Category Archives: Music

Elina Duni Quartet’s Matanë Malit (Beyond The Mountain)

This is a very special album, one that combines two forms of music that I appreciate immensely, Balkan folk music and jazz. I don’t claim any particular expertise in writing about either, so bear with me if I make mistakes … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , | Comments Off on Elina Duni Quartet’s Matanë Malit (Beyond The Mountain)

Angel Olsen’s Half Way Home

It’s a cliché to say that such-and-such a singer is a “unique voice,” but I have to resort to it in the case of Angel Olsen. In a world full of cutesy and waif-like vocals from female singers in all … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Angel Olsen’s Half Way Home

Christmas Revels at Sanders Theater

The Christmas Revels is a special event, an annual tradition on par with performances of the Nutcracker, only tailored to lovers of folk traditions. After 42 years, it has accreted tradition of its own, which helps audience members to feel … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Comments Off on Christmas Revels at Sanders Theater

Revels’ Strike the Harp: An Irish Christmas Revels

The goal of the Revels organization is to build tradition through music, dance, and drama, and the yearly Christmas Revels has, over the years, built up a a set of expectations that allow it to be both fresh (with music … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Comments Off on Revels’ Strike the Harp: An Irish Christmas Revels

Lost Bayou Ramblers’ Mammoth Waltz

After beginning as a traditional Cajun band in Lafayette, Louisiana, the Lost Bayou Ramblers began experimentally fusing elements of indie rock and other styles into their sound. With Mammoth Waltz they go full-on psychedelic in their arrangements of what remains … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , | Comments Off on Lost Bayou Ramblers’ Mammoth Waltz

Le Vent du Nord’s Tromper le Temps

Le Vent du Nord, one of the top-ranked contemporary Quebecois folk groups, marked its 10th year as a band with its seventh studio release, the impeccable Tromper le Temps (“Fooling Time”). Officially released in spring 2012 in Canada, it hit … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged | Comments Off on Le Vent du Nord’s Tromper le Temps

Arto Järvelä & Kaivama’s Arto Järvelä & Kaivama

The Finnish-American musical duo Kaivama (KAI-vuh-muh) has been in existence for less than two years as I write this, but already they have two superb releases to their name, including this new one with the highly respected Finnish fiddler Arto … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Comments Off on Arto Järvelä & Kaivama’s Arto Järvelä & Kaivama

Catherine Irwin’s Little Heater

Catherine Irwin has one of those singing voices that, for some people, takes some getting used to. Tom Waits, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell and many more fall into this category. In most cases, it’s worth the effort. For me, Irwin … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged | Comments Off on Catherine Irwin’s Little Heater

Brian McNeill’s The Newest Recordings

Now in his early sixties, Scottish folk musician Brian McNeill has been performing traditional and writing traditionally-inspired music since the late 1960s, when he co-founded the Battlefield Band. Two of these three CDs are representative of some of his more … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged | Comments Off on Brian McNeill’s The Newest Recordings

Fairport Convention’s 4Play 76/79

A not uncommon response when Fairport Convention is mentioned is to think of a band with regular line-up changes. However, that was really only the case in the first couple of decades of their existence. The remaining two and a … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Fairport Convention’s 4Play 76/79