Category Archives: Music

The Scottish Power Pipe Band’s Cathcart, and Manawatu Scottish Pipe Band’s The Calling

There exist in the piping world today two kinds of Scottish pipe bands: those that play by the rules of repertoire and those that have an adventurous streak. This review highlights one very ambitious pipe band open to contemporary sound … Continue reading

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Chris Stout’s First o’ the Darkenin’, Freeland Barbour’s The Black Water, and James Thurgood’s Handy Little Rig

Solo instrumental efforts by band members or ex-band members sometimes start out as a one-person venture, but the end result is often a conglomeration of ideas and influences suggested by fellow musicians that have come on board. In this review … Continue reading

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Clavellina d’Aire’s Músiques Per Emportar-Se A Illes Desertes (Music to take away to deserted islands)

This is a curious album, but I can say without qualification, if you think you’d enjoy an album of sweetly sad music on accordion and violin, then Clavellina d’Aire’s music is for you. The title is translated by the record … Continue reading

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John Bailey’s Time Bandits

New York trumpeter John Bailey’s third outing fronting a quartet is such a stellar outing in every way, I might run out of superlatives in this review. Time Bandits sees Bailey ranging over a wide range of jazz styles from … Continue reading

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Celtic Mavericks: A John O’Regan Omnibus Review

The Woods Band’s Music from the Four Corners of Hell Todd Menton’s Where Will You Land Steve Finn, Andrew Dinan and John Joe Kelly’s Before the Flood Colin Reid’s Swim Tanya Brody’s Sirens & Lovers Empty Hats’ Greatest Hats Celtic … Continue reading

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numün’s Book of Beyond

The New York psychedelic ambient trio numün’s sophomore release is, for me, a grower. I like it more each time I listen to it. Their debut Voyage au Soleil was one of my favorite albums of 2020, and on the … Continue reading

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Cross o’th Hands’ Handmade and Maidens Prayer

Cross o’th Hands (COTH) is a four piece group from the Derbyshire area in central England. They have been playing together since 1994. The lineup is the same as when they started: Sarah Matthews, fiddle and mandola; Doug Eunson, melodeons; … Continue reading

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Harry Cox’s What Will Become Of England?

This CD is a collector’s item in two senses. First, it stems from the work of one of the most dedicated collectors of traditional music who ever lived. The sessions were recorded in London and in Norfolk, England during the … Continue reading

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Claire Mann and Aaron Jones’ Secret Orders

Claire Mann and Aaron Jones are both English by birth, Mann from Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Jones from Poole on the south coast. Both have been playing for many years with various groups and musicians, and have gained a reputation for their … Continue reading

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Percy Grainger’s Pleasant & Delightful: Percy Grainger Plays Folk Songs

Born in Victoria, Australia in 1882, Percy Grainger was a very influential folk song collector, whose classical arrangements of the songs he found are still used and admired today. Though an accomplished pianist by the age of 12, it was … Continue reading

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