CD-REVIEWS FEBRUARY 2009
By CATHOLINE BUTLER
THE WHEAT IN THE BARLEY
Can't Draw The Curtain
The music of The Wheat In The Barley has been described as a Celtic/Slavic brew of high-energy instrumental music. Actually, their sound encompasses many of the ethnic groups that make up our Canadian mosaic from the east to west coast.
Founding member Steve Gidora has a music heritage on both sides of his family. He received his first mandolin from his Ukrainian grandfather at the age of 10. Since then he has played with many Vancouver artists and worked as a music teacher in Langley, B.C.
With The Wheat In The Barley, Steve provides vocals, mandolin and guitar. In recent years a passion for songwriting has overtaken him resulting in many new originals, some of which are now featured on the band's fourth CD entitled Can't Draw The Curtain.
Can't Draw The Curtain is music to dance to and I dare you to try and keep your feet still while listening to the infectious sound. The arrangement and array of instruments puts an exciting spin on the Celtic tunes, but their repertoire runs the gamut right down to Crawdad Fiasco.
The CD is aptly named - you wouldn't want to draw the curtain on this hooley!
The line-up for The Wheat In The Barley includes: Steve Gidora, acoustic guitar, Irish bouzouki and vocals; Mark Dowding, flute, harmonicas, soprano and tenor saxes, whistle; Victor Smith, accordion, guitar, whistle, Celtic flute, bodhran, vocals; Nicole Scoffield, violin, vocals; Mickey Hovan, electric bass, acoustic and slide guitar; and Ed Johnson, all manner of percussion.
For more information about The Wheat In The Barley, visit: www.wheatinthebarley.com.
SIMPLIFIRES
Why People Make Countries
Simplifires is a unique four piece line-up: Three Mexicans (Shine, Rodrigo and Alex) and one Irish singer (Dave O). Formed through friendship and a musical connection, rather than any other ulterior motive, the unusual line-up brings with it an inherently different perspective on the nature of music, rock and roll and its undeniable power to bring people together.
Why People Make Countries is a statement, not a question. It's putting up-front the idea that all humans share the need for relationship and the most demanding relations turn into empathy, which turns into the need to be together and form groups of people with the same interests.
The cover of the album is a drop of water over a table in front of an open window. This work of art by New York based photographer Muricio Alejo, to illustrate his interpretation of the idea Why People Make Countries. It's a political statement as well as religious, social and every other kind in which human relations shape the environment.
Simplifires has a U2 sound both in some of the vocals and in The Edge-style guitar sound. One other U2 comparison is the message to the world in their vocals, and yet, Simplifires retain their own original sound and message. Why People Make Countries is a profound statement and deserves a listen.
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