Clannad - Christ Church Cathedral - 2013

Si alguien quiere conocer el porqué de la importancia de la familiar banda Clannad, sobre todo en su Irlanda natal, este disco puede ser un artefacto idóneo para ello. La banda favorita del líder de U2, Bono (con quien han trabajado en más de una ocasión) son una institución de la música irlandesa y celta en general, además de haber sido artífices de su mezcla con la controvertida new age. El caso es que aquí se han reunido los cinco miembros originales de la formación, cosa que no sucedía desde hace más de 20 años y han tocado junto a importantes invitados en la Christ Church Cathedral de Dublín. Además han reunido en 75 minutos todo su repertorio fundamental que está plagado de deliciosas adaptaciones a su estilo de populares temas tradicionales. Hasta 12 aparecen en este trabajo con especial mención para la paz total y la flauta de la inicial “Thíos Chois Na Trá Domh” o las voces a capella de “Dtigeas A Damsha”. La armónica destaca en “Crann Úll” y la flauta, de nuevo, en el bucólico instrumental “Eleanor Plunkett”.
La mayoría de temas compuestos por ellos los firma Ciarán Brennan. Es el caso de las apacibles acústicas y voces que trufan “Newgrange”. La flauta con ambientes casi a lo Jethro Tull se sale en la extensa “Dúlamán” que también recuerda a los más reposados Gwendal. Entre los numerosos invitados especiales destaca Brian Kennedy en “In A Lifetime”, uno de sus más sonados éxitos. También están presentes otros triunfos comerciales como un medley de la serie de televisión “Robin Of Sherwood”, “I Will Find You” (de la película “El último Mohicano”) o “Theme From A Harry’s Game”.
En toda esta tanda de canciones les acompaña el multitudinario grupo vocal Anúna, aquí con 14 voces más el gran solista Eunan McDonald que también brilla junto a Kennedy en “In A Lifetime”. También íntimo y henchidos de emoción suenan en la adaptación del poema de W.B. Yeats, “Down By The Sally Gardens”. El final con la tradicional “Teidhir Abhaile Riú” es otra apacible gozada. Esta grabación aparece ahora pero el concierto tuvo lugar hace dos años.
 http://www.paisajeselectricos.com/2013/03/17/clannad-christ-church-cathedral/
Recorded 29th January 2011 at Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, Ireland

Martin Hayes - Under the Moon

Martin returned to County Clare to record Under the Moon, gaining the accompaniment of his father, famed fiddler P.J. Hayes, and guitarist Steve Cooney. He is also joined by his American musical partners, accordion virtuoso John Williams and Portland guitarist/fiddler Randal Bays. This album contains all the spirit and eloquence of his eponymous debut and adds even more passion. No one can get inside a tune--be it barndance, jig or reel--like Martin Hayes. Under the Moon is an album that stirs the heart and electrifies the mind! 1995
http://www.martinhayes.com/albums.htm

Brian Finnegan - The Ravishing Genius Of Bones [Irlanda]

Brian Finnegan, el que fuera miembro fundador del ya desaparecido grupo Flook, acaba de sacar un disco en solitario, al que ha titulado The Ravishin Genius of Bones. En este disco colaboran también sus compañeros de Flook Ed Boyz y John Joe Kelly, el incansable Mike McGoldrick, el grupo Crooked Still o los componentes de su nueva banda KAN.
http://jarramplas.blogspot.com/2010/05/brian-finnegan-ravishing-genius-of.html



Por esperado, podíamos hablar sin equivocarnos, de uno de los trabajos del año, y es que muchos de los seguidores de la extinta Flook! estaban deseando saber por donde irían los derroteros de los miembros de la banda, y parece ser que uno de los más activos es Finnegan, con su proyecto Kan junto a Aidan O’Rourke y este The ravishing genius of bones, su entrega en solitario.
Para todos aquellos seguidores de los anteriores proyectos del de Armagh decirles que pueden estar tranquilos, el espíritu Flook! sigue vigente en todos y cada uno de los 9 temas que componen el disco, en el que vuelve a dar una lección única del dominio de toda clase de flautas. Especialmente interesante son temas como Belfast, compuesto por tres temas de Barry Kerr, Liz Carrol y Adam Sutherland, o la belleza de Marga’s, que incluye la melodía dedicada a la acordeonísta asturiana Marga Lorences.
La nómina de invitados que acompañan a Brian Finnegan es espectacular, encabazada por sus ex-compañeros de Flook! Ed Boyd y John Joe Kelly, la banda Crocked Still, Damien O’Kane o Aidan O’Rourke.
The ravishing genius of bones es un disco realizado con mucho mimo, y desde luego que por momentos (Starrs) parece realizado a capricho.
http://cachafeiro.wordpress.com/2010/06/25/brian-finnegan-the-ravishing-genius-of-bones/




Tracklist:
1. Steps
2. Fly
3. Marga's
4. Belfast
5. Starrs
6. Joy
7. Frida
8. Only
9. Nightride

T with the Maggies - T with the Maggies (2010) [Irlanda]

T with the Maggies are Tríona & Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh & Moya Brennan

In May 2007, a remarkable gathering of traditional Irish musicians and singers came together at Vicar Street in Dublin to celebrate the life and music of Mícheál Ó Domhnaill, who, with Skara Brae and The Bothy Band, had been a pioneering force in Irish music.

Among the many artists and groups coming together that evening was an evocative performance by four of Ireland’s finest female singers. Tríona and Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill (Míchaél’s two sisters, concert organisers and co-members of Skara Brae and The Bothy Band) were joined by Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh of Altan and Moya Brennan of Clannad.

And so was born one of the most inspirational and heartening collaborations in traditional Irish music.

Tríona, Maighread, Mairéad and Moya, T with the Maggies, all come from the same corner of County Donegal (with Gaelic as their first language) and all have illustrious career histories. Each individual brings a unique and varied interpretation of their musical heritage but the result is one of the finest ever amalgamations of Irish female voices. They are real Celtic women!

Their first show in January 2009, at the Temple Bar Tradfest in Dublin, sold out immediately and they went on to perform at last year’s Irish Global Economic summit. A new recording of their repertoire favourite, Two Sisters, was commissioned by Sam Shepard, for his play, ‘Ages of the Moon’.

On the stage the ‘Maggies bubble with a mixture of instinctive tone, harmony and a generous helping of laughs. Each bring their choice of songs but mould them into the group with a unique soundscape of voice, piano, fiddle and harp. You can tell that they are the best of friends.

T with the Maggies is the group’s first album, combining over four decades of musical experience. With subtle arrangements, the album brings to the fore four voices that have shaped Irish traditional, folk and celtic music today.
http://www.twiththemaggies.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill: Vocals, Piano, Keyboards, Accordion, Whistle
Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill: Vocals, Yardstick
Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh: Vocals, Fiddle, Hardanger Fiddle, Low Octave Fiddle
Moya Brennan: Vocals, Harp, Djembe
Manus Lunny: Guitar, Bouzouki, Programming
Jim Higgins: Addictional Percussion
(Low Octave Fiddle courtesy of Ciarán Ó Maonaigh)

1.Wedding Dress
2.Domhnach na Fola
3.Thugamar Fhéin an Samhradh Linn
4.Bíodh Orm Anocht
5.Mother Song
6.Ógánaigh Uasail
7.Cuach mo Londubh Buí
8.Ceol an Phíobaire
9.A Stór A Stór A Ghrá
0.Farewell Farewell
11.An Mhaighdeán Mhara

320kbps+covers

T WITH THE MAGGIES

Martin Hayes & Dennis Cahill - Welcome Here Again

Un Virtuoso del violín irlandés Martin Hayes y un guitarrista nacido en Chicago, Dennis Cahill poseen un raro, casi telepático parentesco musical . El nuevo álbum del dúo, es una nueva partida; dieciocho pistas, una de ellas no más de siete minutos, pero con la misma intensidad y la profundidad de la emoción que se encuentra en sus anteriores colaboraciones, Lonesome Touch (1997) y en Live in Seattle (1999).


 

Bonnie Shaljean - Farewell To Lough Neaghe

Traditional harp music of Britain & Ireland
Farewell to Lough Neaghe is a solo instrumental recording using both gut and wire–strung harps. This is the first CD to feature some of the most important ancient Gaelic wire–strung harp music on a harp constructed with a one–piece willow soundbox.



1. Pibddawns Y Tant/Yr Ysgubau/Y Blodau
2. Roslin Castle/The Lea-Rig
3. Captain O'Neil/Colonel O'Hara/Sir Festus Burke
4. Bryd One Brere/Foweles In The Frith/Edi Beo Thu Hevene Quene/Sumer Is Icumen In
5. Late Hour/The Clock's Back Reel, The
6. Meillionen
7. Maille Bheag O
8. Kilburn Jig/Diarmuid's Well/The Wild Irishman, The
9. Childgrove/Daphne/'Twas Within a Furlong of Edinburgh Town/the Oak and the Ash
10. Farewell To Lough Neaghe
11. Pant Corlan Yr Wyn/Pibddawns Jones/Pwt Ar Y Bys
12. Her Mantle So Green/In Aonar Seal
13. Port 4th/Air By Fingal No. 1/Air By Fingal No. 3/Port 5th
14. When She Cam Ben She Bobbit
15. Planxty Drew/Mary O'Neill/Edmond MacDermott Roe/The Maids of Derry
16. Caismeachd Mhic Iain 'Ic Sheumais/Marbhna Cathaoir Mhic C ba
17. An P ist¡n Fionn/Se n O'Duibhir An Ghleanna
18. Port Priest/Port Atholl
19. I Was Not... Since Martinmas/An Muileann Dubh/The Highlandman/Kissed His Mother
20. Cumha Mhic Guidhir/T im I Mo/Chodhladh Is N  Duisigh M‚
21. Maggy Lauther/Bonie Jean Makis/Meikill of Me

Flook - Haven [Uk-Irlanda]

 

The band was formed in 1995, originally by Becky Morris, with three flute-playing friends Sarah Allen, Brian Finnegan and Michael McGoldrick, (who left in 1997 to join Capercaillie). The band was briefly known as Three Nations Flutes.

Flook's 10th anniversary tour for Folkworks, included a concert at the Purcell Room (on 7 November 2005) as part of a week of "Folk in the Fall" on London's South Bank and another at the extraordinary new Sage Gateshead concert hall on the south bank of the River Tyne on 10 November 2005. Their third studio album, Haven, was released in October 2005.
At the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2006, Flook were awarded the award for Best Group. They also gave a short performance during the ceremony.

In December 2008 the band sent a Christmas message saying they were disbanding. "We wanted to wish you a very Happy Christmas and also to share some news with you," said a band press release. "After 13-plus years, hundreds of gigs, millions of miles traveled together and countless brilliant times, we've decided to call it a day. It might be forever or a prolonged pause, who knows, but we're all still great friends and will always remain so. This might sound like a cliché but it is deeply truthful."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flook_%28band%29



01. The Tortoise and The Hare 5:32
02. Gone Fishing 4:03
03. Mouse Jigs 4:23
04. Souter Creek 5:10
05. Asturian Way 4:15
06. Wrong Foot Forward 5:44
07. Padraig's 4:34
08. Road to Errogie 4:51
09. On One Beautiful Day 3:31

 HAVEN

Clannad - Atlantic Realm [Irlanda]

Atlantic Realm is the eleventh album by Irish folk group Clannad, released in 1988. It is the soundtrack to the BBC television series The Natural World: Atlantic Realm, a documentary about the Atlantic Ocean.



Ciarán Brennan - Bass, Guitar, Keyboards, Producer, Vocals
Máire Brennan - Harp, Vocals
Paul Brennan - Flute, Guitar, Percussion, Producer, Vocals
Noel Duggan - Guitar, Vocals
Pat Duggan - Guitar, Mandolin, Vocals

1 - Atlantic Realm
2 - Predator
3 - Moving Thru
4 - The Berbers
5 - Signs of Life
6 - In Flight
7 - Ocean of Light
8 - Drifting
9 - Under Neptune's Cape
10 - Voyager
11 - Primeval Sun
12 - Child of the Sea
13 - The Kirk Pride

Atlantic Realm

Seamus Egan - When Juniper Sleeps [Irlanda]

Séamus Egan was born in Hatboro, Pennsylvania to Irish émigrés Mike and Ann Egan. At the age of three his parents moved the family back home to County Mayo, Ireland.
He learned accordion from Martin Donaghue. He saw Matt Molloy and James Galway on television and suddenly decided to take up the Irish flute. Seamus won the all-Ireland championship on four different instruments by the time he was 14.
Later work

When Mick Moloney founded Green Fields of America in 1977, Seamus joined up and took lessons from Mick on the banjo. Two years later he returned to Ireland and won the All-Ireland championship on banjo and mandolin[citation needed]. In 1985 he recorded a solo album Traditional Music Of Ireland.

In 1992 he joined Susan McKeown's band The Chanting House and appeared on a live album with them. Eileen Ivers was also a member of the band. In 1994 he founded Solas and has been on every one of their albums. In 1995 he recorded music for the quirky low-budget film The Brothers McMullen, directed by Edward Burns. He also co-wrote the hit "I Will Remember You" with Sarah McLachlan.

Egan is also the producer for Solas and has worked as producer for other artists, including American singer-songwriter Antje Duvekot.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%A9amus_Egan



Seamus Egan (nylon string guitar, tenor banjo, flute, uileann pipes, low whistle, tin whistle, bodhran)
Michael Aharon (acoustic & electric guitars, cello, piano, Hammond organ, keyboards, electric bass, percussion)
Zan McLeod (acoustic guitar, bouzouki)
John Doyle (acoustic guitar)
Winifred Horan (violin, fiddle)
John Williams (button accordion)
Lindsay Horner (acoustic bass)
Chico Huff (fretless, four- & six-string electric basses)
Daryl Burgee (drums, percussion)
Steve Holloway (drums)
Ron Crawford (drums, percussion)
John Anthony (percussion, cymbals).

1. The Winding Hills (4:52)
2. Weep Not For The Memories (5:03)
3. Masons Apron/My Love Is In America (5:59)
4. The Lark (3:48)
5. Mick O'Connor's (4:54)
6. Along The Way (4:32)
7. When Juniper Sleeps (4:57)
8. Faubert's Lilt (4:41)
9. Farewell To Glasgow (4:08)
10. To An Old Rose (4:25)
11. When Last We Met (3:23)
12. The Czar Of Munster (3:53)
13. Lullaby (3:25)

When Juniper Sleeps

Sharon Shannon - Each Little Thing [Irlanda]

Exuberante, alegre, optimista ... la música vibrante y vital de la irlandésa virtuosa del acordeón Shannon Sharon nos presenta Each Little Thing uno de los sus albums más aventureros hasta la fecha fué grabado despues de su aclamado Out the Gap. Cada tema lleva a Sharon aún más lejos en su proceso alquimico de la tradición celta. Un tango, vals, una canción chilena, e incluso un tema de Fleetwood Mac y una canción de Grace Jones tratadas con una sensibilidad musical única, entremezclando su acordeón con acompañamiento contemporáneo.
Producido por Donal Lunny, además de otros invitados como el legendario Tommy Peoples, Stephen Cooney, John McSherry, y una invitada la cantante Kirsty MacColl. Siempre firmemente arraigada en la tradición, Sharon se ha convertido en una visionaria e innovadora, absorbiendo, el sondeo, la exploración y el uso de sus raíces como plataforma de lanzamiento para una música brillante y muy personal.

Sharon Shannon (fiddle, accordion)
Kirsty MacColl (vocals, background vocals)
Dónal Lunny (guitar, bouzouki, keyboards, bodhran, percussion)
Steve Cooney (guitar, didjeridu)
Frankie Lane (dobro)
Barry Carroll (hammer dulcimer)
Mary Shannon (mandolin)
Michelle O'Brien, Mary Custy, Tommy Peoples (fiddle)
Adele O'Dwyer (cello)
McSherry (pipe)
Graham Henderson (piano)
Trevor Hutchinson (double bass)
Ray Fean (drums)
Oisin Lunny (programming)



 Each Little Thing

Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham - Roads Not Travelled

ACTUALIZADO!!
Otra maravillosa colección de canciones de Aly y Phil. Una vez más la brillantez de este dúo se nota en todo el CD. Nuevas composiciones de Phil como la belleza The Gentle Light that Wakes Me
y el tema A Bright Star in Cepheus que fue escrito en memoria del hermano de Phil, Johnny Cunningham.



Aly Bain - fiddle
Phil Cunningham - accordions, whistles, mandolin, piano, cittern, keyboards.
Anna Massie - Acoustic guitars
Martin O'Neil - bodhran.

1. The Bluejay, Scott MacMillan's Nightmare, Manus Lunny's Plower Pop (The Para Handy Theme)
2. Rockin' The Baby To Sleep; Frank McConnell's Three Step
3. The Gentle Light That Wakes Me
4. Dr. Donaldson; The Anvil
5. A Journey Just Begun
6. The Dundas Stumble; Crombie's Hornpipe
7. French Canadian Waltz; The Fernie's Waltz
8. A Bright Star In Cepheus
9. Major Manson's Farewell To Clachantrusheal; The Shinty Referee
10. Nil Desperandum; Lord Saltoun's Reel

Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham - Roads Not Travelled