Ante Scriptum : Instrumental tracks are open doors for the dreamers who want to take a step back and get swept away by some infinite readings, or contemplate various horizons. Come to think of it, I would draw the following comparison : an instrumental track is to a song what a book is to a movie. Even if the title of those tracks can give you some clues to walk the artist’s steps : those pieces are wide-open spaces for freedom and dreams. So, from time to time, along with our discoveries, this new Without Words section will tip you and offer you this ultimate vagabondage…
The poetry of Michael Gulezian should have been a royal way to open this section… but it’s been couple weeks, i’m listening to John Fairhurst first effort Joys of Spring ; due to my seasonal aspirations – it’s still snowing around - there’s no way to avoid this amazing share.
Manchester guitar virtuoso, John Fairhurst merged on his debut album an eclectic collection of songs that preserve every critic to draw any comparison. His musical landscapes will drive you from those wide American spaces with rock and blues to some light British Folk shore for finally reaching some eastern territories.
Ok, I guess some of you would have think it’s a complete non-sense : preaching for imagination and giving you a boundary video. It’s true but, i’m here to tease you and I guess this short movie is a perfect appetizer for approaching John Fairhurst music. “Obnox Stomp” is the album intro track, here is the second piece for rocking your sunday without limit :
I’ve got few information about this french band and I’m not sure I want to spend more time seeking for. “Jil is Lucky“ just released their first full length and this video… Enjoy !
Why is it we always want what we don’t have? My latest adventure was hitting the road with The Guggengheim Grotto and Tadhg Cooke, both who I’ve talked about endlessly here on YCD. As you may all know I’m a huge fan of TGG, they are by far one of my favorite Irish bands and I was so excited to have had the opportunity to not only see parts of Ireland but also be a part of their little Irish tour. I met some wonderful artist along the way and am delighted to share some of their music with you.
This will be a long post so bare with me and keep on scrolling. Below you will find a video I shot of TGG, live at De Barra’s Folk Club in Clonakilty, Ireland. The song is Fee Da Da Dee. You can stream the original version off previous link. They’ve made some changes to fit the live performance.
The Guggenheim are finishing up their Irish tour and coming to the States at the start of 2009. So for everyone who has eagerly been waiting their return this is your chance to see them live. Keep checking back to their tour page for more updates. The album will be released in the States in 2009. If you live in Ireland you can purchase their album directly from their website. Shop here, for US customers you can buy the digital album here.
The wonderful Tadhg Cooke is currently working on a new album *crossing fingers* it get’s released in 2009. Follow him on his spiffy new official website for updates. Tadhg was the supporting the TGG on tour and I’m so happy I had the chance to see him perform live. I can’t wait for him to make his way out to the States.
I also had the pleasure of meeting Gavin Moore, a local singer song writer from Clonakilty, Ireland. We had an amazing late night session and we had the pleasure of listening to him sing a few songs. For more information on Gavin you can check out his official website or his MySpace page.
On the night before last that I flew out we were back in Dublin for the famous Ruby Sessions. If you’re ever visiting Dublin this definitely is a must do. Duke Special was performing last, don’t let the hair and make-up fool you, this guy is something special. Visit his MySpace page or official website for more information.
I’ve bought Orpheum Bell, first full length at the essential cdbaby.com a minute after streaming their first songs from their myspace page. Pretty as You, is both the album title and the intro track. It’s an irresistible banjo soft-ballad served by a great balanced vocal female/male duet.
Burned my fields and the red wind blows
Drowned my diamonds in the river below
Lit my tears and the flames burned blue …
Ain’t none of that as pretty as you
Words and Tones have been thrown… Welcome to the Orpheum Bell’s music world. Labeled as ‘Country and Eastern’, the Ann Arbor Quintet’s compositions are giving the listener this unique ubiquity gift in both time and place spaces ! From almost traditional country-ballads to gypsy waltzes, from the raspy vocals of Aaron Klein (à la Stuart Staples), to Merrill Hodnefield sweet – sweet and so beautifully placed – voice, for sure, you’re traveling with a first-class ticket !
With a huge amount of instruments ( accordion, banjo, clarinet, fiddle, guitar, ukulele, autoharp, double bass, mandolin, pedal steel, musical saw, and the rare Tiebel Violine, that looks something like a cross between a fiddle and an Edison-era phonograph ), you’ll have to face a real full band, giving to each notes a meaningful rhythm in some delicious instrumental tracks such as ‘Motor in the Weeds’ or ‘Two Over Ten’.
Along with Aaron Klein (vocals, banjo, ukuleles, tenor & regulation guitars), Serge van der Voo (double bass and percussion) is forming the heart of Orpheum Bell. Serge has granted us an interview. Enjoy our conversation while listening to two of our favorites tracks including the brand new duet ‘Goodbye is the Sweetest Word’ and the addictive ‘Pretty as You’.
YCD : Hello Serge, how’s it going ? Serge van der Voo : I’m well, thank you……..just gotta say up front that I really enjoy visiting your website…….it’s the real deal and always INTERESTING to read and listen to.
YCD : Thanks ! What’s the story behind Orpheum Bell? Serge van der Voo : Aaron Klein (songwriter, vocals/guitars) and I met about 10 years ago, we’re both from the same area in Michigan but we crossed paths in Chicago where we started writing and recording with a band called Vernal Pool. Years later we found ourselves back in Michigan living just a couple of blocks appart. Merrill Hodnefield (lead vocals) responded to a “seeking vocalist” add that we had pinned-up at a coffee house………needless to say when we heard her voice and influences all three of us knew we had a band right then and there. Annie Crawford (violins) and Shaun Williams (accordion and reeds) fully round-out and complete the sounds we’re looking for. Our debut cd ‘Pretty as You’ was released last year and now we’re about halfway into recording a new one.
YCD : I’m really curious – and ignorant – : would you mind telling us about the band name ? Serge van der Voo : We were trying to find the right net for our particular butterfly…
YCD : You’ve mentioned the Quintet of the Hot Club of France – with most renowned members incuded Djando Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli – as a main influence. From ‘Gipsy Jazz’ to ‘Country and Eastern’, what’s the process that creates such a singular music style ? Serge van der Voo : Sheesh…….if that process was to be presented in some kind of diagramatic form it would probably look like a tangled-up ball of yarn!!! Yeah, listening to any of Django’s Q.H.C.F from the ’30′s moves me everytime……..then you add all the members influences and that’s when it starts to rattle.
YCD : Which song from Aaron Klein’s lyrics is your favorite? Serge van der Voo : ‘Rabbit Field’ has always been a favorite of mine. For me, the imagery totally fits with the music. There are some that will be on the new release which in my opinion are just as poetic……..’Pearls‘ and ‘Goodbye is the Sweetest Word‘ come to mind.
YCD : If you could share a stage with any band or artist who would you choose and why ? Serge van der Voo : Whoa…….there’s so many bands so here it goes…..Rob Burger, Andrew Bird, Tin Hat, A Hawk and A Hacksaw, Marc Ribot, Benjamin Wetherill, and Rollie Tussing too. They all create music with effortless flow among genres. I like music that you can’t quite put your finger on….. it’s a good thing………that’s what makes music personal.
YCD : According to your myspace blog Orpheum Bell is working on a second album ? Serge van der Voo : Yes, we’re working with Jim Roll and about half of the songs have been recorded already, the other half are in the process of being written/arranged. This one will be different then “Pretty as You” given that (so far) there are several songs that were written as a group collaborative.
YCD : Any other projects for the coming months ? Serge van der Voo : Matt Jones has a new recording coming out soon called ‘The Black Path’ and he asked me to put down double bass on several tracks. The arrangements are lush and full with strings and horns, Jim also recorded that one and the production came out nicely. Matt’s a prolific songwriter so when we play live he has a rock (electric) set but then also his full acoustic set with a ten-piece band. It’s been a lot of fun so far and we’ve got some exciting shows coming up in the fall with the Great Lakes Myth Society.
Thank you so much Serge for taking time to answer !
After couple dates in Germany this last February, Tomas Thunberg a.k.a Old Lost John is currently in UK for few gigs… Check his website to listen to his recent live performance and be sure to check his british schedule.
Geordie, there’s also a special show for you, right around your corner : hope you’ll find time to join !
This is the schedule:
May 10 2008 8:00P – Cavendish Arms (Stockwell) London, United Kingdom
May 11 2008 6:00P – Come Down and Meet the Folks (The Apple Tree) London, United Kingdom
May 14 2008 8:30P – The Bee’s Mouth Brighton, United Kingdom
May 15 2008 8:00 – The Rooms St Leonards-on-Sea, United Kingdom
May 16 2008 8:00P – The Smugglers Hastings, United Kingdom
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This is going to be a really personal post as I want to share with you part of my culture. Well for sure, speaking about music reveals something always personal, but this time, i’m going to speak about my roots !
Even if I’m living in the Pyrenees for couple years now, my heart-town is a small old harbor on the west coast of France called ‘Le Croisic‘ in French, ‘Little Cross’ in English and ‘Ar Groazig’ in Breton.
Brittany is my roots and historically a Celtic country with its own language : le ‘Breton’, and its own “Gwenn ha Du” Flag.
On my Father’s family side many were fishermen. Shanties, sing-along and other drinking songs are always my favorites – sounds a bit weird to shout them out in the middle of my current mountains… I’ve maried my wife – 10 years ago – under the sound of a single biniaoù – a kind of bag-pipe – playing ‘Amazing Grace‘, and we both opened the dancing time on ‘The Fairytale of New York‘ from the Pogues !
So I would like to introduce you to a part of this rich musical heritage : Gwerz ! With Kan ha Diskan (call and response singing), gwerz is the most common typical Breton vocal music. As many of ancient languages, Breton survives ages with oral tradition, story-tellers and singers. A Gwerz is a kind of lament where lyrics prevails. Most of the time, it describes tragic events.
For introducing this really specific singing, Denez Prigent is undoubtly the best and by far the most accessible singer. Denez is one of the leader of the new brittany songwriter generation mixing modern music with traditional instruments – uilleann pipes, bag-pipes – and singing – ‘gwerz’ and ‘kan ha diskan’ Breton styles. With five albums already released, his reputation exceeds our regional borders. Denez recorded couple duets with Lisa Gerrard, one was choosen by Ridley Scott for the movie ‘Black Hawk Down’. Even if this song is under the scope of the RIAA, I couldn’t resist to post it – may the record company understands my sharing point of view! Gortoz Az Ran (I’m Waiting) is also available on Denez’s Irvi album.
The other song i’ve selected is ‘Copsa Mica’ which is one of the most shivering live song i’ve ever heard. It’s a “gwerz” about the most polluted city in Europe : Copşa Mică in Romania. The original version has been recorded with Romanian singers Ludmila Dinova, Ivelina Baltcheva and Elena Bozova, and is available on the ‘Me’ Zalc’h Ennon Ur Fulenn Aour‘ full length.
Thanks to my friend Brigitte, native from another celtic country – Eire, who translated the Breton lyrics into English via a French version. Even, if it’s not an easy song – due to the use of Breton language, please be sure to listen it till the end and feel its entire power delivered with his unique voice and bag-pipes !
His previous album : Taking Up Serpents Again, has been critically acclaimed. Why ? Curtis Eller is billed as the world’s angriest banjo player/yodeler… And for sure, back in 2004, no one expected such an intense collection of compositions from a guy “who started his show-business career at the age of seven as a juggler and acrobat in the Hiller Olde Tyme Circus in Detroit”.
If you missed this album, be sure to be around by March 25th, Curtis Eller will released his third full length : ‘Wirewalkers & Assassins‘.
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The Guggenheim are finishing up their Irish tour and coming to the States at the start of 2009. So for everyone who has eagerly been waiting their return this is your chance to see them live. Keep checking back to their 
I also had the pleasure of meeting 
On the night before last that I flew out we were back in Dublin for the famous 
YCD : Hello Serge, how’s it going ?
So I would like to introduce you to a part of this rich musical heritage : Gwerz ! With Kan ha Diskan (call and response singing), gwerz is the most common typical Breton vocal music. As many of ancient languages, Breton survives ages with oral tradition, story-tellers and singers. A Gwerz is a kind of lament where lyrics prevails. Most of the time, it describes tragic events.
