Weird Folk.

It is Saturday afternoon. I have been listening to Divers by Joanna Newsom. This is only about the third time I have listened to it, but I like it, it is a grower, very lush arrangements and I can hear the influence of Van Dyke Parks in the lyrics. I would describe it as Weird Folk. I have several other albums that I would include in this genre. I don’t know about the USA but in the UK, I think The Incredible String Band must be the earliest exponents of this type of music. I only have one String Band album at the moment which is The Hangman’s Beautiful Daughter. It is one of my favourite albums. 

Kip Of The Serenes by Dr Strangely Strange I would put in this category as well although I don't rate them as highly as the String Band.. I suppose you could include Tyrannosaurus Rex before they became T Rex and later Donovan in this genre. One of the best weird folk albums in my opinion is Just Another Diamond Day by Vashti Bunyan. I think it was written during a long journey in a horse drawn gypsy caravan to Scotland. It is a wonderful whimsical album which clip-clops along to the rhythm of the caravan.As far as American weird folk is concerned, I am pleased I discovered Parallelograms by Linda Perhacs. It was completely ignored when first released but has gained a cult following over the years. I also have an album called Rejoicing In The Hands by Devendra Banhart which I would include in this genre and more recently Shepherd In A Sheepskin Jacket by Bill Callahan. If I think of any more Weird albums in my collection I’ll add them in later.

Apart from listening to Joanna this morning, I put another book in my so-called shop. It is a signed copy of Even Dogs In The Wild by Ian Rankin. Crime fiction isn’t really my thing. I have never read any Ian Rankin but I did see him once because is a huge Van Morrison fan and he compared the Lit Up Inside evening in London which we went to in 2014. Anyway, that’s enough blogging for today. See you tomorrow.

Dreams Of The Peaceful Dragon.

Another decade has dawned, time to get busy. I have neglected my bookshop and my blog page recently, so I am determined this year to put one book a day in my bookshop and write something on my blog page, even if it is only a few sentences. I have got lots of nice books to put in my shop, but I chose this one at random today because I like the title. It is about this English girls’ adventures in the mysterious Himalayan country of Bhutan in the 1980’s.

It has been a nice sunny day here, but I haven’t ventured outside. I did a bit of housework though, cleaning out cupboards. If I spend an hour a day cleaning, then I’ll soon get this little hovel tidied up. I have got to do some serious house maintenance this year as well because the exterior is in a right state. I’ll have to wait for some warm dry weather for that though.

The news was a bit depressing this morning when I woke up to hear that the Americans had killed an Iranian general. That will only make matters worse. The worlds problems can only be solved through dialogue and diplomacy. All the countries of the world have to work together to find solutions, especially with climate change or we will all face extinction.

That will do for today. I’m off to feed my robin. See you tomorrow.

Magic Nights by Christy Moore.

I have purchased a lot of CDs this year in various genres of music, but I think the most enjoyable one of all is the new release from Christy Moore called Magic Nights. It is a 2 CD collection of live recordings made over the past few years. There are 26 songs in all, and I have enjoyed hearing every single one of them.

There is a very attractive booklet with the package in which Christy has written notes about all the songs. I like the way in which he gives full credit to all the songwriters. Apart from the songs by Shane McGowan and Jackson Browne I don’t think I would have been aware of most of these great songs if Christy hadn’t recorded them himself. Also, I like how when he hears a great song, he seems to always ask the writers permission before he records it. There are some great photos in the booklet by Adam Sherwood and Rafal Kostrzewa. Producer Jimmy Higgins and engineer David Meade also deserve a mention for bringing out the best in these live recordings, the sound quality is excellent.

I won’t tell you about every single song in detail or I’ll be here all day, just what I noted down as I listened. I hadn’t heard the opening song Magic Nights In The Lobby Bar before, but I notice it is written by John Spillane & Ger Wolfe. John Spillane is a great singer himself and I discovered his work through Christy recording other songs of his. Matty is a favourite song that I first heard on a cd in Joyce’s Bar in Kiltimagh about 20 years ago. Poor old Matty comes to a bad end when he meets his ‘dark familiar’ down the ‘curra line’. Sonny’s Dream I first heard on the Ride On album 35 years ago. Ringing That Bell is a relatively new song to me that I heard back in the summer at the Royal Festival Hall and it is that performance that is included here. What a great song it is. A Pair Of Brown Eyes is one of Shane McGowan's greatest songs.

Sail On Jimmy is another song that I heard at the RFH. It is hilarious and audiences love it. Burning Times by contrast is a very serious song that Christy now dedicates to Lyra McKee who died in the cruellest way earlier this year. The Tuam Beat is a great fun song that I was introduced to by the Saw Doctors. Back Home In Derry was written by the late Bobby Sands. I have never heard Rosalita And Jack Campbell before but it’s a great song with a western feel to it with tragedy and humour combined. I didn’t know about the story behind Duffy’s Cut until yesterday when I looked it up on Wikipedia. It is about 57 Irish workers who died building a railroad in the USA in 1832. They may have died of cholera or might have been murdered. Whatever the reason it is a tragic story. Motherland is a song by Natalie Merchant and Spancil Hill is a song that Christy  recorded in 1971 that has returned to his repertoire in recent years.

The second half begins with Before The Deluge. Listening to this song always reminds me of watching Christy in the pouring rain at Glastonbury 2004. The Two Conneeleys  is a very moving true story that Christy turned into song with Wally Page. Missing You is another song that I heard in London and seemed very appropriate to the big city. Cry Like A Man is a song that I have never heard sung live before and I must confess I had forgotten about. Reel In The Flickering Light by contrast is one of my all time favourite Christy songs. Veronica tells the story of the journalist Veronica Guerin and is another of Christy’s songs that show his deep social conscience. Johnny Jump Up was the first Christy song I ever heard, back in the 1970s, so it is great to hear it again. Inchicore Wake is a new song to me. It is written by Pete St John who is best known for writing The Fields Of Athenry. Tipping It Up To Nancy is a great fun song ably assisted by Jimmy Higgins, Seamie O’Dowd, Cathal Hayden & Mairtin O’Connor. Like Johnny Jump Up I first heard Only Our Rivers Run Free on a compilation album in the 1970s called All The Folk That Fits when it was sung by Planxty. I just saw on Amazon that copies of that album are worth £50 now. Hurt is a song that has become associated with Johnny Cash, but I like Christy’s version just as much. The Well Below The Valley is a Christy solo classic. The album ends with the wonderful Mandolin Mountain from the recent album called Lily.

I have loved listening to this collection of songs. Christy’s voice sounds as good as ever to me and lets not forget the little crew of musicians who help out on this album Declan,Jimmy, Cathal, Mairtin, Seamie, Vickie & Joleen. Thank you very much Christy for this great album.
PS, I hope Adam & Rafal don't mind me using their photos in this review.

Christy Moore: Delirium Tremens | The Late Late Show | RTÉ One

Rhiannon Giddens & Francesco Turrisi. 'Pizzica Di San Vito'. At The Foru...

A little example of a great concert in Bath.

Review: Rhiannon Giddens with Francesco Turrisi, Bath Forum 2019.

I have seen some great concerts at Bath Forum over the past few years, and I think last night’s show with Rhiannon Giddens and Francesco Turrisi was as enjoyable as any of them. The concert began at 7.30 and Rhiannon & Francesco were joined on stage by Jason Sypher who was excellent on upright bass all evening. The opening song was Ten Thousand Voices from their brilliant recent album There Is No Other which I reviewed back in July. Rhiannon played violin and Francesco was on accordion. I think Rhiannon has one of the most perfect singing voices I have ever heard. She was classically trained as an opera singer at the Oberlin Conservatory, so she knows how to project her voice, it is amazing.

Following The North Star from her solo album Freedom Highway followed. I had never heard this track before. It is an instrumental with banjo and hand drum. Francesco had a whole battery of percussion instruments which he introduced to us as the evening progressed. Gonna Write Me A Letter was next from the new album. This was followed by Briggs Forro which she informed us she had discovered in a book from 1855 called Briggs Banjo Tutor. It was a very educational evening because they explained the history of the songs and the instruments.

I think the most moving song of the evening was At The Purchaser’s Option. Rhiannon wrote this song after seeing an advert from a 19^th century newspaper for a female slave who was being sold. She had a baby, so they could be sold separately or together at the purchaser’s option. The traditional ballad Wayfaring Stranger was next, and the first half of the show ended with the very lively song in the Puglia dialect Pizzica Di San Vito.

During the interval I had a look at the merchandise stall and bought a CD that Rhiannon released in 2007 with her band Carolina Chocolate Drops called Heritage, so now I have two albums by a singer I hadn’t heard of six months ago. I have been listening to the Chocolate Drops album this morning and it is great.

I didn’t know the titles of all the songs and tunes in the second half, so I’ll just tell you what I remember as highlights for me. Rhiannon sang a sad aria by Purcell from the opera Dido & Aeneas which made full use of her opera training and she was accompanied by Francesco on piano. Another highlight for me was a song made famous by Ethel Waters in the 1930s called Underneath A Harlem Moon. I’m On My Way was also brilliant. The sound produced by just a banjo and hand drum is unbelievable. I’ll never look the same way at the humble tambourine again after hearing Francesco play a solo on one. This led into the Irish song Molly Branigan in which Rhiannon’s vocal pyrotechnics were on full display. It was mesmerising. Rhiannon made a little speech thanking the audience for coming along which showed what a nice person she is and then sang the very spiritual He Will See You Through. All three left the stage to tumultuous applause.

We knew they would be back for an encore which was Lonesome Road/Up Above My Head which became a call and response medley with full audience participation which brought a wonderful concert to a close. Thank you very much Rhiannon Giddens, Francesco Turrisi & Jason Sypher for a great evening.

Review: Van Morrison, Three Chords & The Truth.

Three Chords & The Truth is the fifth album Van Morrison has released since the excellent Keep Me Singing in 2016 and in many ways those two albums are  companions. Even the tasteful artwork on the sleeve is the work of the same person. Van’s previous four albums have been ‘genre’ type albums of jazz and blues explorations, collaborations and cover versions which haven’t always been to the taste of some fans. I think most fans will enjoy this collection of new songs all written by Van. One song is co-written with Don Black who also wrote the lyrics to a song on Keep Me Singing. Let’s have a look at the songs.

The opening track March Winds in February features American musicians who Van has worked with in the past John Allair, Jay Berliner, David Hayes and Bobby Ruggerio, plus Dave Keary and Teena Lyle from Van’s regular touring band. The song is a sketch of a moment in time which is a device Van has used before in such songs as Snow In Anselmo or more recently Going Down To Monte Carlo. There is no doubt that Van’s voice is still as good as ever. Some other  singers from the 60’s just can’t sing anymore, but Van certainly can. At certain points, such as when he sings the title words his voice is reminiscent of the Period of Transition era. The melody reminds me of Into the Mystery from Poetic Champions. This song is more like into the Mistral which is the cold wind that blows in the south of France in the winter. Van obviously finds the seaside inspirational. He always plays dates in seaside resorts when he can.

The second song Fame Will Eat the Soul features the same band plus Bill Medley who sings a duet with Van. It was recorded in Las Vegas. Bill Medley recorded some of the greatest songs in popular music with the Righteous Brothers, but sadly I don’t feel he adds much to this song. Chris Farlowe would have sounded just as good and probably been easier to hire. I like John Allair’s organ playing but I think it is one of the weaker songs on the album. Dark Night of The Soul is a vast improvement. This song features some of his old friends from South Wales, Start McIlroy, Pete Hurley, Colin Griffin & Richard Dunn. I love the rich sound of the Hammond organ on this song. Dark night of the soul is an expression that Van has used before in his lyrics. Lots of other phrases he has used previously are recycled throughout this album such as ‘Start breaking down’, ‘get off the merry go round’, ‘plans of mice and men’, ‘brand new day’ etc.

Some fans have said that In Search of Grace is one of the weakest songs on the album, but I like it. That shows that everybody’s opinion is subjective and personal and equally valid. Van isn’t referring to an actual person called Grace, he is searching for the spiritual state of grace which has been lost. Grace has appeared in previous songs such as Joyous Sound, Once in A Blue Moon and of course By His Grace. I love the delicate acoustic guitar of Jay Berliner. The song shows Van is still on a spiritual quest which he has been all his life. I’m pleased about that because it was the spiritual nature of Van’s music that drew me into it to begin with. There are a couple of books called In Search Of Grace. I wonder if Van might have been inspired by one of them?  

“Music is spiritual, the music business isn’t”, Van once famously said. That might be why his songs seem to be divided between, music uplifting the spirit, or railing against corrupt operators which is the subject matter of Nobody in Charge. It is a very angry song without being specific about what he is complaining about. There is one line I like though about ‘media implantation rules the day’. That is spot-on as far as I can see. The lazy population being brain-washed by the tax dodging media barons who are telling them how to think because they can’t think for themselves. (I better stop there, or this review will turn into a political rant!) You Don’t Understand is even angrier. Many people have noticed the similarity to Ballad of a Thin Man by Bob Dylan. The band are stripped down to Paul Moran, Jeremy Brown and Bobby Ruggerio. It has a bluesy gothic feel to it which has echoes of St James Infirmary as well. The eerie haunting organ sound of Paul Moran is very effective and reminiscent of Al Kooper. Paranoia strikes deep with human nature not being trusted and people working in the dark and making you a ‘mark’. I wonder if Van wrote it in answer to journalist’s questions as Dylan did? Something is happening here, and you don’t understand, do you Mr Jones?

Read Between the Lines is much lighter and upbeat. The message seems to be about finding out the truth in these days of fake news. For me it is one of the lesser songs here. Does Love Conquer All? Is the question Van asks in the next song and he seems unsure of the answer. If in any doubt keep the enemy out, seems to be the idea. Early Days is a nostalgic fun song about the early days of rock n roll which we first heard live on Monday night. I love the Jerry Lee Lewis style piano playing of Stuart McIlroy and Van’s saxophone playing.

If We Wait for Mountains is Van’s collaboration with lyricist Don Black. Why one of the greatest songwriters in history feels the need for a lyricist at this stage of his career I don’t know. Maybe at the time he met Don Black he was going through a period of writer’s block and searching for inspiration. It is a very sentimental song about appreciating the simple things in life. The kind of song which will be popular with Radio 2 listeners but veering towards easy listening.

Up on Broadway is possibly my favourite song on the album. The Broadway in question is in San Francisco and I feel it is a companion song to In Tiburon from Keep Me Singing with its references to North Beach and City Lights. Van seems to like that area and its association with the Beat Generation. Three Chords and The Truth is a shot of rhythm and blues. It is another song about the early days of rock n roll when his old friend Lonnie Donegan was king. There is great guitar and piano playing here. Bags Under My Eyes is a humorous tongue in cheek fun song about life on the road for a musician. There is some very nice country style guitar and harmonica playing and even a yodel right at the end.

Broadway San Francisco.

Days Gone By is the final track on this album. It reminds me slightly of Behind the Ritual from the Keep It Simple album. Basically, Van has taken Auld Lang Syne and put new lyrics and a new arrangement to it. I’m sure this will get a lot of play on New Year’s Eve. It would be great if Van performs this song live. It has lots of scope for ad libbing and improvising. I get the feeling that a lot of the words were dreamed up spontaneously live in the studio. When I heard the line about ‘Carry my child on my back across the river’ It reminded me of the story of St Christopher. He has sung that part before in live versions of Into the Mystic. Van seems to carry images in his head for years sometimes before they emerge into songs, often religious images such as holy guardian angels for instance.

I think this is a very satisfying album indeed. Certainly, for me it is the best one since Keep Me Singing. A nice addition to Van’s great body of work. It will have its critics no doubt, but I think for a musician aged 74 after a career of nearly 60 years to be able to produce work of this standard is quite remarkable and I’m sure there will be even more great work to come from Mr Van Morrison in the not too distant future.