Category Archives: Music

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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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Kelly Hogan’s I Like To Keep Myself In Pain

Kelly Hogan, with I Like To Keep Myself In Pain, has made an album that is equal to her talent. Not that she hasn’t put out some fine recordings before, but this one looks to be that mythical beast, the … Continue reading →

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Levon Helm’s Ramble At The Ryman

When Levon Helm died on April 19, 2012, there began an outpouring of grief and affection for the man and his music that has yet to fade completely as I write this, nearly a month later. That’s an eon in … Continue reading →

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Choban Elektrik’s Choban Elektrik

Take three musicians who are Frank Zappa fanatics, cross them with the insane vitality of Balkan dance music, and you have Choban Elektrik (Electric Shepherd), and their self-titled debut release. Choban Elektrik’s music is billed as Balkan psychedelic jazz-rock, and … Continue reading →

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Bowerbirds’ The Clearing

The Clearing is a fully realized artistic vision of Beth Tacular and Phil Moore, the young North Carolina couple who perform as Bowerbirds. It’s their third album, and it’s a mature, emotionally charged work that reflects some of the travails … Continue reading →

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Jenn Rawling & Basho Parks’ Take The Air

Some albums take a while to grow on you, and some reach out and grab you from the first note. Take The Air, the debut album by the Portland, Oregon, duo Jenn Rawling & Basho Parks was one of the … Continue reading →

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