Hey All! I just got myself Michael McGoldricks CD, “Fused”. It cost me a bomb as CDs go because it was imported.
I’m extremely excited about this album though, not so much by the flute playing (which is around the standard of other good flautists who produced CDs), but by the arrangements of the tunes.
Most IrTrad musicians don’t normally rack their minds too much in the area of musical arrangements. But its different in this CD. Mike McGoldrick does every track with a contemporary feel, blending in jazz, ambient, contemporary blues influences with great success. Many different trad and non-trad instruments are used to a good effect. Sometimes you can hear a DJ scratching, othertimes trumpet, or even tabla.
The resulting sound is by no means gimicky, but a cool sounding blend. There are many excellent musical ideas and textures ultilised for the tunes. The best thing is that despite all the diverse influences, McGoldrick never really deviates from the celtic style.
No one I’ve ever heard has made IrTrad as hip sounding as Michael McGoldrick has. I don’t regret a single cent spent on this CD and highly recommend it to all.
[ This Message was edited by: Eldarion on 2001-10-17 00:26 ]
In the future, try buying your import CDs though The Knotted Chord http://www.knottedchord.com/. You could have bought the cd for $17.99 US plus shipping. You could have also bought the US version on Amazon new for $15.99 plus shipping or $6.99 plus shipping used.
Best,
Chris
I listened to sound clips of Fused on Phil Hardy’s site and thought the cd sounded pretty cool. I imagine I’ll end up getting it one of these days.
A kind of funny and surprising thing happened to me when I saw Lunasa and Cherish the Ladies at the Celtic Festival in Northern Ca recently. Some friends from our session group also attended and after, we emailed within our group about how we liked the performances. A couple of people couldn’t stand Lunasa and one guy actually called their music “garbage.” I was flabbergasted. (I’m still flabbering over it.) Basically, it wasn’t trad enough for their tastes. We also got into a debate about Martin Hayes’ fiddle style. One guy (who doesn’t like Lunasa) thought Hayes was way out in left field and self-absorbed. Someone else advised that he is very representative of his regional style. Anyway, music is all personal preference and I don’t expect everyone to like what I like. Just wanted to express my surprise. (I.e., I don’t think my compadres would groove on McGoldrick too much.)
Tony
Fused is a great album. Almost a ‘crossover album’. I was of the opinion that musicians who ‘left’ the tradition and ‘bastardised’ the music for the sake of commerce should be shot on sight, but Fused is the CD that changed my opinion. In all fairness musicians have to make a living too and obviously the bigger an audience they can appeal is directly proportional to their income. I don’t think Mike McGoldrick has sacrificed any of the tradition. His playing is, as usual, superb. He is arguably the best flautist around.
As for Kevin Crawford and Lunasa…well the guy who thought their music was “garbage” definately should be shot. The quality of the arrangements and the sophistication of the layers makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up - enough said. Nothing short of inspirational.
Martin Hayes, maybe he gives an air of superiority on stage, but he’s one of the finest fiddlers I’ve ever heard, and almost as funny as he is good…
Hey Chris, Thanks for the site. However I don’t live in the States, but in Singapore so I’d imagine that they won’t cover my shipping. I got it for S$36, which is about US$19, which is probably as much as it would’ve cost me if I ordered from the net myself.
This summer I took lessons from the whistle player Harry Long, of Rinka. He plays trad as well as what he called “world music” which he says is becoming very popular with some Irish Traditionalists. This is also evident in Eileen Ivers new CD and when she performed at Milwaukee Irishfest. Ivers has been criticized for using a wah-wah peddal etc.. Anyone who considers it trash or garbage, i believe, is limiting themselves. To blend world styles is very exciting!! Just another opinion.
[ This Message was edited by: Skipper on 2001-10-17 22:50 ]
Whilst I think it is exciting to blend world styles, I think it is paramount that the fusion musicians be masterful in the various styles they are combining. Hence to be a really good fusion musician is much harder than to be a musician of only one genre. I think this not only applies to music, but cuisine as well.
Sadly, many “fusion musicians” are only dabblers in different genres and are at best only skilled in one musical style, not the others, which doesn’t bring a proper fusion in the highiest sense of the word. I suppose thats why fusion musicians get a bad name. Some people are just calling themselves fusion because thats the “in” thing at the moment. Incidentally, thats also why we see so many fusion themed restaurants nowadays=)
Hey Tuaz,
Tried the Celtic Tales recommendation. You’re right - its modern jazz, and very little celtic (the U-pipes are used as another sax). The musicianship seems pretty good.
I can’t say I love it, though this is mainly due to the fact that I haven’t gotten myself used to the Avant Garde Free Jazzish sound. When I do listen to jazz I’m more Oscar Peterson-ish, Chet Baker-ish, and the bossa nova people-ish, so it doesn’t go down as well to my ear.
Hey do check out the “Fused” CD if you can find it though. I think you might like it. Got mine at HMV, but unfortunately it was the only copy.
