Looking Back at 2011 and Looking Ahead to 2012 : Albums of the Year
By STEVE EDGE
Slightly better than a Top 20 Albums of the Year, may I humbly present my 21 Favourite Celtic (and Celtic-related) CDs of 2011?
1. Luar Na Lubre – Solsticio (Warner, Spain) - a beautifully-packaged collection of songs and tunes from Galicia by this excellent Celtic band from the region. I picked this up in Madrid last December, on the day it was released.
2. June Tabor & Oysterband – Ragged Kingdom (Topic) The second time the English song diva has teamed up with the electrifying Celtic rockers. A great collection of songs.
3. The Once – Row Upon Row Of The People They Know (Borealis) Fabulous vocal harmonies and some very moving songs from Newfoundland.
4. Qristina & Quinn Bachand – Family (www.qbachand.com) These young Victoria prodigies made a great second CD this year. Every track is a gem.
5. John Doyle – Shadow & Light (Compass) Former Solas guitarist moved from Dublin to North Carolina a few years ago. This CD has some outstanding new songs. Really powerful tales of the Irish in North America.
6. Caladh Nua – Next Stop (www.caladhnua.com) Fine young band from Eire, starring Lisa Butler on fiddle and vocals. They were amazing at the Mission Folk Festival in July. Watch for them at The Rogue in March.
7. Stephen Fearing & Andy White – Fearing & White (Lowden Proud) Two songwriters raised in Ireland in the 1970s combined their talents on CD for the first time. Some great melodies and lyrics here. Andy White will open The Rogue's concert year on January 15.
8. La Bottine Souriante – Appelation D'Origine Controlee (Borealis) Monster Quebecois band is now an 11-piece combo. More trademark foot-tapping crooked reels and call and response songs. Plus some Basque txalaparta for added spice!
9. Battlefield Band – Line Up (Temple) The new Batties came up with a brilliant new CD this year, and were in fine form at Cap Uni last month. This includes Otis Redding's That's How Strong My Love Is and some amazing fiddle and pipe medleys.
10. Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas – Highlander's Farewell (Culburnie) The third CD by Scotland's #1 fiddler and the incredible young cellist from California, this one has some stunning long medleys.
11. Beoga – How To Tune A Fish (Compass) Every album from this young Irish band comes replete with innovative arrangements and unusual – but highly successful – choices of material (and crazy titles!) Very fun!
12. Genticorum – Nagez Rameurs (www.genticorum.com) Marvellous Quebec trio, whose vocal harmonies and instrumental skills are brilliant, innovative, and highly infectious.
13. Martin Simpson – Purpose & Grace (Topic) with guest vocals from Dick Gaughan and June Tabor, and backed by his excellent trio, the English guitarist displays exemplary good taste on every CD. His version of Lakes of Pontchartrain is a highlight here.
14. Oliver Schroer & Nuala Kennedy – Enthralled (Borealis) The late, lamented fiddler, Oliver Schroer wrote and recorded heaps of new tunes in his final weeks on the planet – many of them written in his hospital bed.
This collaboration with Belfast flautist Kennedy is surely the final instalment of his remarkable canon. And it's a wonderful epitaph for him – and a very promising introduction for her to Canadian audiences.
15. Tim Readman – Out Of The Green (Big City) Vancouver songwriter Tim Readman teams up with ace fiddler Jennie Bice for a fine selection of traditional and contemporary songs. Nice blend of familiar songs and rarities. The band were in great form on The Edge On Folk during CiTR's Fundrive the other week.
16. Paul McKenna Band – Stem The Tide (Greentrax) Excellent young Scots band with the instrumental chops and fiery, passionate songs that have already made them one of Scotland's premier Celtic bands.
17. T With The Maggies (Compass) A sort of Irish Women's Supergroup that puts all those hideous Celtic Women CDs to shame! This is what it's all about. Altan's Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh teams up with Maighread and Triona Ni Dhomnaill and Clannad's Moya Brennan to present 11 songs – mostly trad, but including Richard Thompson/Sandy Denny's immortal Farewell, Farewell.
18. The Unthanks – Last (Rough Trade) Two sisters from Newcastle Upon Tyne and their special backing band. Remarkable music; contemporary and traditional at the same time, this is the future of traditional song NOW. Stunning stuff!
19. Oliver Swain – In A Big Machine (www.oliverswainmusic.com) Victoria bassist/banjoist and vocalist with a three octave range assembled a great band to record this CD and launch it at The Rogue last February. Not strictly Celtic, or even strictly anything, just superbly played and sung Roots music that touches on all genres from Celtic to Old Time, Bluegrass, Folk/Rock, and more!
20. Kate Rusby – Make The Light (Pure) The Yorkshire singer has just put out another Christmas CD. The one before this one was also a Christmas album. This one came out last Christmas, but you can – and undoubtedly will – listen to it all year round. What a voice!
21. Loreena McKennitt – The Wind That Shakes The Barley (Quinlan Road) A return to her Celtic roots from the Winnipeg harpist. No sweeping arrangements bathed in exotic world rhythms, yet still quintessentially her own, inimitable style, this is a beautiful record.
We've had a great year at The Rogue, with highlights including the return of Solas after a seven year absence, Laura Cortese's wonderful Acoustic Project, Paul McKenna's debut appearance, The Bachands' remarkable CD launch, and a fine show by The Outside Track at CBC in July.
Leonard Podolak's Celtic/Old Time Music Megashow on Stage 3 at the Vancouver Folk Music Festival, and the wonderful Irish bands at Mission (Caladh Nua, Lorcan MacMathua's Northern Lights, Patrick Ball's midnight stories, etc.) were among the festival highlights this summer, but the award for most memorable Irish band of 2011 must go to Dublin rockabilly diva Imelda May. An incredible singer with a fabulous backing band!
Looking Ahead
In 2012 we kick things off with Belfast songwriter Andy White on January 15. In February we have the long-awaited return of Co. Clare fiddler Martin Hayes and Chicago guitarist Dennis Cahill, in March we hope to present Dervish and will definitely bring in Caladh Nua, amongst others.
In May watch for the return of the amazing California septet Wake The Dead, who blend Scots and Irish tunes with the songs of the Grateful Dead, and in June watch for the return of the wonderful Afro-Celtic combo Baka Beyond.
We're also very excited about the young Newfoundland acoustic folk/rock combo Sherman Downey & The Silver Lining, who will make their Rogue debut at St. James Hall on January 24.
Meanwhile, to round out 2011, don't miss The Rogue's final concert of the year with Old Time music legend Riley Baugus from North Carolina and B.C. duo Pharis & Jason Romero at St. James Hall on December 8.
Then it's the 10th annual Danny Burns Feed The Hungry Benefit at the Wolf & Hound on West Broadway on December 11 from 4 PM onwards, with Blackthorn, Rogues 'n Tinkers, The Streels, Ballyhooley and loads more; all for a great cause (Union Gospel Mission and their food programs) and in memory of a truly great man and a good friend, Danny Burns.
Have a great Christmas! Wassail! |
