In honor of celebrating Christmas according to the Julian Calendar, we will not be posting reviews today, so we wish to all of you, the faithful, and to our beloved friends, a wonderful Nativity season, a placid Eid and a Happy Hanukkah. May we be rejuvenated in the new year.
New year, new Youtube channel. We plan on hosting podcasts here eventually, and would love input from you, our friends. May we all have a great 2022 filled with the best of music from around the world, both old and new.
Davy Spillane is now the reigning undisputed champion of the uillean pipes, Ireland’s most iconic instrument, after the passing away of the legendary Chieftain, Paddy Moloney. This was a fine tune to wake up to.
I’ll be taking a day off for health reasons, but I thought I would leave you this pleasant Sunday with some music of the Lepcha people of India (also represented in Nepal). The band, Sofiyum, have a very pleasant, joyful sound, reminding me, curiously, of Celtic music. May it carry you through this day!
On Friday night, my beloved friends, Helenka and Tomáš, suggested I go out to a club called Stará Pekárna, a club where Tomáš works. The owner of this fine establishment is a heavy blues aficionado who happens to book very impressive bands. Imagine my surprise when I walk into the club into a lovely sound:
The singer, Iva Marešová, had a wonderfully open voice, full of power and energy, and even though most in the club were sitting, you could see quite a large number of patrons fidgeting around wanting to dance. I myself could feel my feet tapping around on their own. Why? It’s the sound they produce. Here’s what I heard – Moravian folk music, elements of progressive rock, Balkan and Gypsy music, and the accordion work of Aliaksandr Yasinski, whose playing reminded me of Guy Klucevsek or the late Lars Hollmer of Samla Mammas Manna, so those of you who are into the more rollicking side of Rock-In-Opposition will find much to marvel at with his playing.
It was an astounding evening, as I was able to enjoy a magnificent concert, have drinks with Tomáš, make the acquaintance of Mikey and Miro, two good lads who ended up becoming fast friends, and seeing the beautiful local girls in a club that will become the place I will frequent most.
To buy this CD, I recommend purchasing it through Bontonland. For more information on Razam, check out their home page and Instagram account.
No reviews are forthcoming today thanks to needing to take a rest, but I wanted to post a classic tune from Ethiopia’s golden age of pop, courtesy of Wubshaw Sileshi.
The legendary uilleann piper and leader of The Chieftains, Paddy Moloney, is no more. He passed away yesterday at the age of 83. This is a big loss for the world of folk music.
In his honor, we post a track that is near and dear to me. The Chieftains toured China many years ago, and this is one of the tunes they brought back from the Middle Kingdom.
May Paddy rest in peace. You can read NPR’s obituary here.
UPDATE: The Chinese title of this tune is “Xi Yang Yang” (喜洋洋) by Liu Mingyuan (刘明源, 1931-1996).
Another day, another great loss to music. The legendary Alèmayèhu Eshèté, known lovingly as the “Ethiopian Elvis,” passed away yesterday at the age of around 80. I came across his work on this particular album, Éthiopiques 10: Tezeta – Ethiopian Blues & Ballads, and though I didn’t hear much Elvis (despite some physical similarities), I was floored by how beautifully Ethiopian music, rock and blues could blend into each other.
Sad news from Greece today. The legendary composer, lyricist and politician Mikis Theodorakis, known for so many pop songs, but forever associated with the song Zorba The Greek passed away today in Athens. He was 96 years old.
Charlie Watts, the legendary bedrock of the Rolling Stones, has passed away today at the age of 80. He speaks about his experiences drumming in this video. Rest in peace, Charlie.