DELHI 2 DUBLIN: REMIX
Delhi 2 Dublin
Indie
9-out-of-10
There was a night where I was flipping through the television channels looking for something worthwhile to watch, something which at times seems near impossible, at least when dealing with network fare.
This night though I happened upon a channel showing a music concert, and fate made me stop flicking channels long enough to listen. There was only one word for my reaction to the music — Wow!
The sound was one which I would not have imagined as working, combining East Indian and Celtic styles into a single cohesive sound.
However Delhi 2 Dublin pulls the two diverse musical cultures together into a seamless sound which is quite frankly amazing.
On their Remix album Dil Nachde is the song I think best shows just how well the band is at combining the cultures. There are times in the song that you swear it’s a full on East Indian piece, and others where the familiar Celtic beat takes over.
And then there are times where one culture takes the lead, with the sound overlaying the other. It is at these moments you feel totally immersed in something new.
For those unfamiliar with the band, and I suggest you make them a priority to get to know real fast, their website at www.delhi2dublin.com explains their sound rather thoroughly. “Vancouver-based Delhi 2 Dublin is a group of five musicians who mash up electronica and world music, keeping it heavy on the Bhangra, Celtic and Dub flavours. Fusing tabla, fiddle, dhol, Punjabi vocals, and electric sitar with scorching electronic beats, the crew takes listeners on a wild ride through global sounds and synchronicities.”
Yes, I know reading the description makes you wonder how it can all come together, but I assure it does.
This is a band with a unique sound, and that is rare enough these days to make me recommend them. But it goes further here. Not only is the sound unique, but it’s a great sound, with a strong heart beat. Very highly recommended.
— CALVIN DANIELS
-- Review first appeared in Yorkton This Week newspaper Jan 27, 2010 - Yorkton, SK. Canada
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Review -- DIANA CATHERINE AND THE THRUSTY TWEETERS -- The Spirit Ranch Sessions
THE SPIRIT RANCH SESSIONS
Diana Catherine and The Thrusty Tweeters
Indie
8.5-out-of-10
Good Americana music does not mean it comes from the U.S., and Toronto’s Diana Catherine and The Thrusty Tweeters prove that.
The music here has that folky heart based on solid lyrics which generally tell stories. The songs are all written by Diana DiGiovanni (Catherine), and she has a knack for the genre. This lady can write folk/country/rock that resonates with the current day.
Vocally, Catherine is the strength of the album. The voice lands itself somewhere between country star, soft rock diva, and a folkie that reminds a bit of Sylvia Tyson with an amped up sound.
This is another band which seems to have a pretty steady handle on what they are about. “Ladies and Gents, this group of unruly characters will spin yer marbles, cause yer feet to tap, and provide a warm fuzzy feeling all over; Sonically described as “Northern” Americana, these Tweeters are very thrustable. These boys (Matt Blackie, Nic DiSanto and Kevin Robinson), led by the cutting intensity of Diana Catherine, are a family of travelin’, misfit, musical gypsies who always bring a party to town,” detailed information at their website; www.dianacatherine.com
As a complete package, The Spirit Ranch Sessions are just that — complete. Not every song is an out of the park home run. Some songs, such as Long Road, one of the rockier cuts, may only be a double, to extend the baseball metaphor, but when you mix it into an album with great songs like Blueberry Eyes and Come With Me Baby, you still have a superior effort.
— CALVIN DANIELS
-- Review first appeared in Yorkton This Week newspaper Jan 27, 2010 - Yorkton, SK. Canada
Diana Catherine and The Thrusty Tweeters
Indie
8.5-out-of-10
Good Americana music does not mean it comes from the U.S., and Toronto’s Diana Catherine and The Thrusty Tweeters prove that.
The music here has that folky heart based on solid lyrics which generally tell stories. The songs are all written by Diana DiGiovanni (Catherine), and she has a knack for the genre. This lady can write folk/country/rock that resonates with the current day.
Vocally, Catherine is the strength of the album. The voice lands itself somewhere between country star, soft rock diva, and a folkie that reminds a bit of Sylvia Tyson with an amped up sound.
This is another band which seems to have a pretty steady handle on what they are about. “Ladies and Gents, this group of unruly characters will spin yer marbles, cause yer feet to tap, and provide a warm fuzzy feeling all over; Sonically described as “Northern” Americana, these Tweeters are very thrustable. These boys (Matt Blackie, Nic DiSanto and Kevin Robinson), led by the cutting intensity of Diana Catherine, are a family of travelin’, misfit, musical gypsies who always bring a party to town,” detailed information at their website; www.dianacatherine.com
As a complete package, The Spirit Ranch Sessions are just that — complete. Not every song is an out of the park home run. Some songs, such as Long Road, one of the rockier cuts, may only be a double, to extend the baseball metaphor, but when you mix it into an album with great songs like Blueberry Eyes and Come With Me Baby, you still have a superior effort.
— CALVIN DANIELS
-- Review first appeared in Yorkton This Week newspaper Jan 27, 2010 - Yorkton, SK. Canada
Review -- STEVE KALDESTAD -- Blow Up
BLOW UP
Steve Kaldestad
Cellar Live
8-out-of-10
Blow Up is a fine jazz effort from my favourite little Canadian jazz label Cellar Live. It features the Steve Kaldestad Quintet featuring Kaldestad on tenor saxophone, Kevin Dean, trumpet, Andre White, piano, Jodi Proznick, bass, and Jesse Cahill on drums. Together the five musicians offer up a seven song CD that is still a huge value.
The quintet make their song long journey with enough curves and hills along the way to make the journey highly enjoyable.
The lead cut Shimmy! is written by Kaldestad, who has penned four of the sings here. It sets the mood for the disk, with its happy sound, and near 10-minute exploration of the musical skills of the quintet, of course with some added focus on the saxophone.
The quintet does spread things around on the album. White pens the Cut In The Loop, and Dean has credit on So Long Cerulean.
The group also shares the spotlight well. While obviously a vehicle for Kaldestad and his fine sax work, all five musicians are allowed moments to shine, and that includes some sweet beat work from bassist Proznick, and some sweet soft drum work by Cahill.
This is an enjoyable jazz effort which should occupy a place in any collection. Solid from start to finish.
Check it out at www.cellarlive.com
— CALVIN DANIELS
-- Review first appeared in Yorkton This Week newspaper Jan 27, 2010 - Yorkton, SK. Canada
Steve Kaldestad
Cellar Live
8-out-of-10
Blow Up is a fine jazz effort from my favourite little Canadian jazz label Cellar Live. It features the Steve Kaldestad Quintet featuring Kaldestad on tenor saxophone, Kevin Dean, trumpet, Andre White, piano, Jodi Proznick, bass, and Jesse Cahill on drums. Together the five musicians offer up a seven song CD that is still a huge value.
The quintet make their song long journey with enough curves and hills along the way to make the journey highly enjoyable.
The lead cut Shimmy! is written by Kaldestad, who has penned four of the sings here. It sets the mood for the disk, with its happy sound, and near 10-minute exploration of the musical skills of the quintet, of course with some added focus on the saxophone.
The quintet does spread things around on the album. White pens the Cut In The Loop, and Dean has credit on So Long Cerulean.
The group also shares the spotlight well. While obviously a vehicle for Kaldestad and his fine sax work, all five musicians are allowed moments to shine, and that includes some sweet beat work from bassist Proznick, and some sweet soft drum work by Cahill.
This is an enjoyable jazz effort which should occupy a place in any collection. Solid from start to finish.
Check it out at www.cellarlive.com
— CALVIN DANIELS
-- Review first appeared in Yorkton This Week newspaper Jan 27, 2010 - Yorkton, SK. Canada
Review -- EAGLE & HAWK -- Sirensong
SIRENSONG
Eagle & Hawk
Rising Sun Productions
9.5-out-of-10
There are CDs that start out with powerful songs, the kind that touch you in some deep place that brings out emotions every time you hear them. Well folks, that is what Eagle & Hawk do on the lead cut of their new CD. The song Someday is hauntingly beautiful. It is one of those simple songs that just speaks to you. Wow, what a great way to start a CD.
Eagle & Hawk are of course a group you might expect great things from. Sirensong, a great song in its own right, is the seventh for this Canadian band out of Winnipeg. That is an indication of staying power, and also tells you this disk has its share of polish.
This disk has only eight songs, but every one of them is a winner.
In fact Eagle & Hawk were big winners in 2009.
At the 2009 Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards, Eagle & Hawk were up for multiple awards and walked away with a pair of the big awards for Best Group and Best Rock CD.
Sirensong was also the 2009 Aboriginal Recording of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards.
It helps when you have a lead singer such as Jay Bodner. He has a pop infused voice which is ideally suited to both the moving slow songs, such as Song For The Sundancer, another truly moving piece, or the more upbeat cuts such as It’s About Time.
When you have had the pleasure to listen to Sirensong like I have there really is only one thing you can do, tell everyone that this is simply a must have CD. It blew me away. Buy it folks, you won’t be disappointed.
Check the disk and band out at www.eagleandhawk.com
— CALVIN DANIELS
-- Review first appeared in Yorkton This Week newspaper Jan 20, 2010 - Yorkton, SK. Canada
Eagle & Hawk
Rising Sun Productions
9.5-out-of-10
There are CDs that start out with powerful songs, the kind that touch you in some deep place that brings out emotions every time you hear them. Well folks, that is what Eagle & Hawk do on the lead cut of their new CD. The song Someday is hauntingly beautiful. It is one of those simple songs that just speaks to you. Wow, what a great way to start a CD.
Eagle & Hawk are of course a group you might expect great things from. Sirensong, a great song in its own right, is the seventh for this Canadian band out of Winnipeg. That is an indication of staying power, and also tells you this disk has its share of polish.
This disk has only eight songs, but every one of them is a winner.
In fact Eagle & Hawk were big winners in 2009.
At the 2009 Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards, Eagle & Hawk were up for multiple awards and walked away with a pair of the big awards for Best Group and Best Rock CD.
Sirensong was also the 2009 Aboriginal Recording of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards.
It helps when you have a lead singer such as Jay Bodner. He has a pop infused voice which is ideally suited to both the moving slow songs, such as Song For The Sundancer, another truly moving piece, or the more upbeat cuts such as It’s About Time.
When you have had the pleasure to listen to Sirensong like I have there really is only one thing you can do, tell everyone that this is simply a must have CD. It blew me away. Buy it folks, you won’t be disappointed.
Check the disk and band out at www.eagleandhawk.com
— CALVIN DANIELS
-- Review first appeared in Yorkton This Week newspaper Jan 20, 2010 - Yorkton, SK. Canada
Review -- BIG JOE BURKE -- Quiver
QUIVER
Big Joe Burke
YVR Records
7-out-of-10
In an era when many country-influenced singers all seem to have voices cloned from a single source, you will never think that about B.C. artist Big Joe Burke.
Burke has a vocal style that sort of makes me think he has a couple of marbles gloating around his vocal chords. It’s that sort of throaty sound which stands out.
It’s also a good fit for the type of music Burke offers up. I like where Burke’s Myspace site suggests his style is “where Hank Williams meets Elvis Presley,” tagging his musical style as country / Americana / rockabilly. That is a pretty accurate self-description.
Now I have never been a big fan of Elvis, but Hank is a different story, and I can certainly hear influences from both on the music here.
The song Rolling Back the Stone for one could be a Williams’ song.
The disk has 13 songs, and Burke does pen the majority. When he goes out to do a cover cut, he picks off some of the best songwriters in the business — ever.
Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right is a Bob Dylan cut, Oh Darling is from the team of Lennon/McCartney, Sundown is a Gordon Lightfoot classic and Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down is from the great Merle Haggard.
With songs from such writing legends on the disk, Burke ran the risk his own songs might not measure up. In some cases he falters a bit on that level, a song such as Home Sweet Home isn’t quite there for me. However, other cuts, such as Car Lights, holds up well. In fact it is arguably the best song on the entire CD.
I should add I love Lightfoot’s Sundown song, and while the originator does it better, Burke does give it a credible cover effort.
Quiver is Burke’s sophomore effort a follow-up to his 2006 release Love or Money.
This is music for lovers of that sort of 1950’s rockabilly twang country. If that is something you enjoy, then Quiver is a good choice.
Check it out at www.bigjoeburke.com
— CALVIN DANIELS
-- Review first appeared in Yorkton This Week newspaper Jan 20, 2010 - Yorkton, SK. Canada
Big Joe Burke
YVR Records
7-out-of-10
In an era when many country-influenced singers all seem to have voices cloned from a single source, you will never think that about B.C. artist Big Joe Burke.
Burke has a vocal style that sort of makes me think he has a couple of marbles gloating around his vocal chords. It’s that sort of throaty sound which stands out.
It’s also a good fit for the type of music Burke offers up. I like where Burke’s Myspace site suggests his style is “where Hank Williams meets Elvis Presley,” tagging his musical style as country / Americana / rockabilly. That is a pretty accurate self-description.
Now I have never been a big fan of Elvis, but Hank is a different story, and I can certainly hear influences from both on the music here.
The song Rolling Back the Stone for one could be a Williams’ song.
The disk has 13 songs, and Burke does pen the majority. When he goes out to do a cover cut, he picks off some of the best songwriters in the business — ever.
Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right is a Bob Dylan cut, Oh Darling is from the team of Lennon/McCartney, Sundown is a Gordon Lightfoot classic and Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down is from the great Merle Haggard.
With songs from such writing legends on the disk, Burke ran the risk his own songs might not measure up. In some cases he falters a bit on that level, a song such as Home Sweet Home isn’t quite there for me. However, other cuts, such as Car Lights, holds up well. In fact it is arguably the best song on the entire CD.
I should add I love Lightfoot’s Sundown song, and while the originator does it better, Burke does give it a credible cover effort.
Quiver is Burke’s sophomore effort a follow-up to his 2006 release Love or Money.
This is music for lovers of that sort of 1950’s rockabilly twang country. If that is something you enjoy, then Quiver is a good choice.
Check it out at www.bigjoeburke.com
— CALVIN DANIELS
-- Review first appeared in Yorkton This Week newspaper Jan 20, 2010 - Yorkton, SK. Canada
Review -- SUZIE VINNICK -- Happy Here
HAPPY HERE
Suzie Vinnick
Indie
7.5-out-of-10
Suzie Vinnick has a crystal clear voice that takes her blues-influenced music into that realm where one is reminded of show tunes, country and just plain fine music.
Happy Here is Vinnick’s third solo CD, the first; Angel in the Sidelines dating back to 1994. While not overly prolific as a solo artist, Vinnick has honed her considerable skills on several side projects including the 2005 project The Marigolds.
Maybe because the disks haven’t rolled out in quick succession, Vinnick has loaded up Happy Here with 14 songs. It’s always a bonus when an artist gives the listener those few extra cuts.
When it is Vinnick at work it’s even sweeter given those fine vocals, which might best be described simply as musically pleasant. My Kind of Loneliness is a great example of that. It is a beautiful song filled with lyrics which create images in the mind that have you remembering lost loves and special times. It is easily the best song on the album, and that really is saying something since it had to rise above a dozen other very good numbers
Vinnick was the 2008 recipient of the Canadian Maple Blues Award for Female Vocalist of the Year, and 2009 Juno nominee for Roots and Traditional Album of the Year: Solo.
A very nice CD that is well worth a listen if you like female blues that aren’t really blues, but is still fine music.
Check it out at www.suzievinnick.com
— CALVIN DANIELS
-- Review first appeared in Yorkton This Week newspaper Jan 20, 2010 - Yorkton, SK. Canada
Suzie Vinnick
Indie
7.5-out-of-10
Suzie Vinnick has a crystal clear voice that takes her blues-influenced music into that realm where one is reminded of show tunes, country and just plain fine music.
Happy Here is Vinnick’s third solo CD, the first; Angel in the Sidelines dating back to 1994. While not overly prolific as a solo artist, Vinnick has honed her considerable skills on several side projects including the 2005 project The Marigolds.
Maybe because the disks haven’t rolled out in quick succession, Vinnick has loaded up Happy Here with 14 songs. It’s always a bonus when an artist gives the listener those few extra cuts.
When it is Vinnick at work it’s even sweeter given those fine vocals, which might best be described simply as musically pleasant. My Kind of Loneliness is a great example of that. It is a beautiful song filled with lyrics which create images in the mind that have you remembering lost loves and special times. It is easily the best song on the album, and that really is saying something since it had to rise above a dozen other very good numbers
Vinnick was the 2008 recipient of the Canadian Maple Blues Award for Female Vocalist of the Year, and 2009 Juno nominee for Roots and Traditional Album of the Year: Solo.
A very nice CD that is well worth a listen if you like female blues that aren’t really blues, but is still fine music.
Check it out at www.suzievinnick.com
— CALVIN DANIELS
-- Review first appeared in Yorkton This Week newspaper Jan 20, 2010 - Yorkton, SK. Canada
Review -- SHANE CHISHOLM -- Hitchhiking Buddha
HITCHHIKING BUDDHA
Shane Chisholm
Indie
7.5-out-of-10
There is some interesting country music starting to come out again on the indie front in Canada. Shane Chisholm is trying to carve out his place in the field with his debut release Hitchhiking Buddha, which I will admit is a pretty unique title for a country CD.
Chisholm falls into the traditionalist country vein, although it’s not a complete retro effort either. There are elements of new country, although thankfully it is more of a throwback effort.
I particularly like the slower song After You’re Gone, which has an older, traditional approach.
Chisholm follows the new, tradition-leaning song with his own rendition of the Hank Williams hit Kawliga. An interesting choice in song, he kicks it up just a bit with a toe-tapping backbeat, but overall he stays pretty honest with this song. A tip of the hat on that.
Living Out Our Name is also a beautiful effort.
The CD has a couple of pre-release singles people may have heard, most notably Tundra and Tacoma, which is a very solid story song, a staple of country music.
The title cut is a fun song of life on the highway. It’s one of those songs that is likely to be a popular song with truckers on call-in radio. It has a very traditional old country sound, and touches all the right triggers, such as a line about a double, double coffee, and mentioning a number of Prairie cities such as Swift Current, Regina, Moose Jaw, Medicine Hat, and Brooks.
Chisholm has been nominated for Canadian Country Music Association Bass Player of the Year in 2003, 2004, and 2007, so he can play, but it will be his smooth, comfortable voice you will appreciate the most here. He has a very relaxed delivery.
This is a really fine album that pays homage to tradition and still mixes in modern elements. It should be appreciated by most any country fan.
Check it out at www.shanechisholm.homestead.com
— CALVIN DANIELS
-- Review first appeared in Yorkton This Week newspaper Jan 13, 2010 - Yorkton, SK. Canada
Shane Chisholm
Indie
7.5-out-of-10
There is some interesting country music starting to come out again on the indie front in Canada. Shane Chisholm is trying to carve out his place in the field with his debut release Hitchhiking Buddha, which I will admit is a pretty unique title for a country CD.
Chisholm falls into the traditionalist country vein, although it’s not a complete retro effort either. There are elements of new country, although thankfully it is more of a throwback effort.
I particularly like the slower song After You’re Gone, which has an older, traditional approach.
Chisholm follows the new, tradition-leaning song with his own rendition of the Hank Williams hit Kawliga. An interesting choice in song, he kicks it up just a bit with a toe-tapping backbeat, but overall he stays pretty honest with this song. A tip of the hat on that.
Living Out Our Name is also a beautiful effort.
The CD has a couple of pre-release singles people may have heard, most notably Tundra and Tacoma, which is a very solid story song, a staple of country music.
The title cut is a fun song of life on the highway. It’s one of those songs that is likely to be a popular song with truckers on call-in radio. It has a very traditional old country sound, and touches all the right triggers, such as a line about a double, double coffee, and mentioning a number of Prairie cities such as Swift Current, Regina, Moose Jaw, Medicine Hat, and Brooks.
Chisholm has been nominated for Canadian Country Music Association Bass Player of the Year in 2003, 2004, and 2007, so he can play, but it will be his smooth, comfortable voice you will appreciate the most here. He has a very relaxed delivery.
This is a really fine album that pays homage to tradition and still mixes in modern elements. It should be appreciated by most any country fan.
Check it out at www.shanechisholm.homestead.com
— CALVIN DANIELS
-- Review first appeared in Yorkton This Week newspaper Jan 13, 2010 - Yorkton, SK. Canada
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