Slainte Mhath (from Cape Breton) makes some really interesting and danceable music using pop/techno fusion. They play fiddle, bagpipes, bodhran, keyboards, flutes and more (and stepdance!). A nice description of their style from their website: (http://www.slaintemhath.com)
"The Slainte Mhath (Gaelic for "good health to you") sound draws from a wide range of influences. This high-energy group features traditional instruments associated with the Celtic genre and adds drumbeats, hooks, and sub-bass lines, all augmented with contemporary arrangements." Their latest CD took some getting used to (it has more pop rhythms than their original CD) but after a few listens I love it. One the more straightforwardly traditional tracks, they also show they do indeed know how to play trad music. Their strathspey/reel set is my favourite set to dance to right now--it has purrrrrrfect speed and rhythm. As far as I can tell, thru logic and listening to many musicians, the "secret" to making good fusion music is to know traditional music inside and out. If you know where it's coming from and what makes it unique, and respect that, then you're more likely to understand what will mix well with it. Anyway, I'd definitely recommend checking out Slainte Mhath to anyone who isn't aware of them, especially if you like bagpipes... A brief note on the Rankin Family: I remember hearing/reading from one of them that their country/celtic mix is a reflection of the "cabaret" type of performance they put on locally before they became a major recording/touring band. For example, they might play some tunes at a dance then do a country number for people to cool off to. :-D So, while they took lot of flak for trying to get more radio time with country music (and there is truth in that) it's not the whole story of their music. Personally, I find their brand of country totally different from usual radio country or even western folk. I think of it as "country eastern". I like it because--with the exception of a few silly songs--their songwriting makes a real effort (and a successful one) to reflect the local culture they come from. I.E. their songs include fishing boats, ocean metaphors, references to local legends and traditions. My favourite kind of music has always been that which brings me to a specific time and place, and theirs does that. cheers, Irena --- Toby Rider <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > I think what he really wants to know is what you > listen to that inspires > > you write that you'd like to hear: <<a genuinely > inspired "fusion" sort of > > harp-playing. >> > > I guess it's because it's not so common to hear > really listen-able > fusions of different musical genres in general, but > especially (as Jack > just mentioned) traditional Scottish or Irish music > along with anything > else. It's genuinely tough to get it to work > beautifully. Not to say > that it isn't done regularly with success. Some of > my favorite artists > in Scottish music are doing what I guess could be > called "fusion", or > have done "fusion" projects in the past (don't > worry, I'll include them > on my desert isle list :-) For instance, every album > Alasdair Fraser has > released except for one, is basically "fusion" and I > think they've all > come out great. I'm sure he'd be touched to hear me > say that :-) > I've heard plenty of attempts to combine North > American Country music > with Scottish music, and it's mostly been really > hard for me to listen > to.. I hate to pick examples, but as talented as the > Rankin Family is, I > really can't get into their music for that reason. > If I want to hear > country music, there folks who make more listen-able > country music then > the Rankin family, and since they're trying to > combine their country > influences into their albums, it keeps the > traditional sets down to a > minimum on their albums. So it keeps me from > listening to them. Plus the > teenage fan club aspect of their band used to really > bugged me too.. > Ha.. Ha.. Speaking of "teenage fan clubs", they're a > killer band from > Glasgow. They'll be on my list. > > > > Posted to Scots-L - The Traditional Scottish Music & > Culture List - To subscribe/unsubscribe, point your > browser to: http://www.tullochgorm.com/lists.html ===== __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus.yahoo.com Posted to Scots-L - The Traditional Scottish Music & Culture List - To subscribe/unsubscribe, point your browser to: http://www.tullochgorm.com/lists.html
