kilts anymore”, states Rick.

As Rick initiated his search into what kilts to buy (present tally now thirty), he began to learn about the Tartans and their family meanings.

“My ancestors largely come from the MacDonald and Wallace clans so I knew I wanted to get kilts in those tartans.  When my Wallace Red kilt arrived it was so bold I couldn’t bring myself to put it on.  I was afraid everyone would stare”. Rick continues, “The MacDonald Modern is very flexible and looks good with almost any outfit.  The Wallace Modern is bold and lets people know you are wearing a kilt and not ashamed of it.  I always get comments when I wear it so I won’t wear it if I’m feeling like I want to be alone that day. I also have an Irish National tartan which I wear a lot.  I might wear it more often than any of the others.  There’s something about it that’s very organic and down to earth.  It’s like a very comfortable pair of pants, if you’ll pardon the expression.”

Rick, for all appearances, seems like an outgoing guy who wouldn’t care what people thought of him.  Yet, I imagine for all first time kilt wearers, there is always that apprehension of how will people react.

“The most difficult part of the kilt wearing was wearing it in public”, says Rick, “I’m a performer and very comfortable on stage but I am also very private and shy in real life and I hate being the center of attention.  So I make this decision to guarantee I’ll be the center of attention.  Go figure.  My biggest fear at first was going to Wal-Mart.  I avoided that for a couple months.  The hardest part about it is just putting on all of the kilt gear.  In the past if I was at home and wanted to make a quick beer run I would throw on jeans and loafers and I’m out the door.  Now I have to strap on the kilt, put on a belt, put on the boots, buckle up the sporran and then I’m almost out of the mood to go.  If there’s one thing I do miss about pants it’s just the convenience of putting them on quickly to make a quick run out.”

In addition to having been a stand-up comedian for almost 10 years and a professional cartoonist for close to 30 years,  Rick is the owner of a scenic art company.  He creates 3D environments for the entertainment, hospitality and amusement industries.  Rick has the freedom from the dress codes most of us comply to, but there are times when a kilt may not be the most practical work garment.

“I discovered there are certain things in my work that are difficult or impossible to do in a kilt.  I paint a lot of murals and I spend hours sitting on the floor scooting along a wall.  This is just impractical to do in a kilt.  Also, I make sculptures that have to be hard coated with plastic and I have to put on protective clothing for that.  I can’t do that in a kilt”, explains Rick.  “The whole idea of the experiment was to see if I could go an entire year wearing a kilt in every situation possible.  Even if it’s uncomfortable.  I think I did that, but I certainly wasn’t going to take a chance and do something hazardous or foolish in the kilt.  It was all about having fun.”

From the posts on his Facebook pages, it appears that Rick is really having a good time. He is also benefiting personally from his kilted adventure.

“It has made me much more confident.  I didn’t plan on that happening but that’s been a huge benefit.  I’ve had to get used to being stared at and having complete strangers come up and chat with me which has taken some getting used to.  When you are wearing a kilt people assume you are an expert and the official representative of all things Scottish,” says Rick.

Of course there are always people who will view the kilt, or any culturally specific clothing, as a “costume”.  If you’re in a kilt, you must be on the way to something.

“I was walking by a hair salon once and a woman came rushing out and asked me if I was looking for a parade.  I’m not sure if she thought I had been in a parade and got lost or if I had gotten up that morning and put on my kilt outfit hoping I’d get lucky enough to find a parade to join.  So many people ask me if I play the bagpipes or just ask “Where are you playing?”  They seem so disappointed and confused when I tell them I don’t play.  I honestly don’t think they can process why I would ever want to be wearing a kilt if I’m not playing the bagpipes somewhere”, quips Rick.

Rick never imagined his “Year in a Kilt” mission becoming so popular, but with thousands of fans cheering him on and begging for more, we can now live vicariously through his “Life in a Kilt” posts.  There he is inspiring the kilt-curious to take courage and proudly put on a MacDonald Modern or an Ancient MacBean Tartan.  Kilt retailers need to send Rick a commission check to thank him for their spikes in sales!

Rick adds, “It’s all about having fun and whatever I can do to accomplish that and bring more positive awareness to kilts and kilt wearing”.

Please visit “Life in a Kilt” and “Year in a Kilt” on Facebook.

Jerry Dawson is a feature writer and reviewer for 67 Music, visit him on Facebook.
‘Like’ 67 Music on Facebook for the latest Celtic music news, reviews, features, and more!

Welder’s Dog
Off The Chain
reviewed by Josh Curll

Johnny Rotten once said “…the genuine roots of culture is folk music.” Australia has long been associated with Ireland, though not always as a great vacation spot or a place to move when one tires of the rain.  Many, many fenians and rebels were transported there against their will and they brought the music with them.  It’s not for nothing songs from both sides of the world are happily sung in pubs, kitchens, and concert halls, and because of their ingrained and close history, it can sometimes be a tad convoluted as to who had the song first.

And thus, the new album by Welder’s Dog, an Australian contemporary folk trio.  Off The Chain, happily celebrates the Celtic heritage they share with the Emerald Isle, and who cares where it was sung first?  The album is an education on the many instruments found in the particular music genre this site is known for promoting.  Harps, Irish Bouzouki, Mandolin, Mandola, and the Mountain Dulcimer (not technically an Irish instrument) pepper the whole album.  I’m definitely biased, I love the dulcimer, so I was quite pleased when on the first song, The Riverbed Cries (an original song), the first thing I heard was a dulcimer.  It set the mode for the rest of my listening experience.  They play both traditional and original compositions on this album, with the originals having a slight edge 10 to 6 on the traditional.  I went to their website and found a few more songs that they play, that are not listed, that I didn’t recognize, and that’s saying something.  I gotta say though, no banjo? I was a little disappointed.

My favorite of their originals though is The Rodney, a song about a boat whose ruins still sit in New South Wales. I’ll skip the history lesson, but it’s quite the story, and no wonder it inspired them to write a song.  But I would like to meet someone who likes Celtic music, and at the same time, hates songs about pirates and boats.  They don’t shy away from the trad though.  Shores of Botany Bay, is just plain fun to listen to, and Whiskey in the Jar, is always welcome as far as I’m concerned.

Still, no banjo though. Maybe they’ll fix that in the next one.

Here is their website: http://weldersdog.com/

you can buy the CD or MP3’s directly from there or CD Baby.

Josh Curll is a staff writer for 67 Music and member of Portland Celtic rock band, Sons Of Malarkey.
‘Like’ 67 Music on Facebook for the latest in Celtic music news, shows, and reviews!

Sail away with Celtica – Pipes Rock! on their new CD  Oceans of Fire!
reviewed by Ann Peck McBride

Right away, you are invited on a special voyage, via a poem delivered with Scots panache.  If you listen to the words, the adventure will be described to you- a cross between a pirate in search of plunder, and an explorer discovering exotic destinations.  Then the first musical selection begins, and it’s a lot like the beginning of the Pirates of the Carribbean ride, when your boat suddenly speeds up and sails down a steep, narrow tunnel-it’s dark, and smokey, and loud, and you just know you are going to have a fantastic time!

The seventeen cuts on the CD mostly continue the voyage you have embarked on. “What Shall We Do With A Drunken Sailor,” a rowdy rendition of an old time favorite, and later, with “Have Some Whiskey,” you’ll find yourself getting into the spirit as you metaphorically sit on deck with your grog, singing along.  The theme carries through with the traditional sound of  “Champion of the Seas” and titles like “Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea”, “Aye, Aye, Captain” and “White Whale” and ending, appropriately with “Coming Home.”  My favorite of these is “The Last Voyage of the Great Micheal,” a driving instrumental with pipes and guitar blazing in tandem.

Oh-and one departure from the “ship” that is sure to please is called “Celtica Goes To Hollywood” and is five minutes or so of the Celtica take on themes from Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Titanic, Last of the Mohicans, Braveheart, and of course, Pirates of the Carribbean.

The music is rock, and the lead instrument is bagpipe.  Specifically Great Highland Bagpipe, a powerful and exciting sound combined with guitar and bass and the brilliant Lukas Rausch on drums.  The members of this group come from all around the globe-from California and Arizona to Scotland and Austria.  Duncan Knight of Scotland, who plays Great Highland Bagpipe, has played with the 1st Battalion Royal Scots and the Royal Scots Borderers, and has played the pipes since the age of ten.  Gwendolyn Rowe from Mendocino, California, who also plays bagpipe, breeds and trains Scottish Highland ponies and owns a watertower in Scotland. The bass player, Harry Weinkum is from Phoenix, Arizona, and the remaining three members, Josy Svajda on keyboards and percussion, Gajus Stappen on guitar, and Lukas Rausch on drums, are from Austria.  It’s an eclectic group, and I wish I could see their live show, which includes flame throwing and fire juggling!  They just completed their USA Spring Tour, however, and are currently touring Europe.  They will be back in July, however, and visiting the Highland Games in Linville, North Carolina.  Slightly closer to home, but only slightly, will be June 29th, when they will be in Anchorage for the Alaska Highland Games.

Gajus Stappen (Vienna, Austria), electric Guitar & Percussion

Gwendolen Rowe (Mendocino, CA/USA), Great Highland Bagpipe

Duncan Knight (Edinburgh, Scotland), Great Highland Bagpipe

Harry Weinkum (Phoenix, AZ/USA), Bass & Percussion

Lukas Rausch (Scheibbs, Austria), Drums

Josy Svajda (Saalfelden, Austria), Fire, Vocals, Keyboard & Percussion

Get more info on Celtica -Pipes Rock! on their official site and on Facebook!

Ann Peck McBride is a staff reviewer with 67 Music and co-host of  The Celtic Music Hour.

‘Like’ 67 Music on Facebook for all the latest in Celtic music!

Artist: Jim Malcolm
Album: Live in Glenfarg   (released in 2004)
reviewed by Jason Hohl

In addition to reviewing current Celtic albums, we thought it would be fun to occasionally review some older albums that we really enjoy listening to.  Sooooo…..Quick!  Name me three famous solo musicians who play guitar and harmonica and have great voices!  Neil Young?  Good call, though people seem to have a love/hate relationship with his voice (he’s my favorite).  Dylan? His voice was, um, interesting, but his harmonica playing always struck me as dull.  That’s about all I could come up with.  Scottish singer/songwriter Jim Malcolm combines a fantastic voice with very skilled harmonica playing on his 2004 album, Live in Glenfarg.  Jim has been performing for years, both as lead singer for Scotland’s Old Blind Dogs and since 2007 as a solo artist.  He has the most nominations for Scots Singer of the Year award and in 2004 was voted songwriter of the year at the Scots Trad Awards.

The album is a collection of stories, primarily about his homeland of Scotland.  Most of the songs are also self-penned, with a few traditional songs sprinkled throughout.  Jimmy’s Gone to Flanders is a mournful tune about a young lad heading off to war and uncertainty that ends with a fabulous harmonica solo.  I love the melody in the chorus of Road to New York.  On Losin’ Auld Reekie,  you can hear the crowd faintly singing the chorus in the background which gives it a really warm feel.  There’s also a good version of the traditional song, Glenlogie.  There are a couple more jazzy numbers in there that are a little unexpected, but he’s got a wonderful crooning style that fits the songs perfectly.  My favorite song on the album is Battle of Waterloo, a wonderfully depressing song told from the perspective of a dying soldier.

Recording a live album has got to be a little unnerving.  You can’t just re-record an errant chord or vocal that slides out of tune.  No problem here though, the playing is impeccable (guitar and harmonica) and his vocals are spot on and rather welcoming. As far as the songs themself go, he’s a great descriptive storyteller.  Often he sings about people and places that he obviously knows well.  If you’re a fan of Young or Dylan, (or Gordon Lightfoot, Cat Stevens or Paul Simon), you should check out the unique skill set that Jim Malcolm brings to the live setting.

To find more information about Jim Malcolm, head over to jimmalcolm.com.

Jason Hohl is head of reviews for 67 Music and is a Celtic musician himself.  Most recently part of Portland Irish rock band Sons of Malarkey.

Be sure to ‘like’ 67 Music on Facebook for all the latest news, reviews, and features!

Not too long ago, 67 music had the distinct pleasure of speaking with Portland based Celtic musician, Jeremy Bauer.  On this particular spring evening, Jeremy invited us into his home, shared his Guinness, and stories of his long career.  Beginning from his days in an Idaho with The Boise Highlanders, through his time with Portland’s popular Celtic rockers- Amadan, to the newest group hitting the scene- Coming Up Threes, Jeremy has a career to be proud of.
In addition to the high energy and very popular performances of Coming Up Threes, you might also catch Jeremy at a local session.  Sitting in with other grand Portland musicians at a small pub, he is just as much at home as if up on the stage.  67 Music is proud to present our exclusive interview with Jeremy Bauer.  We hope you enjoy it!

Be sure to check out Jeremy Bauer and all the music he’s made!  These links will lead you to music, pics, gigs, and more!
Jeremy Bauer on Facebook.
Portland’s Coming Up Threes.
Amadan.

The McGrath Family
Make The Circle Wide
review by Ann Peck McBride

In the 70s and early 80s, three Irish musicians in Canada founded a group called Ryan’s Fancy.  After ’71 they were based in St John’s, Newfoundland, and even had a television series in Canada, called “Ryan’s Fancy.”  They were very successful, and a major presence in the resurgence of traditional music at that time.  In the ’83, they disbanded.  But that’s not the end of the story…

Flash forward to the present. Fergus O’Byrne, a member of Ryan’s Fancy and still very much a performer, and his son, Fergus Brown O’Byrne, have gotten together with their extended family.  This family has spread out from its Irish roots to Australia, New Zealand, the USA, Canada, and the UK.  When they all got together in Dublin, they had such a great time together, they decided to put together this family collection of musical offerings (funny, when my family gets together, all we can achieve are some cutthroat card games).

Actually, this story starts even earlier than Ryan’s Fancy and their success of 30 years ago.  Pictured on the cover of the CD are Ellen and Micheal McGrath the family’s grandparents.  Ellen left a childhood of poverty in Claddagh, a fishing village that is part of Galway, to find work as a maid in Dublin.. The artists are their direct descendants, with their spouses and children. Even the song that opens the album, “Carrigdhoun” is one that Ellen sang.

The result is a completely charming offering of traditional songs and tunes, with some original music from the talented Maurice McGrath, of Caedon.  Oh, and a little country music, with Aoifa Kenny belting out “Bobby McGee!”  The choices are the kind you might hear, if you were really lucky, at a “hoolie,” an Irish party.  Here’s a beautiful “Black Is The Colour” sung by Aoifa Kenny and a rousing “South Australia” delivered by Stephen Murphy.  From the haunting “Carrigdhoun” at the beginning; sung with absolute authenticity by Brid McGrath, to the powerful simplicity at the end with, naturally, “The Parting Glass” sung accapella by Eoghan McGrath with vocal harmony, this is a CD to listen to again and again.

Maurice McGrath sings his own, “Winds of Change,” an emphatically current and meaningful song, and Fergus O’Byrne sings McGrath’s “Glenties,” a catchy song in a more traditional style, with his wonderful and familiar voice.  The “Harvest Home Set” has Ronan McGrath, Claire Patterson, and Fergus Brown O’Byrne, playing a collection of familiar tunes so infectious I almost danced while writing this.

There is a wide range of women’s voices.  Brid McGrath, has a timeless warm delivery with both the opening “Carrigdhoun” and “Trathnona Beag Aréir”.  Her daughter Maria sings “Rainy Night in Soho” with a pure, clear pathos.  Aine McGrath’s soprano effortlessly flows through the traditional “She Moved Through the Fair,” and her daughter Aoife Kenny’s voice is strong and beautiful, moving from traditional to country without missing a beat.

A great musical collection, and a portion of the proceeds from sales go to St. Francis Hospice in Dublin and the Dr. H. Bliss Murphy Cancer Centre in St. John’s.

Please visit the official website for The McGrath Family.  News, music, videos, and more!

Ann Peck McBride is a staff writer for 67 Music and co-host of Celtic Music Hour on KMUZ-88.5 fm and KMUZ.org

‘Like’ 67 Music on Facebook for more Celtic music, interviews, features, and promotions!

Kevin Flynn and the Avondale Ramblers | The Broken Pavement of Avondale
Interview with Kevin Flynn and review of the new album
review and interview by Jerry Dawson

Chicago is a city synonymous with great musicians.  With home-town heroes like Muddy Waters, Sam Cooke, Curtis Mayfield, and Styx (don’t laugh, we all secretly like them), Chicago artists have been an influential force in music for decades.  Furthermore, Chicago has a thriving Celtic music scene that is the envy of most other cities.  And an absolute stand-out from the crowd is Kevin Flynn and the Avondale Ramblers.

Kevin Flynn’s new album “The Broken Pavement of Avondale” pays tribute to both the Windy City and the Irish attitude in a way that avoids the tired clichés that seems to have permeated Irish folk/rock.  Yes, there are still sing-a-longs about whiskey, but the song-writing is definitely on a level that sounds fresh and interesting.  The themes range from Chicago royalty (Pope of the Windy City), to forgotten maritime tragedies (The Eastland), and snapshots of daily life in Chicago neighborhoods (A Portrait of the City).  And the one instrumental on the album (Broken Pavement of Avondale) has one of the catchiest melodies I have heard in years.

What I enjoy is the raw, loose feel they combine with traditional Irish folk.  The album is full of high-spirited and rowdy songs that are tailored-made for hanging out at the pub, yet at the same time demonstrate quality musicianship.

This album has also made me do something I have never done before; research further into the subjects of the songs.  I am a maritime history fanatic, but I was not familiar with the story behind the disaster of the Eastland.  Kevin’s attention to the somber details of the tragedy makes it less a song and more like a memorial.

The album is full of pleasant surprises, and the best one for me was to hear Tony Duggins of The Tossers singing a duet with Kevin on Don’t Bury Me Outside Chicago.  I must have replayed it five or six times before moving on.

As busy as the band is, Kevin Flynn graciously gave us a moment to answer a few questions:

67music: Honestly, how much whiskey was involved in the creating of this album?

KF: Ha… Ya know, it’s stereotypical to be in a Celtic band and all and exaggerate how much you like whiskey – but the Avondale Ramblers really like their whiskey! They’ve become connoisseurs. We usually bring at least a half-pint to every practice or studio session. So let’s see…counting practicing the songs and all the days in the studio…..umm.. let’s just say – a lot!

67music: Chicago has a long, colorful, and sometimes tragic history. What made you choose the particular people and events used as the subjects for the songs?

KF: There was no particular method. They were just the people and events whose stories we felt needed to be told if you’re going to be a true Chicago folk band. Mayor Daley? – that’s a no-brainer. The Daleys are to Chicago what the Kennedys are to Massachusetts. The Eastland? – more passengers died on that trip than on the Titanic.  It didn’t get a big movie made about it, but it got a great song.

67music: Before recording, did you give the songs a test drive at gigs or was it straight to the studio with new material?

KF: About half of them were test-driven.  Some were good to go after the first drive; others needed a couple of spins around the block.  One of them suffered a number of re-calls to the factory but ended up being one of the best songs on the album!

67music: Are you familiar with the Pacific Northwest Celtic music scene? And any plans to come to Portland for this albums tour?

KF: I can’t say I’m too familiar with it.  I’m sure it’s a good scene – like all the others in Portland.  There are no exact plans, per se, at this moment – but we have been out west before and there was talk of heading out there again soon – so maybe…..

67music: Which is the better movie featuring the city of Chicago: The Untouchables or Ferris Bueller’s Day Off? 

KF: I f**king hate the Untouchables. There isn’t a shred of accuracy to that movie.  It would have been no less a work of complete fiction had Spider-man shown up to help Eliot Ness.  And that stupid, “If they’ve got a knife, you bring a gun – that’s the Chicago way,” line.  That’s such crap.  The Chicago way is: “Hey – there’s this guy I know who can get you a job..” We’ll go with Ferris Bueller. There are some nice shots of the city in there…

Thank you Kevin and we do hope you visit Portland soon.

Please go to Kevin-Flynn.com to view a few of their very entertaining videos and great live performances. You could also download the album, but I recommend getting a good old fashion CD. You will find that all of the lyrics are printed out for your enjoyment. They also have the best “thanks to” line I have seen. You have to appreciate a band that gives a shout out to Jesus Christ, Wild Turkey and Chicago, Illinois in the same sentence.

Jerry Dawson is a staff writer for 67 Music

Arran
A Thousand Miles
reviewed by Ann Peck McBride

When I was listening to Arran’s CD, A Thousand Miles, I was struck by the wide range of music this all acoustic, folk-based group played.  Their music is a rooted in a Celtic tradition, and they play many Irish and Scottish songs and tunes; but with their own special twist.  And quite often a hint of jazz and pop are evident.

Arran is an island that is in the western part of Scotland, in Firth of Clyde.  It is a particularly good name for a group that plays both Irish and Scottish music, because Arran was, due to its proximity to Northern Ireland, colonized by the Irish.  This is a group that records in France, however, and it looked to me from their website as though they are preparing to tour Brittany, one of the Seven Celtic Nations.  They are from Paron, France, which is in the north central region.

One of my favorite songs on the CD is called “Tunnel Tigers,” sung with a driving intensity.  This song was written by Ewan MacColl, composer of such famous standards as “Dirty Old Town” and “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.” The Tunnel Tigers is about the Irish emigrants who dug the tunnels in London for the Underground.  The juxtaposition of lyrical descriptions of the beautiful and peaceful scenery of Ireland with the refrain “Up with the shields and Jack it! Ram it! Drive a tunnel through the London clay!” make this a powerful statement about these workers.

“Charlie Is My Darling” is a historic folksong about Prince Charles Edward Stewart, the Young Chevalier.  I learned it in grade school. Believe me, I don’t remember anything like the sinuous vocal of Marion Condomines, which starts the song over Valerie Le Goff’s classic jazz bass line, joined by Steve Duong’s playful violin and Mickael Vedrine’s intricate rhythmic guitar.  It is catchy, with some jazz overtones that will stay with you afterwards.

I particularly want to mention the beautiful instrumental “Dublin Airport.”  Mickael Vedrine’s guitar, Steve Duong’s violin, and Marc Flandre’s flute wove a lovely waltz that made me want to get up and dance.  It’s hard to believe these are the same musicians who execute jigs like “Boys of the Town” and reels like “High Road To Lyon”-and the amazing country fiddle on “Strange Delight.”

This is the third CD for Arran, whose first CD, Winter Garden was in 2007. They continue to fascinate the listener with their diverse styles, original material, and fresh interpretations of traditional Celtic music.

More information on Arran at their website!

Ann Peck McBride is a staff writer for 67 Music and co-host of  The Celtic Music Hour.

Qristina and Quinn Bachand
Family
reviewed by Baxter Labatos

The shared creativity of siblings Quinn and Qristina Bachand in Family is a testament to the fact that Celtic music is and has always been a family affair.   And it is no accident that the title of their second album is exactly that: Family.  This album was released around late 2011 which catapulted the two into international live shows and countless youtube footage uploaded by fans.  All the tracks are brilliant, well produced and display tight musicianship.  But let us not ignore the other merits that Family has in store for those who are trying to pick up their Celtic albums.

I must say the packaging is hands down fabulous!   Thanks to the excellent lens of Ryan MacDonald, the album sleeve photos capture the spirit of the music.  Owning Family is something you should be proud to show off :as it sounds really awesome the way it looks. There are excellent shots of Qristina and Quinn playing music against the Canadian prairie.  The album has a glossy cardboard jacket style where you can just pull out the liner notes located on the right.  The liner notes have additional photos and lyrics.  Also an explanation on how each track was conceived and recorded.  I like the smell of liner notes. It’s one of my fetishes since I started buying albums as a teen.

Family has a total of twelve tracks running at 48:23.  There are medleys as well as solid tracks.  There are familiar tunes which I really love. One of them is Music for a Found Harmonium which I heard first from Irish Times by Patrick Street.

Now we are talking here about young musicians who are serious about their craft.  You might not believe it but get a copy of Family and listen to its entirety.  Who would think this is the work of two siblings at an age group where most aspiring artists dabble with bubblegum pop?   These two have it.  They have it in their hearts.  Thanks for their friends and relatives who are always looking for their best interest that their feet are firmly planted on the ground.  If you have read my previous interview about Quinn and his remark about people in his school not knowing what he does, man, that shows humility.

Family is meant for serious listeners of Celtic music.  It has that purist quality yet still true to the adventurous spirit of youth and joy.  It is an album that’s meant to be listened outdoors, in high volume.  It is the album that jives with the sounds of nature.  It is the music for all seasons.  Qristina plays the violin beyond her years.  She plays in a vigorous and precise manner.  She doesn’t play to sound beautiful.  She plays to bring out the real spirit of traditional music to the fore. Quinn strums the guitar like a pro.  He has that command of rhythm and expressiveness, applying nuances in passages that require it and then let it all rip in tracks that need the energy.

There are fast and slow tunes.  A sort of balance was created with the choice of materials.  Inisheer which is the fourth track is a delicate tune that sound’s golden in its clarity. There are also two tracks with vocals: Smile or Cry and Red Rocking Chair.  These showcase Qristina’s clear and frisky vocals.  Everything in the album is worth one’s ears and time.  And the whole album is meant to be listened as if reading a novel than just going for the parts. Family is an uplifting and rich experience.

Musical credits: Qristina on fiddle and vocals.  Quinn on acoustic guitar plus several other instruments including Irish tenor banjo, 5-string banjo, bodhran, harmony fiddle and electric guitar.  Guests include Zac Leger (Uilleann pipes, flute, whistle), Scott Senior (cajon, bongo, shakers, percussion), Adrian Dolan (accordion, mandola), Felix Prummel (low whistle), Oliver Swain (upright bass & vocals) and Bryan Skinner (bodhran).

More info at the official website

Baxter Labatos is a guest writer for 67 Music and head of his own blog, The Celtic Music Fan.
‘Like’ 67 Music on Facebook!