ORION
Strawberry Town
Keltia Musique RSCD295
The fourth album over more than two decades (following 1990, Blue Room and Restless Home) by this Belgian group is another gem of contemporary Celtic music, melding folk with classical references and stylings to delightful effect. Replete with catchy hooks and melodies, it provides a wide range of moods and atmospheres – the ethereal and emotionally stirring, the stately and almost church-like, buoyant Breton and Flemish dance signatures, through to tight and punchy, propulsive rhythmic grooves with fiery playing. Not that there is any jagged juxtaposition here; rather, the composing of sequenced sets, weaving wider European references into their Celtic tapestry, is intricate refined and sophisticated.
All of them (Rudy Velghe, fiddle, viola, nyckelharpa, guitar, keyboards; Raquel Gigot, accordions; John Faulkner, vocals, bouzouki; Erwan Berenguer, guitar; Gwenael Micault, keyboards) play lead and support roles in the complex layering of their instruments to create arresting synergies and rhythmic interest. They deserve to be ranked amongst the best contemporary Celtic groups. Their ability to draw on people of the calibre of Philip Catherine and Pat Desaunay, amongst an array of other excellent musicians who play and/or are thanked, show wide peer respect.
Some standout features include the haunting and emotional character of Faulkner’s vocals on the ancient homicidal ballad story behind Strawberry Town and crisp mouth music, Arne van Dongen’s warm and richly toneddouble bass, percussive textures added by Johnny ‘Ringo’ McDonagh, and a charming tribute to harpist Turlough O’Carolan’s melodic 18th century music.
Kevin T. Ward
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this CD online from The Listening Post The Listening Post is the CD mailorder service of The Living Tradition magazine. This album was reviewed in Issue 85 of The Living Tradition magazine. |