Carreg Lafar - Ysbryd Y Werin (1995 Wales) @192

Carreg Lafar is a contemporary traditional Welsh folk band. Formed in Cardiff by Rhian Evan-Jones, Antwn Owen-Hicks, James Rourke, Linda Owen Jones, and Simon O'Shea, Carreg Lafar means "a speaking stone", or "echo stone".

Carreg Lafar is one of the bands that has been at the forefront of the Welsh traditional music scene. The group has performed throughout Wales, Brittany, the United States and Canada and uses a mix of traditional and original music to convey a contemporary and fresh approach, whilst staying firmly rooted in the language and tradition of Welsh song and dance music. The material is arranged for traditional and contemporary instruments including fiddle, flute, pibgorn (hornpipe), bagpipes, and guitar, together with dynamic vocals. The group has made three albums with Sain records, Ysbryd y Werin (Welsh: Spirit of the People), Hyn (Welsh: This) and Profiad (Welsh: Experience).

Carreg Lafar released their debut album Ysbryd y Werin in November 1995. The album received great reviews from the folk music press in the UK and North America. In 1997, Carreg Lafar launched Ysbryd y Werin in North America with a two-week tour of the States.


01. Cŵyn Mam-Yng-Nhgyfraith  3:03    
02. Y Gleisiad Yn Y Gwanwyn  3:34    
03. Alawon Fy Ngwlad  4:35    
04. Cân Merthyr  3:49    
05. Ysbryd Y Werin / Mae'r Ddaear Yn Glasu  5:14    
06. Tôn Y Melinydd  2:35    
07. Hiraeth  4:07    
08. Cân Crwtyn Y Gwartheg  4:09    
09. Ar Ryw Noswaith  3:34    
10. Glan Môr Heli  3:24

Rhian Evan-Jones: Fiddle, Cello, Keyboards
James Rourke: Flute, Whistle
Simon O'Shea: Guitar
Nick Dowsett: Guitar [12 String], Vocals
Linda Owen-Jones: Vocals
Antwn Owen-Hicks: Vocals, Bodhrán, Drum, Whistle. 

Niekku - Niekku 3 [1989 Finland] @192

One of the truly important recordings in the Finnish folk and new music revival in the 1980s, by a group of artists who became the vanguard of the movement in the 1990s and continue on today.

Maria Kalaniemi (accordion, voice), Anna-Kaisa Liedes (kanteles, voice), Liisa Matveinen (kanteles, voice), Anu Itäpelto (kanteles, voice), Leena Joutsenlahti (winds, voice) all produced music in this particular ensemble that even today is as adventurous as they have ever been. This recording was produced by Heikki Laitenen, who also contribues some compositions, and his avant garde stamp is to be found in every track.

This CD is not for every lover of "Finnish folk music." It moves from lyrical to edgy, from gorgeous vocals to agressive accordion experiments, from tradition to the future.


01 - Yksi Ruusu
02 - Mene Myoten Myoty Neiti
03 - Tuuti Tuuti
04 - Aamulla Varhain
05 - Kanteleilla
06 - Kymmenella Rivilla


Maria Kalaniemi (accordion, voice)
Anna-Kaisa Liedes (kanteles, voice)
Liisa Matveinen (kanteles, voice)
Anu Itäpelto (kanteles, voice)
Leena Joutsenlahti (winds, voice)

Fernhill - Canu Rhydd (2011 Wales) @320

Recorded at Dartington College of Arts in July 2010, Canu Rhydd is the fifth studio album by Welsh folk group Fernhill. It was released on May 1, 2011 on disgyfrith Records. Described by Huw Stephens on BBC Radio 1 as "another wonderful Fernhill album", and by Verity Sharp on BBC Radio 3's Late Junction as "a very beautiful album", Canu Rhydd is the first of the groups' albums to feature Christine Cooper on fiddle and spoken word. She joins the existing line-up of Julie Murphy, Ceri Rhys Matthews, and Tomos Williams, all of whom appeared on the band's previous, live album, Na Prádle.

Canu Rhydd, Welsh for "free poetry", is described in the sleeve notes as “that written by the free will of the poet, unconstrained by patronage or by the bardic tradition”. The album, like all Fernhill albums features songs sung in both Welsh and English. Different traditional songs are woven together in each track, changing the thrust of the original songs within their new context. They are, according to Julian May in a Songlines review of the album, "concerned not with the culture of past aristocratic patronage but the expression of the ordinary people of Wales. So they have lovingly assembled these songs from odd verses and fragments of manuscripts. They are about love, place, birds, forests and everyday life. They are touching and beautiful." It is the first Fernhill album to be released on the disgyfrith label. All their previous albums were released on Tim Healey's Beautiful Jo Records, based in Oxford, England.


01 - Adar
02 - When I Was In My Prime
03 - Diddan
04 - Forest
05 - Glyn Cynon
06 - Glyn Tawe
07 - Y Fwynlan O Serch
08 - Like The Snow


Julie Murphy - voice, sruti
Ceri Rhys Matthews - guitar, flute, voice
Tomos Williams - trumpet, flugelhorn
Christine Cooper - fiddle, voice

Maria Kalaniemi - Iho [1995 Finland] @VBR~224

Accordionist Maria Kalaniemi is one of the better-known Finnish musicians. An student of the famous Sibelius Academy folk program, she is equally at home playing traditional music and more experimental fare as well. She was one of the members of the great group Niekku, and more recently has collaborated with musicians such as JPP keyboardist Timo Alakotila and Swedish fiddler Sven Ahlback. Iho is the first album credited to her and Aldargaz, a group of top-notch musicians.

All of the pieces are instrumentals. Most were composed by Kalaniemi except for three by Alakotila, two traditional tunes and a rendition of Carlos Gardel's tango "Sus Ojos Se Cerraron" (retitled "Surun Silmat"). Kalaniemi's playing can be intricate and fast (as on "Lomasavel") or she can create a beautiful wash of sound. Some pieces, like "Green Score" and "Napoleon," invite the listener in with an accessible, attractive sound. Others are complex and subtle, like the sad folk tune "Istunpa Sankys Laitalla."

Aldargaz is Timo Alakotila (piano and harmonium), Olli Varis (guitars), Tapani Varis (acoustic bass), Petri Hakala (mandolins) and Arto Jarvela (violin). Each of these musicians has a formidable career in his own right and their names should be well-known to fans of Finnish music. In addition, eight more guests add brass instruments or strings to various cuts. This creates a perfect setting for Kalaniemi's five-row button accordion. The accordion is definitely the lead instrument here, but the other band members hold up their end of things. Alakotila's keyboards add stylish accents and solid support; his sophisticated piano work on "Surun Silmat" is perfect for the piece. Most of the arrangements were written by Alakotila, often in partnership with Olli Varis.

The music on Iho bears the same relationship to Finnish folk music that new acoustic music does to bluegrass and old-timey music. The tradition is a foundation for musical technique and skill that is played out in a more modern style. For some of the best in contemporary Finnish music, check out Iho.


01 - Napoleon
02 - Lomasävel
03 - Green score
04 - Slingerdansin
05 - Surun silmät
06 - Iho
07 - Triolipolska
08 - Sofias flykt
09 - Istunpa sänkys laitalla
10 - Säde
11 - Linjärv


Maria KALANIEMI: Accordion
Timo ALAKOTILA: Harmonium
Olii VARIS: Guitar
Tapani VARIS: Bass
Petri HAKALA: Mandolin
Arto JÄRVELÄ: Violin
Janne LAPPALAINEN: Saxophone soprano, Saxophone tenor
Jukka TIIRIKAINEN: Trompete, Flugelhorn
Aleksi AHONIEMI: Saxophone tenor
Matti MÄKELÄ: Violin
Maarit KYLLÖNEN: Violin
Tuula SAARI: Alto
Tiuja TIRKKONEN: Violoncello
Antti SOININEN: Violin.

Plethyn - Drws Agored [1991 Wales] @320

At their most active between 1978 and 1995, Plethyn are pioneers of authentic Welsh folk music, specializing in the close harmonies of the “Plygain” tradition.

Plethyn (meaning ‘braid’ or ‘bond’) is a very apt name for this trightly knit Welsh folk group. The three members originate from the region of Maldwyn, in Mid-Wales. Roy and Linda are brother and sister and John Gittins was born on a neighbouring farm. The folk tradition of this region is particularly rich and its influence can be clearly heard in the voices and style of Plethyn.

Linda Healy has one of the outstanding voices of Welsh folk singing, and the harmonic and natural blend given by Roy’s tenor and John’s bass provide the perfect frame for it.

They accompany themselves on guitar and mandolin and most of their songs are their own arrangements of traditional ones, but they also include new compositions, many of the lyrics penned by poet Myrddin ap Dafydd. ~ SainWales


01 - Cwm y Coed
02 - Myn Mair
03 - Breuddwyd Glyndwr
04 - Rho Wên yn Dy Gwsg
05 - La Rochelle
06 - Philomela
07 - Hon yw Fy Olwen i
08 - Y Ceidwad
09 - Ffarwel i Aberystwyth
10 - Wylaf Dros Iwerddon
11 - Y Deryn Pur
12 - Cysga Di Fy Mhlentyn Tlws
13 - Tafarn Fach Glyd ar y Cei

Linda Healy: Vocals, guitar and accordion.
Roy Griffiths: Vocals, guitar.
John Gittins: Vocals and mandolin.

Folque - Landet Ditt [1981 Norway] @192

After recording the outlaws were Folque without bassist, drummer - and record label. The new members were soon in place, and surprisingly enough got Folque offers from Arve Sigvaldsen the record company talent, who had heard the single "Hjuringstev" and had faith in the group.

Your country was despite some good tracks, one of Folques weaker LPs. It CVar some tunes in traditional Folque style of these was "Gesellvise" and "Woman Killer" perhaps the most successful. Also Øyvind generous two instrumentals, "My soul, my soul" and "Fanfare" worked well, although they were quite different from what Folque had previously done. However, some of the newly written songs were less fortunate. Worst was the "Witch", which Folque was forced by the record label. Tango "Opium Dreams", which Folque had found the notes on a loft clearance, was in addition to reinlenders on the first LP, the closest Folque ever came to a "hit".


01 - Min Sjel, Min Sjel
02 - Landet Ditt
03 - Gesellvise
04 - 15 Mil Til Oslo
05 - Kvinnemorderen
06 - Liti Kjersti Og Herreper
07 - Fanfare
08 - Gamle Olaves
09 - Heks
10 - Knut Liten Og Sylvelin
11 - Reinlender Fra Amot
12 - Opiumsdrøm


Jenn Mortensen: Vocals.
Lars Helljesen: Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Slide Guitar.
Øyvind Rauset: Fiddle, Piano, Organ, Harpsichord, Synthesizer, Hardingfele, Backing Vocals.
Morten Bing: Mandolin, guitar, dulcimer, banjo.
Roald Thomesen: Bass, Backing Vocals.
Pål Søvik: Drums, Backing Vocals.

Folque - Sort Messe [1983 Norway] @256

Folque is a Norwegian folk rock band founded in 1973 by Morten Bing, Jørn Jensen (musician), Eilif Amundsen, Lisa Helljesen, Espen Løvstad, Trond Øverland, and Trond Villa. In 1972 a subset of the band was initially named «Brød & Vin» (Bread & wine), they changed the name to Folque in the spring of 1973 after adding members and traditional instruments to the ensemble.

The band was dissolved in 1984, but reunited in 1994 and in 2004 for playing live.

Their musical style is linked to Malicorne in France and to Steeleye Span in the UK.

Most of the discography is difficult to find, as only the first three albums were re-released on CD.


01. Sort Messe  3:33    
02. Til Bloksberg  2:53    
03. Stjerneskipet  3:15    
04. Trollkjærring  2:36    
05. Unge Remarson  4:12    
06. Aske Til Aske  3:33    
07. Katrine  3:18    
08. Ronald's Kake 2:22
09. Ae Kan'kje Danse  3:27   
10. Jon Remarson's Jig  0:56    
11. Hymne  3:07

Jenn Mortensen / vocals
Lars Helljesen / vocals, guitar
Morten Bing / Mandolin, guitar, dulcimer, banjo
Roald Thommesen / bass
Pål Søvik / drums

Dremmwel - Lañs (France 2006) @320

Re-uploaded

This very energetic fest-noz band comes from the south west of Brittany. On their album "Lañs (released in 2006) they collaborate with famous Louise Ebrel.


01 - Matilin
02 - Le prunier de pommes - Ridées
03 - An dragon bihan
04 - Troellenn
05 - Taol lañs
06 - Ar sac'h ler - Ibil beuz
07 - Klevet - Suite Plinn - ton simpl
08 - Klevet - Suite Plinn - bal
09 - Klevet - Suite Plinn - ton doubl
10 - Tan ha dour
11 - A la belle étoile
12 - Feunteun ar wasaleg
13 - Stok an douar (Dañs Leon)
14 - Mississipi Liger (Galop Nantais)

Tablatura - Tablatura 3 (Japan 1990) [Medieval/Folk] @320

Tablatura, made up of Japanese musicians who do a pretty good job of playing music from the 12th to 16th centuries. Takashi Tsunoda, the main force behind the group, graduated from the Cologne Conservatorium of Music and studied with the lutenist Michael Schaeffer.

Their music includes a few tracks which could probably be considered "standards" in medieval music, including "Las Cantigas de Santa Maria", the anonymous 14th-century "Chancioneta Tedesca" and the "Lamento di Tristan e Rotta". Occasionally, particularly on their later albums, they throw in some original works in the style of medieval music.


01. Children Children
02. The Virgin Queen
03. Las Cantigas de Santa Maria
04. La Mourisque
05. El Sueсo de Tortuga Azul de Mar
06. Karelia
07. Arlequin
08. Trott
09. Estampie Real
10. I am happy very very happy
11. Lullaby

Tsunoda Takashi - Lute, Ud, Vihuela & Harp
Tasaki Mizuhiro - Fidel, Viola Da Gamba, Rebec & Portativeorgan
Hayasaka Sachi - Recorder & Shawm
Ishimori Yoshihiko - Long-Necked Lute, Psaltery & Cittern
Kondoh Ikuo - Percussion & Dulcimer
Yamashita Yohsuke - Dulkimer (5)
Ogawa Mishio - Vocal (10)

Dick Gaughan - Live in Edinburgh (Scotland 1985) @VBR

By request

Recorded live in the Queen's Hall, Edinburgh during the 1984 Edinburgh International Festival.

In early January 1984, I was doing a gig in the Star Club in Glasgow. I got to the second verse of the second song and my voice went. It was 5 months before I could speak and 7 months before I could sing again. This concert was the first I had given and I was absolutely terrified. Edinburgh being my home town, the audience that night was largely friends who knew how I felt and when I walked out on the stage, the emotional support from them was like a large pair of arms giving me a huge hug; one of the most remarkable and wonderful moments of my life.
(Dick Gaughan).


01 - Revolution
02 - Now Westlin Winds
03 - Which Side Are You On
04 - Victor Jara Of Chile
05 - Companeros
06 - Workers Song
07 - Your Daughters And Your Sons
08 - Four Green Fields
09 - Ballad Of Accounting
10 - Jamie Foyers
11 - Glenlogie
12 - World Turned Upside Down


Dick Gaughan : Vocal, Guitars

Plethyn - Seidir Ddoe [1994 Wales] @320

Plethyn is a Welsh language folk music group that was at their zenith between 1978 and 1995. The members are Roy Griffiths, Linda Healy and John Gittings. Roy and Linda are brother and sister, with John Gittins born on a farm, near Meifod in Maldwyn.

Their style shows influence of the plygain singing of this area: simple, close harmony. They have popularised a number of folk songs very much and created new songs in a traditional style. The principal influence on the group was Elfed Lewys.

Plethyn is also the Welsh word for "braid" or "bond".


01 - Lawr y lon
02 - Cainc yr adarwr
03 - Yma mae fy mywyd
04 - Ambell i gan
05 - I ysgafnhau ein gwaith
06 - Daw ein dydd
07 - Seidir ddoe
08 - Jonnie Keenan
09 - Mae gen i freuddwyd
10 - Hyddgen
11 - Yr ochr draw
12 - O’r pridd i’r pridd
13 - Didlan

Linda Healy: Vocals, guitar and accordion.
Roy Griffiths: Vocals, guitar.
John Gittins: Vocals and mandolin.

With:
Tudur Huws Jones: Pipe, banjo and Bohran.
Tudur Margan: Guitar

Acknowledgment

Thanks to two generous friends (JL and XXXX064), the Folk Yourself Blog can continue for a further period.
With their donations our blog is still alive to disclose Folk music for everyone.
My thanks to them, sincerely.

CrimsonKing

Tendachënt - La Valle dei Saraceni [2005 Italy] @320

Re-uploaded

01. Verdolin Verdolineto (trad.) / Verd (M. Martinotti)
02. La valle dei saraceni (M. Martinotti) / 'Che' e non Cé (M. Martinotti)
03. Don-na Curon-na (Pietà) (E. Avitabile - M. Martinotti)
04. La Lionota (M. Martinotti)
05. Deuit (M. Martinotti) / Il colpo della bestia (M. Martinotti) / Tempi duri (M. Martinotti)
06. La Pasiun dal nost Signur (M. Martinotti)
07. Bianca (M. Martinotti) / La sera della festa (M. Martinotti) / Piccole storie (M. Martinotti)
08. Stranòt d'amur (M. Martinotti) / Vurì amnì (M. Martinotti)
09. Buton fiurì (M. Martinotti)
10. Fra' Pataluc (trad.) / Lantaliran (M. Martinotti)
11. La Piemonteisa (M. Martinotti)
12. Quand je suis né (trad.) / Baccus (M. Martinotti)
13. Monferrina detta di San Michele (trad.) / Mala tempora (M. Martinotti) / Luvara (M. Martinotti)
14. Jacoutin (trad.) / Jacoutinaire (M. Martinotti)
15. Sòm sòm (trad.) / Ninna nanna (trad.) / Dormigliusa (M. Martinotti)



Maurizio Martinotti: canto, ghironde elettroacustiche, mandola, epinette des Vosges, scacciapensieri, zufolo, diana, piva di bamboo, ocarina, tastiere
Enrico Negro: chitarra acustica 6 e 12 corde, chitarra elettrica, mandola, cori
Bruno Raiteri: violino, viola, cori
Sergio Caputo: violino, percussioni in "La Pasiun dal nost Signur"
Gerardo Savone: basso
Gigi Biolcati: batteria, percussioni

with
Enzo Avitabile: canto, sax tenore, tastiere in "Don-na Curon-na (Pietà)"
I Bottari di Portico: percussioni in "Don-na Curon-na (Pietà)"
Paul James: sax soprano in "Sòm sòm / Ninna nanna / Dormigliusa", cornamusa in "Tempi duri"
De Calaix (Mireia Mena, Gemma Pla, Lurdes Rimallo): canto in "La Pasiun dal nost Signur"
Toni Torregrosa: canto in "La Lionota" e "La Pasiun dal nost Signur"
Renat Sette: canto in "Sòm sòm / Ninna nanna / Dormigliusa"
Marco Pasquino: violoncello in "Sòm sòm / Ninna nanna / Dormigliusa", "Jacoutin / Jacoutinaire", "Quand je suis né / Baccus"

MU - Casa Nostra [2008 Portugal] @320

Re-uploaded by request

MU is a Portuguese band that began its musical route in 2003. Searching for fusion and experimentation within the traditional music, this group is distinguishing with many music styles. With MU you can travel to several different cultures and traditional/fusion sounds. Its members play various instruments from all over the world. India, Switzerland, Egypt, Brazil, Morocco, Australia, among others, are the regions from where the instruments of MU come from. This instrument diversity brings this group to a travel between a lost world and actuality, which allows it to rescue beautiful sounds from these ancient worlds.

Between flying dances, feminine voices and diverse instruments, MU's alive show is a moment of contagious enjoyment, moment where the energy flies throughout the air and rushes the body to dance in a limitless world.

MU has already two records: Mundanças (2005) and Casanostra (2008). Since 2003, this group participated in several Portuguese festivals and also win the contest Arribas Folk. Among others, we point: Sons do Atlântico, Boom Festival, Portugal a Rufar, Interceltic Festival of Oporto, Andanças Festival and Interceltic Festival of Sendim. Outside of Portugal, a MU stand out it's partaking in festivals all around Spain (Danzas Sin Fronteras, Festigal Festival, Festival Folk Plasencia, Festival La Carlota and Festival Galdames Folk). Besides that, in 2008 MU went to a world music festival in Croatia, the Zgetno Festival and in Bucareste, Romania.
Paulo Mosqueteiro


01. Karpa
02. Oi Na Gori
03. Carrossel
04. Casa Nostra
05. Circlone
06. Chapeloise de Asterix
07. Ayla
08. Emma Kalisz
09. Mog'ur
10. Saltimbanco
11. Miosótis
12. Iara
13. Viens ma fleur

Osga - Bulbul Tarang, Didgeridoo, Flauta, Bombo, Tarola, Triângulo, Bilha, Buzina,
Flauta de êmbolo, Pratos
Nuno Encarnação - Tabla, Bombo, Derbouka, Adufe, Tamborelo, Percussões pequenas
Diana Azevedo - Violino, Voz, Dança, Shagatis, Kazu
Sara Barbosa - Contrabaixo
Sérgio Calisto - Violoncelo, Moraharpa, Bouzuki, Nyckelharpa
Dulce Cruz - Acordeão
Sophie Kalisz - Acordeão, Voz, Dança
Helena Madeira - Voz em Karpa,
Miosótis e Iara Semente - Percussão em Saltimbanco
Quico Serrano - Sintetizador em Karpa, Iara Voz em Oinagori

Didier Laloy & Fabian Beghin - Cryptonique [2008 Belgium] @192

This extraordinary duo presents a new repertoire based on the meeting between the chromatic and diatonic accordion.
Didier Laloy (TREF) plays as well as lyrical and with a lot of swing, reserved and dynamic, but always subtle, with an eye for the smallest details. Fabian Beghin has his own dynamic sound with a wide scope on the world. Together they search for the perfect marriage between the force of Beghin’s chromatic accordion and the lyrical poetry of Didier Laloy. A cutting edge adventure...

 

01. Frost Waltz 04:43
02. Seven 03:35
03. The wooden legged sportman 04:14
04. The two pennies waltz 03:00
05. Freaks, out! 03:24
06. Half Round 03:44
07. One more night on the train 03:51
08. Ambroise's forest party 03:37
09. The drop 03:04
10. Folk Prog 04:05
11. November's March 03:43


Fabian Beghin - Chromatic accordion
Didier Laloy - Diatonic accordion

Tref - Dampf [2012 Belgium] @VBR

For ten years now, TREF has been an engine of transgressing musical research in Folk Music. These ambassadors of virtuosity have already seen a great part of the world. Concerning folk music, they played with all the great musicians of their time. In Belgium they found their way to all big stages, from Nekkanacht in Antwerp to the Montreux Jazz Festival, while passing Francofolies in Spa, the festivals of Saint-Chartier (F) and Dranouter,... In 2002 the group received the Klara Music Price.

These 4 passionate musicians fill their dialogue with traditional rythms, Jazzy harmonies, touching melodies and rocking grooves. In short, TREF is considered as a unique music genre, accompanied by a distinguished amount of Belgian humor on stage.

TREF proudly presents its third album 'DAMPF', full of steaming music which continuously pursues its current course: three accordions and a lot of percussion in search of the limits of their possibilities and joined action.


01 - Tragedie Lego
02 - Dampf
03 - Kadar
04 - Double Face
05 - Plasko O Polska
06 - Tour
07 - CBB - 19h39
08 - Pas Encore
09 - Latina
10 - Famine
11 - La Gourmande
12 - Construction Rapide
13 - Andro Hazes - Tzuica
14 - Comptine


Wim CLAEYS: Accordéon diatonique
Didier LALOY: Accordéon diatonique
Bruno LE TRON: Accordéon diatonique
Frédéric MALEMPRÉ: Percussion

Loituma - Kuutamolla [1998 Finland] @192

Loituma’s initial incarnation was in the autumn of 1989 as a septet called Jäykkä Leipä ("Stiff Bread"), born in the Sibelius Academy’s Folk music department. The original lineup included singers Sanna Kurki-Suonio and Tellu Paulasto, who later left for Sweden to join Hedningarna.
Over the years, the group has persistently followed its own musical path, applying different musical influences to its music. It has dived into musical streams of diverse origins. One of the cornerstones of Finnish folk music is the art of singing: stories and feelings are best conveyed through this instrument. Loituma's songs convey the Finnish heritage, aided in the background by Martti Pokela and Toivo Alaspää. Another cornerstone of Loituma's art is a Finnish folk instrument called kantele, which is featured in varied ways in their recordings.
Loituma members compose or arrange the tunes by themselves, often using improvisation. Lyrics come from many sources, two main traditional sources are the Kalevala, the national epic of Finland, and the Kanteletar. The lyrics are in Finnish.


01 - Hiekkarantakuhertelua
02 - Tahden Lentaessa
03 - Kultaansa Kuuleva
04 - Laulu Laiskana Pitavi
05 - Nuustielle
06 - Utu
07 - Inttajaispolska
08 - Menuetti
09 - Mikaelin Kirkonkellot
10 - Kuutamolla Kahden
11 - Salaisa Kyyneleita


Sari Kauranen: kanteles, vocals
Anita Lehtola-Tollin: vocals, 5-string kantele
Timo Väänänen: kanteles, vocals
Hanni-Mari Autere: vocals, fiddle, 5-string kantele, alto recorder, double bass, Lapin drum

Maria Kalaniemi - Bellow Poetry [2006 Finland] @320

Re-uploaded

The queen of the Finnish free-bass button accordion, Maria Kalaniemi releases her first internationally distributed solo album, Bellow Poetry. Having a twenty year professional career filled with duos, trios, ensembles, projects and collaborations, often with complex and intricate arrangements, Bellow Poetry shows Maria at her purest; she and her instrument in an informal, intimate, solo setting. Following albums Maria Kalaniemi, Iho, Ahma, Ramunder, Ambra, Trio Live in Tokyo and Airbow, Bellow Poetry is the album that reveals the essence of Maria and her music in all its melodic simplicity.

Bellow Poetry was recorded at Maria's home studios in 2005 with engineer Olli Varis who also features as guitar accompanist on two pieces. One additional outstanding feature on several pieces in the album is Maria's vocals which have previously been heard only in projects such as Accordion Tribe, Ramunder and Pidot.

Maria's compositions and performances on Bellow Poetry are inspired by Kalevala runo poem singing, pastoral shepherd music and Finnish gypsy themes. Meditative and improvisational themes are explored on one of the world's most expressive instruments by one of the world's most expressive players.


01. Kuun Henki / Spirit of the Moon
02. Salin Hämärissä / Dim Light in the Farmhouse
03. Niityt ja vainiot / Meadows and Fields
04. Ikkunan äärellä / By the Window
05. Kevään kurjet / Cranes of Spring
06. Så skimrande var aldrig havet / So Shimmering
07. Autio / Desolate
08. Sade / Rain
09. Matka / Journey


Maria Kalaniemi: Accordion
Olli Varis: Guitar

Tref - Loop to the Moon [2006 Belgium] @VBR

Wim Claeys and Didier Laloy, two of Belgium's harmonica players of the younger generation and heir percussion companion Frederic Malempré deliver 'Loop to the Moon' second album.
Of ethno - groovy rhythms to touching ballads. With Walk to the Moon they bring especially their own compositions. Invariably, the dialogue between the two accordions centrally in lead by moderator Malempré service at his inimitable world percussion.
Modern and contemporary accordion music with a touch of traditional elements stubborn.


01 - Äckem (From Äckem-Wäckem)
02 - Bering
03 - Comme La Pologne
04 - Coucourreel
05 - Dorothée
06 - Guising
07 - Jalloenal
08 - Les Crêpes Dans L'oreille
09 - Loop To The Moon
10 - Petit Vent
11 - Plains
12 - Siskawals
13 - Wäckem (From Äckem-Wäckem)
14 - Zachte Landing


Wim CLAEYS: Accordéon diatonique
Didier LALOY: Accordéon diatonique
Frédéric MALEMPRÉ: Percussion

Maria Kalaniemi - Ahma [1999 Finland] @320

by request

Enthusiasts of the five-row accordion will find much to celebrate in this splendidly performed and produced release. This is Kalaniemi's third outing in a recording studio, and she and her band (all master players) use it to grand advantage, ranging from moments of poignancy to bursts of frank melodrama. As might be expected from that blanket description, this is not a simple album of squeezebox squishing by any means -- there is nothing hokey to be found here; instead, expect some magnificent playing from all parties involved.
Steven McDonald - Allmusic


01 - Ahma
02 - Ängskär
03 - Huuma (Los Mareados)
04 - Kaamos (Polar Night)
05 - Melos
06 - Lovina
07 - Nibe
08 - Bingsjö
09 - Kamppi
10 - Namas
11 - Nautilus
12 - Arctic Paradise


Maria KALANIEMI: Accordion

ALDARGAZ:
Timo ALAKOTILA: Piano
Olli VARIS: Guitar
Tapani VARIS: Bass
Petri HAKALA: Mandolin
Arto JÄRVELÄ: Violin
Mauno JÄRVELÄ: Violin, Viola
Matti MÄKELÄ: Violin
Antti SOININEN: Violin
Marion GÖBEL: Violoncello
Mia SIMANAINEN: Voice
Markus KETOLA: Drums
Heikki POHTO: Saxophone tenor, Saxophone soprano
Jukka TIRIKAINEN: Trumpet
Pentti LAHTI: Saxophone alto, Bass Clarinet
Matti LAPPALAINEN: Trombone.

Luc Arbogast - Canticum in Terra [2012 France] medieval/folk @VBR

Uploaded by request

Born November 2, 1975 in La Rochelle, Luc Arbogast is immersed in early medieval world. Young student, he became interested in theater and began his artistic career at the age of 10 years, participating in the show "Transhumance" sound and light show dealing with the creation of the Val Saint-Gregoire. The approach of the medieval fantasy roleplaying (Stormbringer, Celtic Legends, Hawkmoon) gives, in his adolescence, to develop a sensitivity to the magic, history, and poetry. Discovery during adolescence traditional music has shaken its sensitivity. In fact, the album "Almanac" group Malicorne album became his bedside, alongside 'Arms illegal "Castelhemis," The cemetery harlequin "Angel and the group" Irish jigs "Gwendal. During this period, Luc spends most of his time drawing and forest walks, a discipline in which he meets some notable successes. Listening to his emotions, Luc toggle culture punk-metal traditional music, while continuing to play in the band as frontman CHAOS SQUAD, founded in 1993 with his brother Yann, combining these different styles. The group will stop in 1995, by canceling the most important concert due to peritonitis, which will bring Luc to try writing a fantasy novel, an idea he abandoned to devote himself entirely to music . Through good and bad encounters, it will make sense of things to discover his love of music. Although stormy attended school (college courses have been completely sacrificed to drawing and writing poetry), Luc remains convinced that something is possible without any educational background and without qualification.
Young adult, he endorses turn various outfits: fire-eater, model, body piercer ... In 1996, following the accidental discovery of her vocal abilities, he founded the group Angenon with Toivo Rolser whose compositions Irish Medieval experienced great success in the pub Strasbourg. It is natural that Luc decides to happen in the street, this time it has not chosen to live music, and oscillates between safety and freedom. He chose freedom. For 17 years, multiply the live shows, music and her voice will bring on many roads of France, sometimes abroad. His first self-produced album "Yr Vinur Fjall of" launching his career and will update various aspects of a musical work unfinished: 2004 "Domus", 2007 "Hortus Dei", 2009 "At the gates of Sananda "2012" Canticum in Terra ".
It is on this fertile ground that Luc now lives and continues her creative work, hoping to bring each new album the listener to rediscover the medieval world and his own sensibility. Luc is happening today all over Europe (France, Germany, Holland, Switzerland, Belgium, Spain). What strikes first is the public voice contrast / physical artist and the immense sincerity of it in the execution of texts. Luc surrenders to the music with enthusiasm and discusses ancient texts dealing with everyday life with spirituality or faith indisputable.


01 - Cant del matin
02 - Aurora borealis
03 - Funtan de jovencia
04 - La daumassane
05 - Haxxaplatz am samain
06 - Aux quatres vents
07 - Ars moriendi
08 - Chrisalied
09 - L'herbe d'ongrie
10 - Oj dortin
11 - Du côté des anges
12 - Ad mortem festinamus


LUC ARBOGAST: Chant contre-ténor, bouzouki irlandais, laud, grelots
JEAN-LOUIS RENOU: Percussions
MELINDA BRESSAN: Flûte traversière
ALIOCHA REGNARD: Nyckelharpa, violon
SARAH PICAUD: Chant et voix additionnelles

Stuveu - Folkologie (2007 France) @320

Thanx to Yojikk for more this great album!

In 2007, "STUVEU" recorded his fisrt album, "Folkologie". An album with oriental influences (the "bourrée en cercle" Cacahuète Grillée), but also Reggae influences with a Madison Dub... The Fest Noz dances (Tour, Tricot, Andro...) are also very important in this album. A first album full of energy!


01. Sarthakan (Bourree en cercle)
02. Cacahuete Grillee (Bourree en cercle)
03. First step (Mixer stuveu)
04. L'hirond'est (Maraichine)
05. Folkologie (Cercle Circassien)
06. Alco 16 (Valse ecossaise)
07. Tour nicote (Tour)
08. Madison Dub (Madison)
09. Ma Jument hippolyne (Andro)
10. Toi meme (Bourree 2 temps)
11. Billee Wang (Tricot)
12. Poutchack (Ronde de St. Vincent)


Alain VÉTILLARD "Bill": diatonic accordion
Pierre MOREAU: violin
Antoine: guitar, dombra, bass, sample

Tom McConville & Kieran Halpin - Port of Call (1980 ENG / IRE) @320

Vinyl Rip

Re-Uploaded by request


01. Blarney roses
02. The low road (K. Halpin)
03. Doctor Gilbert/Lads of Laoise
04. Trip through Holyhead (K. Halpin)
05. High Germany
06. Taylor to my trade
07. Hard luck stories (K. Halpin)
08. McGuire’s/Martin Wynn’s
09. Banks of the Bann
10. Port of call (K. Halpin)

Tom McConville: vocals, harmony vocals, fiddle
Kieran Halpin: vocals, harmony vocals, guitar, bouzouki
with
Bob Fox: harmony vocals, guitar, harmonium, piano

Hedningarna - & (Sweden 2012) @320

Back in the 1990’s, there was a veritable storm of folk and folk-related releases from Sweden. Amongst the vanguard were Hedningarna (The Heathens), a group not afraid to revive, build, or otherwise alter traditional instruments. Hedningarna built their sound on drones and buzzes from hurdy-gurdy and fiddles, sometimes leaving the tunes in their minimalist grinding glory, or otherwise mixing their experimentation with older Swedish and Nordic pagan cultures into sonics that sometimes bordered on the electro-industrial (re-visit 1994’s astonishing Trä album). In those heady days, Hållbus Totte Mattson, Björn Tollin, and Anders Stake joined forces with two Finnish singers, Tellu Paulasto and Sanna Kurki-Suonio, with the women adding passionate incantations of Nordic spells and primal poetry. No one really sounded like Hedningarna, then or now.

Nine years on from a compilation release, Hedningarna have been reborn, sans the dual female vocalists. Hedningarna have returned to being a trio at its core, now comprised of Anders Norudde (violin, fiddles, moraharpa, bagpipes, flutes), Hållbus Totte Mattson (hurdy-gurdy, mandora, accordion, laptop), and Samuel Andersson (violin, fiddle, percussion of all kinds, more laptop manipulation). And on &, Valter Kinbom joins to add more percussion, along with Philemon Arthur & The Dung, an obscure Swedish duo who appear on one track.


01 - Tjuren
02 - Morafjälls
03 - Träslöjden
04 - Vem är jag
05 - Hedna
06 - Mycket vill ha mera
07 - Höjdaren
08 - Torget
09 - Hedersmannen
10 - Karbonader
11 - Soppan
12 - Bonden
13 - Men va fanken
14 - Hejsan svejsan
15 - Domen


Anders Norudde: Violin, mora-fiddle, moraharpa, basmoraharpa, swedish bagpipe, willow-flute, wooden flutes, vocal.

Hallbus Totte Mattsson: Hurdy-gurdy, hurdy-gurdy dulcilmer, mandora, basmandora, moraud, accordion, vocal

Samuel Andersson: Octave Violin, octave mora-fiddle, basmoraharpa, drums, percussion, slagbordun, basmandora, vocal.

Guests Artists:

Valter Kinbom: Percussion on track 5, 8, 10, 11.

Philemon Arthur & The Dung: track 14.

Leo Kottke, Peter Lang, John Fahey - Leo Kottke, Peter Lang, John Fahey (USA 1974) @320

Fahey had started a new genre of guitar music, known later as American Primitivism, which comprised traditional fingerpicking steel string guitar techniques applied to neo-classical compositions. The Takoma label showcased such music and its roster included Kottke and Lang. Kottke's 6 and 12-String Guitar became a surprise hit and the profits funded an expansion of the label. Leo Kottke/Peter Lang/John Fahey was released to help gain greater exposure for Fahey and Lang as well as the label itself.

Each guitarist plays four solo pieces. The Fahey tracks are re-recordings of four well-known Fahey songs. Kottke would later re-record "Cripple Creek" and "Ice Miner".


01 - Cripple Creek (Leo Kottke)
02 - Red & White (Leo Kottke)
03 - Anyway (Leo Kottke)
04 - Thoth Song (Peter Lang)
05 - Ice Miner (Leo Kottke)
06 - St. Charles Shuffle (Peter Lang)
07 - When Kings Come Home (Peter Lang)
08 - As I Lay Sleeping (Peter Lang)
09 - On The Sunny Side Of The Ocean (John Fahey)
10 - In Christ There Is No East Or West (John Fahey)
11 - Sunflower River Blues (John Fahey)
12 - Revolt Of The Dyke Brigade (John Fahey)


Leo Kottke – guitar
John Fahey – guitar
Peter Lang – guitar