CK: Fantastic album!
The fourth album over more than two decades (following 1990, Blue Room and Restless Home) by this Belgian group is another gem of contemporary Celtic music, melding folk with classical references and stylings to delightful effect. Replete with catchy hooks and melodies, it provides a wide range of moods and atmospheres – the ethereal and emotionally stirring, the stately and almost church-like, buoyant Breton and Flemish dance signatures, through to tight and punchy, propulsive rhythmic grooves with fiery playing. Not that there is any jagged juxtaposition here; rather, the composing of sequenced sets, weaving wider European references into their Celtic tapestry, is intricate refined and sophisticated.
All of them (Rudy Velghe, fiddle, viola, nyckelharpa, guitar, keyboards; Raquel Gigot, accordions; John Faulkner, vocals, bouzouki; Erwan Berenguer, guitar; Gwenael Micault, keyboards) play lead and support roles in the complex layering of their instruments to create arresting synergies and rhythmic interest. They deserve to be ranked amongst the best contemporary Celtic groups. Their ability to draw on people of the calibre of Philip Catherine and Pat Desaunay, amongst an array of other excellent musicians who play and/or are thanked, show wide peer respect.
Some standout features include the haunting and emotional character of Faulkner’s vocals on the ancient homicidal ballad story behind Strawberry Town and crisp mouth music, Arne van Dongen’s warm and richly toneddouble bass, percussive textures added by Johnny ‘Ringo’ McDonagh, and a charming tribute to harpist Turlough O’Carolan’s melodic 18th century music.
Kevin T. Ward
01. Ton ar liestalegoù
02. La bourdaine/LeBelloy/Kernivinan's jig
03. Strawberry town
04. Four teeth hornpipe/Mr Morceau's Fancy/Kasper's reel
05. Ravna gora/Porz Téolenn
06. The harper's heir
07. He mantu/He le com an uro (mouth music)
08. Menuet Marguerite
09. Sint-Jorisdansen/Rondedansen
10. Song for Terri
11. The open gate/Wolfie's waltz
Raquel GIGOT: chromatic and diatonic accordion
Rudy VELGHE: fiddle, nyckelharpa, viola, guitar, harmonium, keyboards
John FAULKNER: vocals, bouzouki
Erwan BERENGUER: guitar
Gwenaël MICAULT: piano, harmonium, keyboards
Guests:
Philip CATHERINE: guitar
Gérard HIRSCH: harp
Johnny "Ringo" Mc DONAGH: bodhran
Jean-Philippe PONCIN: bass clarinet
Arne VAN DONGEN: double bass
Pat DESAUNAY: guitar, foot percussion
Piet VAN BOCKSTAL: oboe
Marc KEYAERT: keyboards
Fabian FIORINI: piano
Oxalys:
Shirly LAUB: violin
Frédéric D'URSEL: violin
Tony NYS: viola
Martijn VINCK: cello
Toon FRET: flute
Nathalie LEFEBVRE: clarinet
Koenraad HOFMAN: double bass