Iarla Ó Lionáird’s CD, “Foxlight” is one of the best I’ve heard in a long time. What a tremendous talent.

The songs here are engaging and sung with a lot of heart as well as skill.  This is an album you simply must own if you love Irish music deeply, because it communicates on a level that is truly unparalleled.

Lionaird is well-known for being involved with the Afro Celt Sound System, but this is a CD all his own.  Released in 2011, this represents his latest solo effort, and the unique style makes this album hard to describe.  He sings in a style called “sean nos”, which isn’t exactly common.  Some moments the sound of it is haunting, while others it is sweet–but it is always excellent. Sinking into the mood of tracks such as “Eleanor Plunkett” is effortless, because the sound just grabs you instantly.

Interestingly, Lionaird sang on the Peter Gabriel album, OVO. Before I knew that, I heard elements of what seemed to echo Gabriel’s sound in some of the music here. Some tracks also reminded me of a world music band I love called “Dead Can Dance”. As a matter-of-fact, world music fans would probably really go for this CD–it isn’t what I would consider squarely within the genre, but it has the same type of attraction, and probably is classified that way by many.

Reviewing a CD is typically a process of listening to what works and what doesn’t in an album, combined with getting an overall feel for the sound. Here, it was simply a pleasure.

Artist: Iarla Ó Lionáird
Album: Foxlight

Hometown: County Kilkenny
Similar Artists: Dead Can Dance

Catherine L. Tully specializes in writing about the arts, lifestyle and travel. She is the Owner of 4dancers, a blog for those who love dance, and Editor for Freelance-Zone, an award-winning site for freelance writers. Catherine also reviews music for Celtic Music Magazine.

1. Celtic Pink Floyd   Too cool! If you think this wouldn’t work, you aren’t alone! When I first read the title, I thought…why?! But you’d be seriously surprised at how great tunes like “On the Turning Away” and “Young Lust” sound when played Celtic-style.
2. The World Pipe Band Championships, 2011 I admit I’m a bit of a sucker for the pipes. That’s why this CD makes the list! If you can’t get enough of ‘em, you’ll enjoy hearing the traditional sound of them on the 13 tracks here.
3. “IV” by Rising Gael This is quite simply, a very pretty album. The vocals are superb and the songs, well-chosen.
4. “Something Good for a Change” by Rathkeltair If you haven’t yet experienced this band, it’s time. They are quite different, and the mix of rock sound and Celtic roots works great on this CD.
5. “Stones on the Ground” by Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer This well-known duo does it again with this CD that is packed with great tracks and a traditional Celtic sound.
6. “Firefly Drinking Songs” by Bedlam Bards & Marc Gunn You can’t go wrong with an entire CD full of drinking songs I say. A hoot, ever for those who aren’t die-hard Firefly/Serenity fans, but Browncoats will be mad for it!
7. “Live Out Loud” by Maidens IV What is more lovely than fiddle music? Four sisters belting out some of the best Celtic folk and rock music you’ve ever heard on the fiddle. That’s right. Four.
8. “On Thin Ice” by Pandora Celtica A really, really cool holiday album with an unusual version of “Hazy Shade of Winter”. Get it for next year.
9. “Memory Lane” by The High Kings One song is better than the next on this fine Celtic CD. Worth investing in for your collection. Melodic and well produced.
10. “In My Life” by Kathy Barwick This one is a latecomer to the list, and it’s definitely a bit different, but I really enjoyed the arrangements and instrumentation here. Great for those who like gentle folk music.

There it is for this year! If you have a favorite Celtic music CD that I didn’t list–feel free to share! Happy New Year to you!

If you are the diehard Pink Floyd fan who cannot see the music being changed one iota then this album is not for you.  That being said, for everyone else, Celtic Pink Floyd, the brainchild of Damon Stout and Brian Stout, is an amazing feast.  It not only is a worthy tribute to a seminal rock band that was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but also shows the versatility of Celtic musicians and Celtic music.  This All-Star band of musicians truly due an incredible job holding true to the original music but leaving on it a certain Celtic stamp.

For instance, on “Wish You Were Here”, which was first featured on Pink Floyd’s 1975 album by the same name, and “Comfortably Numb”, one of Pink Floyd’s most recognized songs from their 1979 album The Wall, Patrick D’Arcy’s pipes and the whistle really help to evoke the pervading emotional tone of the song while allowing the Celtic influence to meld into it seamlessly.  Likewise, on one of my favorite tracks “Run Like Hell” you get the phenomenal playing of the whistle as well as the fiddle.  The clearness of it and the speed combined with the voices of both Marian Tomas Griffin and Laura Solter really give the song a wonderful intensity that makes you want to turn the volume up…way up.  Perhaps, however, my favorite song on the album is “On the Turning Away.”  Michael Kelly’s voice and fiddle just give the song a beautiful, melodic feel that is unmistakably Celtic in nature.

Other wonderful tracks on this album are classic songs like “Money”, “Mother”, “Another Brick in the Wall”, “Young Love”, as well as many more.

So if you are new to Pink Floyd or a loyal fan or just love Celtic Music, this album, Celtic Pink Floyd, should certainly be in your music collection.  Plus, as an added bonus A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the VH1 Save The Music Foundation.

Artist: Celtic Pink Floyd

Buy Album:  Celtic Pink Floyd

Stephen Mc Sweeney is a High School English/Drama teacher.  Besides writing for the Celtic Music Magazine, he enjoys acting, writing and playing Celtic music.  He can be seen as one of the members of the band Terrible Musicians, where he plays

The grit and grime of Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly with the traditional chops of The Young Dubliners and a bit of funk and a bit of Jazz thrown in for good measure, that is Icewagon FLU.  Coming on the scene in 2001, Icewagon FLU quickly made a name for themselves by being that band that is hard to peg into any one genre.  Now, 11 years and 7 albums later they still hold true to the simple goal of playing good music, no matter what genre in which it may fall.   And that is what you can expect on their latest album Off the Wagon – Volume 2.  While it is based heavily on Irish rock, much like Off the Wagon – Volume 1, there are a lot of nice surprises as well.

Some of the more recognizable song titles are “Nancy Whiskey”, “Hills of Connemara”, “Fields of Athenry” and “Galway Races”.   Nevertheless, FLU puts their own mark on the arrangement for each song and makes it their own. For instance, “Nancy Whiskey” has a nice funk feel to it.  Meanwhile “Fields of Athenry” has more of a new age vibe because of how they incorporated the reverb and the synthesizer into the song.   Meanwhile,  “Galway Races” certainly has a much sharper edge to it.

On the other hand, “Swindon Snake Charmer”, “Prima Nocta”, and “Techo Jig” are new and songs that characterize what Icewagon FLU represents.  They each have elements of several different genres of music that in the end fit together wonderfully.

In all, I found this album to be well put together and a refreshing treat.  I would certainly recommend them to anyone who is a fan of Celtic rock.

Artist: Icewagon Flu
Buy Album: “Off the wagon – Volume 2”

Hometown: Alexandria, Virginia
Similar Artists: Dropkick Murphys, Flogging Molly, Gaelic Storm, Sythian, Hothouse Flowers, The Pogues,  Republic of Loose, U2, Young Dubliners

Stephen Mc Sweeney is a High School English/Drama teacher.  Besides writing for the Celtic Music Magazine, he enjoys acting, writing and playing Celtic music.  He can be seen as one of the members of the band Terrible Musicians, where he plays

Rambling Sailors is a folk duo who have a musical passion for the mariner life.  They have combined traditional Celtic songs of the sea and some new tunes that flow together so well it is difficult to discern which is which.

Gregg & Susan Csikos have been very active with their music individually and have now come together to share that experience in these ballads and tales of the seas.  Susan actually spent time on the Schooner ships in Maine performing her songs.  Gregg  has over a decade of Ren Faire accomplishments stretching from East to West coast.   Gregg has a strong voice that is executed very well in these mariner tales.   Susan’s presentation of melodious harmonies make these songs very unique.

“Pirate’s Life”, written by Gregg,  opens the CD and gives example of the complimentary infusion of voices.

“Rambles of Spring”,  is a wonderful “Tommy Makem” song.  It is one of my favorites and Susan displays a wonderful vocal range clearly inviting the listener into the life of the young fiddler.

“Bessie Quinn”, written by Susan,  is a song one would swear is an old traditional, but tis not so.   Tis a true work of art.

“The Night Pat Murphy Died”,   is a hilarious tale and I highly reccommend a listen to it.  “Johnny Burke” did compose this tune, and it is done excellently, on all levels.

“Beggars To God”, a “Bob Franke” composition, is a beautiful love song and has been sung at many weddings.  This version is certainly worthy of such an honor.  Yes, even pirates fall in love and get married.

All the songs on this CD are note worthy, I did just high-light on a few as there are many.  There are funny tales, lamenting tales, and romantic tales to tunes that are grabbing and lasting.   Have fun listening.

Artists: RamblingSailors.com
Album:  The Bright Shining Clear

Hometown:  Pensecola, FL
Similar Artists:  Chieftains, Steel Eye Span, Maddy Prior, Tommy Makem, Green Cards

In addition to writing for Marc Gunn’s Celtic Music Magazine, Mattie Dalton is a Medical Secretary, who is currently studying Irish folk harp and is an established guitarist, working on publishing and producing her own music.  Mattie is also a performer of Middle Eastern dance.

 

Hailing from Scappoose, OR, (Big shout out to Scappoose, my dad’s hometown), Sons of Malarkey is a fun blend of Celtic and rock and a little of everything else. I’m honestly not sure how to classify what they do, but I know that I do like it. It’s a high energy album that carries you along, but does it without ever being overwhelming.

One thing that sets this album apart from other albums is its fine mix of songs. Many Celtic Rock albums lean too much on their own songs, and include maybe a couple of favorites as if they just remembered they are supposed to be Celtic. This is not the case here; in fact they pull out songs that I hadn’t heard in years, and they treat them well. Rare Old Mountain Dew is lively and I like it better than the version I grew up on, and Farewell to Nova Scotia rocks as hard it ever has. They do the old standards of Star Of The County Down, and Wild Mountain Thyme, and make them sound fresh and new again.

As fine as the traditional songs are, they aren’t lacking on the original songs either. Gone, Gone, Gone is perky and one my favorite tracks here. The Auld Drunk Anthems is absolutely heartbreaking and set me recalling the good old days despite being entirely too young to have any. Between this and the good instrumentals, this one of the best albums I’ve had the pleasure of listening to and I think the album is certainly worth the money.

Artist: Sons of Malarkey
Album: Sons of Malarkey

Hometown: Scappoose, OR

Similar Artists: The Pouges, Gaelic Storm, and the Water Boys

Gail Rybak is an occasional writer, artist, Avon Lady, and she helps run Amelia’s Heirlooms. She is also a full-time geek and cat owner, and enjoys writing for Celtic Music Magazine. She is also the keeper of a very fine hat collection.

As a film geek and a cellist, this was a delight to listen too.  Scores from films with a Celtic influence? I’m there!

The City of Prague Philharmonic is conducted by several different people including Kenneth Alwyn, Paul Bateman, James Fitzpatrick, Mario Klemens and Nic Raine.  It features both permanent members and those from other Czech orchestras that come in for recordings, and also contains a mixture of classical and jazz musicians.   They have also done soundtracks for various films like Pan’s Labyrinth, directed by Guillermo del Toro, and a few David Lynch films.  For a while, the Philharmonic was also called the Film Symphony of Prague with their beginnings being in film, television and, animation in 1947.

The scores are from such film composing heavy weights as James Horner, Howard Shore, Hans Zimmer, and Michael Kamen and from such films as Shawshank Redemption, Braveheart, Rob Roy, and Far and Away.  It opens with the “End Credits” of the Coen Brother’s film Miller’s Crossing, an epic seven minute piece that warms the soul.  A few fun familiar pieces come as well, with Lord of the Rings, followed by two of my favorites The Last of the Mohicans and Highlander.  There are a few surprises from older films, such as Stanley Kubrick’s Barry Lyndon and John Huston’s The Quiet Man.

Some fantastic songs off this album include “For the Love of a Princess” from Braveheart, “The Last of the Mohicans Theme” from The Last of the Mohicans, and “Now We Are Free” from Gladiator.  Another noteworthy song is the “Training Montage” from the film Highlander.  It was composed by Michael Kamen.  While most will remember the soundtrack performed by the rock band Queen, Michael Kamen’s music for the film is often overlooked.  The last song on the album, “Riverdance”, caps off the album with a lively tune that makes you want to dance.

The Symphonic Celtic Album is sure to please both cinephiles and celtic music fans.

Artist: The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra
Album: The Symphonic Celtic Album

Hometown: Prague, Czech Republic
Similar Artists: Clannad, Lisa Gerard, Michael Kamen, Hans Zimmer, Howard Shore, James Horner, Carter Burwell, Victor Young, Sean O’Riada, John Williams, Patrick Doyle, Danny Elfman, Alan Silvestri, Randy Edelman, Trevor Jones, Bill Whelan, Enya

Romana Guillotte is a Film School Graduate and terribly average cellist that currently lives in Las Vegas, NV. In addition to writing reviews for Marc Gunn’s Celtic Music Magazine, she moonlights as a barista when not volunteering at film festivals. She self-published her first novel Lydia’s Family in 2006 and is working on her second.

As soon as I got Old Dirt Road by Lexington Field, and I started to read their website, I may have (though I’m not saying I did) sighed when I saw that they bill themselves as a high-energy live show. A good rule of thumb is if someone says that they deliver a high-energy show, then they are probably terrible at bringing that energy to a studio. That is not one of Lexington Field’s problems, in fact if anything the opposite is true. They start off fast with the first track, The Duke of Green, and then don’t drop the pace till the fourth song, Weathered Heart.

Once I stopped worrying over catching all the lyrics for this review I started to really enjoy it. It’s a toe-tapping, punching the air, honey of an album. The five-piece band are all very good, and this album has some of the best fiddle-work I’ve heard in a long time. It’s hard to pick favorite songs but The Shores of Maine, Up In The Sky, and Tracy Boys Fight The World, are all standouts. The song that is in my head, and shows no sign of getting out anytime soon is Holes In Our Hearts.

It ends so soon that it catches you by surprise, and you are left wondering where the rest of it is. However, besides the too quick pace, Old Dirt Road is a fine showing. The band is good, and the songs well performed. It’s a reminder of how grand Celtic Rock can be in the right hands. It’s well worth the listen, and I hope I’ll be able to review their next outing. I look forward to seeing what they’ll do next.

Artist: Lexington Field
Album: Old Dirt Road

Home Town: San Diego, California

Similar Artists: Great Big Sea, Flogging Molly, and Dropkick Murphys.

Gail Rybak is an occasional writer, artist, Avon Lady, and she helps run Amelia’s Heirlooms. She is also a full-time geek and cat owner, and enjoys writing for Celtic Music Magazine. She is also the keeper of a very fine hat collection.

Lars Sloan (pipes), Bryan Blaylock (other great noises), Jimmy Michell (pipes), Mark Sullivan, Matthew Williams (percussion), Robin Sloan and WooDee Gallegos (guitar and bass) create unique and recreate traditional sounds that inspire and move. And there is the one, “Fireside,” where they slow their playful sides.

This is the cure for the youngster in the car next to you playing that thumping rap song far too loud. Turn these guys on and crank them up. Show that youngster what great music is. I do this with several songs that I love.

For as short as it is, “Howler on the Bodhran” is great. They could have gone on for thirty minutes and it would be fine with me. I guess it’s the goose bumps I get, and the feeling of being taken back to a time when there were more things to be happy about than there were sad and depressing things. Then there’s the shadow pipes SloanWolfe does that gets you just in the right spot, and the goose bumps start all over again. I love it! But I have to say that my favorite is “Desert Storm.” I love how they seamlessly folded in several bars of America the Beautiful to push their point through to a valiant conclusion.

You will find, as I did, that these musicians can weave a tale of woe, happiness and triumph without even saying a word. When you buy this CD, and you should right now, you’ll see what I talking about. Enjoy, and thanks Sloan Wolfe. Wait ‘till the guys at work here it… I’ll only give them a taste, so they’ll go buy the CD.

Artist: SloanWolfe
Buy Album: Unshackled

Hometown: Houston, Texas
Similar Artists: The Clancy Brothers, The Corries, Celtic Thunder, The Rogues, Albannach, Tartanic, Jiggernaut

Written by Don Dyer, for the Celtic Music Magazine. Don Dyer is a professional watercolor artist, author, and book cover designer who lives and works in New Mexico. See some of my work at www.dyerinks.com. Find me on facebook.

Hailing from Raleigh, James Olin Oden’s Samhain’s March is excellently crafted.  “The Smile Jig Set” is a delightful instrumental and “Wake Up and Smell the Whiskey” is a charming tune about knowing the important things in life, such as friends and good times.

A fantastic tidbit in the liner notes describes the poetic meaning of the title: Samhain March.  As Samhain is the beginning of the Celtic/Pagan year around the beginning of November, it is a “dying time” and we must “march through it to remind us of our mortality”.  There is a theme here of a fantastic instrumental that plays itself through out the album like a quiet wave.  It comes back to remind the listener of a haunting tale centered around great versions of traditional Irish songs including: “The Well Below the Valley”, “P Stands for Paddy”.  “Dowie Den’s of Yarrow” is a traditional Scottish tune sung acappella, and sounds particularly heartfelt.

The track “Lakes of Pontchartrain”, includes several guest musicians: Allen Baker on Concertina, Eric Hahn on Uillean Pipes, David Pitts on Double Bass, and most notably Caitlin Cary on vocals/fiddle.  They all weave an enchanting track perfect for this time of year.  Cary’s voice and fiddle are especially haunting on the track, for which she also composed parts called “Caitlin’s Waltz”.

James Olin Oden’s folk sound on Samhain’s March reminds heavily of great tavern or pub music that can warm the soul just like a nice glass of whiskey. 

Artist: James Olin Oden
Album: Samhain’s March

Hometown: Raleigh, North Carolina
Similar Artists: Solas, Killarney, Luke Kelly, Caitlin Cary, Last Trip Home, Christy Moore, Andy Irvine, Andy M Stewart

Romana Guillotte is a Film School Graduate and terribly average cellist in Las Vegas, NV. In addition to writing reviews for Marc Gunn’s Celtic Music Magazine, she moonlights as a barista when not volunteering at film festivals. She self-published her first novel Lydia’s Family in 2006 and is working on her second.