JUNE CD REVIEWS By CATHOLINE BUTLER
DAMANTA
The Drunken Priest:
and the Ghostly Hymns of Autumn
Folk band Damanta ( an Irish-Canadian hybrid project) have released their new record (on CD and vinyl) entitled The Drunken Priest and the Ghostly Hymns of Autumn.
In 2005 lead singer Elegwen O' Maoileoin graduated from the seminary and was headed for the priesthood until he went on a pilgrimage to celebrate the end of his seven years of priestly training. Then the road curved and his path changed.
A long- time singer of Irish sean nos songs and Scottish ballads, an expert bodhran player and uillean piper, Elegwen took a hiatus from the seminary to pursue his musical talents and wander the world like the minstrels of old.
The sound of Damanta, and lead singer Elegwen O'Maoileoin's songs, have been described by Juno-winning folk producer Paul Gitlitz, as a cross between Ian Anderson (the voice of Jethro Tull) and Jim Morrison of the Doors. Except unlike Jethro Tull Damanta has a distinctly Irish sound.
Other influences are Christy Moore, Paul Brady, juxtaposed with heavier alt bands. Elegwen grew up listening to the Chieftains and Planxty and writes his own songs in both Gaelic and English. He also sings Irish sean nos on The Drunken Priest and the Ghostly Hymns of Autumn. Damanta are traditional and original.
Damanta's The Drunken Priest and the Ghostly Hymns of Autumn are on the Nowhere Town Records Label and distributed by Festival Distribution. Available at most record stores. For more information about the band, visit: www.damanta.com
BLACKTHORN Sweet Forget-Me-Not
Great design on the jacket cover with the picture of the jaunting car and the very suitable name of Sweet Forget-Me-Not ...puts you in a waltzing mood before you ever open the cover and that continues right through as you listen to 12 great selections.
Blackthorn are one of Vancouver's premier Celtic bands, all the members are accomplished musicians and singers and they are known throughout the province of B.C. for their performances at festivals, pubs, and special events.
Michael Viens, leader of Blackthorn, has continued the charitable work of the late Danny Burns. For the past several years he has organized the Feed The Hungry Benefit at the Wolf & Hound where numerous local musicians give their time and talent to help raise funds for the homeless. The event has become an annual December highlight for Celtic music fans.
Members of Blackthorn are: Rosie Carver on fiddle and vocals; Michelle Carlisle on vocals, flute, piccolo, whistle, and fife; Dianne Foster on accordion and vocals; Tim Renaud on vocals, bass, bodhran, mandolin and bouzouki; and Michael Viens on vocals and guitars.
Sweet-Forget-Me-Not will have your toes tapping, and I believe it's one of Blackthorn's best CD's yet. For more information about Blackthorn, visit: www.blackthornband.com.
LAU Live
Lau is the formidable union of three of the finest and most innovative exponents of modern traditional music: Kris Drever on guitar and vocals; Martin Green on piano accordion; and Aidan O'Rourke on fiddle.
Lau is the product of a highly creative Edinburgh music scene in which bands exchange and stylistic experimentation among musicians is almost an unspoken creed. Lau write much of their own material, creating complex and melodic compositions from moody to frantic accordion, interwoven with driving fiddle and guitar. Together their explosive live performances have been generating a major buzz around the UK folk circuit.
In the summer of 2007, Lau took festivals by storm across Europe and North-America; the Fall to Japan and Cape Breton. They kicked off 2008 at the BBC Folk Awards and went on to win Best Group Award.
On tour in Canada this summer, don't miss this new and exciting Celtic Folk group when they're on tour in your area. Lau will be performing in this part of Western Canada on July 11-13 at the Winnipeg Folk Festival; July 16 at the Island Folk Festival in Duncan, B.C.; July 18-19 at the Vancouver Folk Festival; and in Calgary on July 24-27 at the Calgary Folk Festival.
Lau record on the Compass label. For more information about the band, visit: www.compassrecords.com.
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