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Showing posts with label Folk Music. Show all posts

12/06/2017

Holiday-Folk Review: Blackmore's Night-Winter Carols

Release Date: October 6, 2017

Label: Minstrel Hall Music

Website

Blackmore’s Night is ready to usher in the Holiday season with their latest release Winter Carols. They do it all like nobody else and that one factor makes it more intriguing. The perspective listener has an opportunity to enjoy some seasonal music in an entirely different way.

This band has had me mesmerized since day one. Richie Blackmore’s incredible guitar and his wife Candace Night who sings like an angel every step of the way, it just sweeps me away. Her voice is so warm and positive you cannot resist smiling and tapping your feet to all their music.

For me it takes awhile to get into the spirit of the Holidays every year because of the overuse of commercialism pushing over eating and over spending. I can forget about all that and focus on the music and those I love. I get there with a little help from these wonderful musicians delivering their very special music into my home. I have a lot of different emotions this time of year for many different reasons. Music helps me to smile inside and heal any hurt I may be feeling while thinking about those I have lost over the years.

This two CD set is a great way to kick off the Holiday’s and it did just that for me. Blackmore’s Night has a special blend of rock, folk and Celtic that takes the nod from some ancient tunes. What is the best part of that? It is putting their own flavor and spin on the tracks and taking you on quite a musical journey to enjoy. They create a lot of their own music however they have reworked some from songs that were written centuries ago as well.

If all this great music was not enough, Candace sings “Christmas Eve” in German, and perfectly I might add. This is a band of musical perfectionist that know how to get it done in one take. If you listen to tracks from “Live from Minstrel Hall” you hardly can tell the difference between the polished studio work and live recordings. Of course, the live music allows for some interesting improvisation on more than one occasion. I have had the pleasure of seeing them live and it is truly an incredible experience.

Blackmore is a real craftsman and a master of the six-string. His acoustic playing is perfected and beautiful. Every once in a while, he cuts loose on the electric guitar reminding everyone that he can still rock if he chooses to. I always have enjoyed this music and prior to this band Deep Purple and Rainbow, in fact I still enjoy it all.

Winter Carols is not only a worldwide tribute to Christmas it is a portrait of musical history intermingled with modern technologies. It is everything that I could have asked for to persuade me into the joy and love of the upcoming Holidays. I have a lot to be grateful for and that includes amazing music from one of the best bands in the world.

5/5 Stars

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck

December 6, 2017

Founder of:

New Age Music Reviews

Rate The Tracks

Review Provided By Write A Music Review

Tracks:
CD 1:
01. Deck the Halls
02. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
03. Oh Christmas Tree
04. Hark the Herald Angels Sing / O Come All Ye Faithful
05. I Saw Three Ships
06. Winter (Basse Dance)
07. Ding Dong Merrily on High
08. Ma-o-Tzur
09. Good King Wenceslas
10. Lord of the Dance / Simple Gifts
11. We Three Kings
12. Wish You Were Here
13. Emmanuel
14. Christmas Eve
15. We Wish You a Merry Christmas

CD2:
16. Hark the Herald Angels Sing / O Come All Ye Faithful (Live from Minstrel Hall)
17. Emmanuel (Live from Minstrel Hall)
18. We Three Kings (Live from Minstrel Hall)
19. Ma-o-Tzur (Live from Minstrel Hall)
20. Good King Wenceslas (Live from Minstrel Hall)
21. Christmas Eve (2013 Version)
22. Christmas Eve (German Radio Edit)
23. Christmas Eve (English & German Radio Edit)
24. Christmas Eve (English Radio Edit)

Holiday-Folk Review: Blackmore's Night-Winter Carols

Release Date: October 6, 2017

Label: Minstrel Hall Music

Website

5/5 Stars

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck

December 6, 2017

Founder of:

New Age Music Reviews

Rate The Tracks

10/06/2016

Legendary Songwriter Hugh Prestwood To Release First Full Album "I Used To Be The Real Me"

The hit songwriter is releasing “I Used To Be The Real Me”, featuring Judy Collins

Los Angeles - It may seem Hugh Prestwood is just introducing his name to the world; after all, “I Used To Be The Real Me” is essentially the first album he’s widely distributed, set to be released November 18 on Wildflower Records/Cleopatra Records. But fans of country, folk and bluegrass music are all very familiar with his work - he’s penned numerous number ones and other hits in his thirty-plus years as an Emmy Award-winning, Hall of Fame songwriter.

Discovered in 1978 by Judy Collins, the ethereal folk singer provided Prestwood with first hit when she recorded “Hard Times for Lovers.” It makes sense that she also had a hand in this stage of his career, releasing his new album on her Wildflower Records. She also joined him on two tracks, “Untie These Lines” and “Charlie.”

“I received Hugh’s CD, listened to it and practically fell over,” Collins said. “It blew me away. All of Hugh's songs are unusual and tinged with magic, and it was a pleasure singing them with my old friend.”

In the three decades since first working with Collins, Prestwood has become a well-respected and sought-after songwriter, penning Grammy-nominated number ones for Randy Travis with “Hard Rock Bottom Of Your Heart” Crystal Gayle’s “The Sound Of Your Goodbye” and Shenandoah’s “Ghost In This House,” among many other hits. But “I Used To Bee The Real Me” is Prestwood singing his own songs, his own way.

“Working with Judy on this record is closing a very big circle,” Prestwood said. “I Used To Be The Real Me is my songs recorded from my demos, whittled down from 30 songs I had in my catalog. I’m so pleased to share it.”

Conway Twitty, Don Williams, Jimmy Buffett, James Taylor, Alison Krauss and Union Station and Jerry Douglas have all recorded Prestwood’s songs, among many, many more. He even received an Emmy for Trisha Yearwood’s “The Song Remembers When.” With that many hits and a long history of working with some of music’s greatest names, it’s hard to believe “I Used To Be The Real Me” is Prestwood’s first full, widely-distributed album of his own work – of his voice singing his songs for a change. The album is a masterwork in lyricism, with Prestwood’s familiar take on life and love as they change through the years.

Although Prestwood is releasing “I Used To Be The Real Me”, he’s nowhere near done with songwriting. Prestwood continues to teach songwriting workshops for the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) in various locations throughout the country, and is constantly working on his next song.

Buy the CD: http://flyt.it/HughPrestwood
Buy the digital version: http://flyt.it/HughPrestwoodDig

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com

10/26/2015

Folk Review: Cynthia Chitko-Days Gone By Remembered

Release Date: June 15, 2015

Label: Promotion Music Records

Website

Cynthia Chitko is an artist with a deep emotional investment in her music. Days Gone by Remembered is Chitko’s sophomore album and reaches deeper into in a folk sound with country and Americana foundations. Songs of remembrance and focus on the family are rich with expressive elements, vocals and instrumentation. Artists on this album include Peter Phippen (Fender bass, William Hall & Son boxwood flute), Randy Sabien (violin, mandolin), Ivan Lunde Jr (frame drum, Rain FX), Robert Baca (trumpet), Terrence Karr (tabla drums) and of course Cynthia Chitko on acoustic guitar and vocals.

In an album that scrapes against the raw emotions of being human Days Gone by Remembered is a look into the fiber of the artist’s soul. One of the most striking pieces was “My Innocence”. It tells of a young girl whose innocence was stolen at the hands of someone very close to her. This piece will resonate with anyone who has ever had a similar experience. The pain suffered travels across time, even when the perpetrator dies. The acoustic guitar, frame drum and Fender bass blend with Cynthia’s seamless vocals to portray feels that most consider too difficult in general conversation, let alone a well-built song. This song is for all of us that have been wounded in such a way by the very people we trusted. Kudos to you Cynthia for your courage and forbearance.

“Gray Rainy Day” begins with the natural sound of rain and morphs into melodious violin sequences. Chitko’s vocals resonate through the piece, paired with Fender bass, acoustic guitar and Rain FX. Memories are stirred by occasions but even as events happen both good and bad, life still goes on.

Evoking the spirit of freedom, “Dance with Me Mata Hari” spirals into being. The Tabla drum, acoustic guitar, Fender bass and Chitko’s signature emotive vocals take the listener on a magic carpet ride. The wild and sensuous essence of the legendary spy and lover coaxes you to cast all your inhibitions to the wind and let yourself go. The rhythm and folk sounds of this piece make you want to throw back your hair and just do it. Step out of the box and let your flag fly high.

Days Gone By Remembered is an album rich with memories and textured sound. The human condition is a blend of joy and pain and Cynthia Chitko purveys that well by using voice and instrumentation to craft an organic experience. She and her contributing artists have brought the shadows of the past alive and they are dancing. If you enjoy folk music with a focus on human elements, I recommend this album.

4/5 Stars

Key Tracks: My Innocence, Dance With Me Mata Hari, Gray Rainy Day

Tracks:
01.Days Gone by Remembered
02.Stain on the Wood
03.Snake Eyes
04.My Innocence
05.Word
06.Whenever I See You
07.Gray Rainy Day
08.The Spirits Won't Let Me Be
09.Unfree
10.Dance With Me Mata Hari
11.Watching over You

Dana Wright, Sr. Staff Writer

October 26, 2015

Review Provided By Write A Music Review

6/19/2015

Dave Fidler EP Review

Based in the North West, Dave Fidler is a supremely talented acoustic guitarist, whose folk style and intricate finger picking underneath a distinct vocal has the ability to warm and break your heart in equal measure. His songs spin tales we can all relate to, around themes of love, loss and birth – all themes shaped by Fidler’s own personal life over the last year or so.

Easy Gone, Easy Come – is the first song of the EP. And has a really easy on the ear guitar throughout it! Along with the harmonious vocals creates something really special within this track! The lyrics are also really high-quality being about the loss of his father but him becoming a father himself so it provides really pleasant imagery in the listeners mind.

Ailsa – has a bit more of a slower tempo then the previous song, But the vocals are definitely a bit more melodic! The guitar is quieter as well but that makes the vocals seem a lot stronger in this song and is definitely the main attraction of this song!

These Days – Is a really well built song out of the EP! The melodic vocals and backing instrument behind the guitar it made me think it wasn’t even live how professional it sounded! It has quite a lot of intervals to just allow the pleasant-sounding guitar and backing instrument to be played!

A Song For Nico - Another live song which you wouldn’t have even known it was live! Has a really nice introduction to it with the easy on the ear guitar and background instrument similar to the previous song. The vocals are also well built portraying a narrative about nico really superb! Has a choir towards the end of this song as well!

Follow Me – The last and final song from the EP, and is probably the best in my opinion! Dave fiddler again has a backing choir behind him in this song but they are more involved in this song. Really easy on the ear song to finish off a fantastic EP!

To wrap up Dave Fidlers EP “Easy Gone, Easy Come” is a fantastic EP showcasing really easy on the ear song along with melodic vocals and harmonious guitar. And is definitely a EP I would recommend for relaxing and be brought here: http://www.davefidler.com/shop/easy-gone-easy-come-ep-pre-order

If you’re still not convinced, we challenge you to watch his recent session for cult YouTube Channel ‘Ont' Sofa’ without being supremely impressed:

Links:

http://www.davefidler.com/

https://soundcloud.com/davefidler-1

Pages

12/06/2017

Holiday-Folk Review: Blackmore's Night-Winter Carols

Holiday-Folk Review: Blackmore's Night-Winter Carols

10/06/2016

Legendary Songwriter Hugh Prestwood To Release First Full Album "I Used To Be The Real Me"

10/26/2015

Folk Review: Cynthia Chitko-Days Gone By Remembered

6/19/2015

Dave Fidler EP Review