The Ledger: The beauty of Scottish folk tradition

15 Feb
Ever since the Luminosity review, I have been a fan of the Scottish band Back of the Moon and its members. Two of them, Findlay Napier and Gillian Frame together with Mike Vass have recorded a beautiful album filled with 10 traditional folks songs from Scotland. I was really looking forward to this review, as Findlay and Gillian are truly talented musicians with beautiful voices. What I didn’t anticipate was that it would become a true journey into the rich history of Scottish folk music. A journey that I enjoyed intensely.
Please join me in discovering this beautiful album and the story behind it. As always, the review is just one click away.

Slàinte Mhath
Cliff

Iona Fyfe: Away From My Window Review

01 Feb
Lately, I’ve been listening to a lot of fresh Scottish folk talent. Acts like GNOSS, Mànran, Hò-rò, Maeve MacKinnon, or Talisk are proof that the Scottish folk scene is as vibrant as it has ever been. Another star, starting to shine high and bright in the Scottish folk sky, is Iona Fyfe. Since 2015 this talented singer has been building up an impressive musical catalog. With this review, we are going to introduce her music for the first time, but it will not be the last, I can assure you that!
Away From My Window, Iona’s first full-length album, is a treat! From the very first note to the very last. A must-have album for every folk fan. Want to know why? Just follow the link and find out!

– Cliff

Year One; the lovely debut album of Angelika Abend.

15 Jan
‘- I received something really special! A CD, a real handwritten letter, and dried lavender. The energy splashed off this present that I received a few days ago in the mail.’
With this post by Jyoti Verhoeff on Facebook a lovely journey started. The lady sending this present was Angelika Abend , and she just published her debut album Year One under the name Ivy Leaves.
Just as Jyoti’s album The Sky Of You, this album came at exactly the right moment. I hád to write about Angelika’s debut. I wanted, no HAD to tell about it! I had to share my enthusiasm about what I was hearing! I just loved it instantly. Listening to the album and talking with Angelika about her music; I was reminded why I actually started writing reviews.

At CeltCast we hear quite a lot of music, most of it beautiful, all of it made with a lot of love and passion. It’s a true blessing that I am allowed to share all this beautiful music with you. That I am able to tell about the new albums of the big bands, but even more special that I can acquaintance you all with music from lesser-known artists. Musicians with talent, with passion, that would normally disappear in the big pile of releases.

Our scene may be a small scene, but it is one filled with talent, with free spirits and open-minded, caring people, fans and artists alike. Being allowed to be a part of this scene is huge blessing. Being able to help (young) artists find an audience is an even bigger gift!
Listening to Year One, writing the review for it and then talking with Angelika about her music, her heart and soul made me realise that again. And THAT is the gift Angelika gave me. Thank you, Angelika, for that. And now let’s get that link to the review out. I give you : Year One

Cliff

The gift of music; Introducing Zonnewachter, the new album of Wouter en de Draak

22 Dec
With Christmas fast approaching we also meet that final big challenge of the year: ‘What to give to your loved one who already has everything??’ May I suggest the gift of music? And while I am at it, may I then suggest the newest album of Wouter en de Draak.
Three years after their debut album Wouter en de Draak; an album filled with lovely instrumental balfolk tunes bursting with influences from Celtic Brittany, Wouter Kuyper, and Joris Alblas return with their second full-length CD: Zonnewachter. And just as their debut CD, this new album makes a perfect gift to both the balfolk dancers and the instrumental folk lovers amongst you. I think it says enough that I added 5 songs to my personal CeltCast Spotify list!
Do you want to know more about this lovely CD? Then follow the link and dance with me. Let’s celebrate Yule and/or Christmas as it should be done, balfolking through the living room. Shove your furniture to one side, press play, and dance until spring returns again. Let’s celebrate life together with Wouter, Joris and their musical friends. Let’s celebrate it with the sound of their new album Zonnewachter.

Merry Christmas and a blessed Yule
Cliff

New Wave Paganfolk! Waldkauz Style!

19 Oct
Mythos, the second album by the German pagan folk band Waldkauz made a huge impact on me when I reviewed it a couple of years ago. It still is one of my favourite pagan folk albums ever! Since then I saw many a show of these beautiful souls, and loved them even more because of it. So it was with high expectations I put Labyrinth in my CD player. And???? Well, they delivered! Well, they delivered! I still find myself spontaneously humming songs from Labyrinth, even weeks after finishing my review. And I will probably do so for many more months to come, I am quite sure of that!
But Waldkauz didn’t do it the easy way. They could have just made a Mythos part 2 and harvest on the success of that album. But they choose not to. Labyrinth shows a band developing themselves; a band showing an open-minded approach to their music; adding new elements into their sound; making them a truly unique band.
When you Google Waldkauz you will see that they open their website with: ‘Waldkauz – new Wave Paganfolk’. So what does new wave paganfolk sound like? Well full of energy and extremely danceable! I can tell you that much. But you want to know more? Well you can! The whole story is just one click away. Follow the link and dance into the world of New Wave Paganfolk! Im Waldkauz stil selbstverstandlich!

Cliff






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