World > European World > Celtic > M > McCalmans

Advantages: A variety of gorgeous songs, fine musicianship, sublime blend of voices
Disadvantages: Not to everyone's taste, one or two weaker tracks

There's no getting around it. The McCalmans are not to everyone's taste. Three middle-aged Scottish folk singers wearing jumpers and jeans and (at this point in their history) the inevitable scruffy beards. By their own admission, there are better singers and better instrumentalists out there. And this is not a folk-rock band; this is a folk band. If that thought makes you shudder, you might be best off going elsewhere. But if it doesn't, you may ...
...are is consistent. Consistently good, consistently enjoyable. This is fun, passionate and approachable music, and just because there are no drum kits (or at least, not very many...) doesn't mean they don't have a tremendous energy and edge. These are musicians who have decades of experience between them, and haven't lost any of their drive. In various line-ups the Macs have been touring for over 40 years, and in 2006 won Live Act of the Year award ... Read review

Advantages: Musicality
Disadvantages: None

I completely agree on the review I read in deflamenco.com which, together with a recommandation from a good friend was the reason why I bought this record. The review is so well formulated that I will refer some of it: " El Pele has three very distinct characteristics which set him apart from all other cantaores: 1) he has a very unique voice, something like a fingerprint, which is highly recognizable; 2) he is capable of reaching notes well higher ...
...of melody, which he uses to broaden the possibilities within traditional flamenco." This is a great recording with great artist! If you like flamenco and you like both technic and tempo, accompanied by great emotion, this must be a true hit. Buy it before it is to late. It is very hard to get hold of. ... Read review

Advantages: Top quality Russian folk music
Disadvantages: Lyrics will be hard for non Russian speakers to understand

...quite psychedelic. This album - Voice Letter is their only to date and was released in September 2007. This is an excellent band that are not particularly known in Russia nor even Germany outside of certain circles but are superb musicians none the less and have created an album full of gentle timeless tracks. Musicians Irina Doubrovskaja - Keyboards, Accordion, Vocal Leonid Soybelman - Guitar Mikhail Zhukov - Percussion Sergey Vorontsov - Bass, ...
...Drums Translated Titles 1. Beside myself to you I came 2:33 2. Hey, Gangway! 3:58 3. The gold prospector 2:22 4. Still waters 3:44 5. Antediluvian 2:35 6. Bevelled glasses 1:54 7. And why? 2:30 8. Cranes 4:37 9. Upon the earth 1:48 10. Tsaritsino station 2:20 11. The mushroom hunter 4:41 12. Eh, Kalina 4:14 13. Went and drank 3:13 14. How here's how 4:02 Total playing time 44:33 ... Read review

Advantages: Unique vocals
Disadvantages: Repetitive

...a 2 part CD and Bile refers to the Czech word for white rather than the pukey substance - though that would work too! The romani violinist has the most insane of voices, it's a warble come hiccup of a sound yet remains not just interesting but also pleasant too. However the novelty of what is a very very unique voice soon wears off and the music created by the duo has more of a Czech/Polish folk sound than that of a roma one, so it's therefore more ... Read review

Advantages: Still rather unique
Disadvantages: Sounds quite similar to modern pop

...I had bought for resale. Aye by Angelique Kidjo is supposedly said to be her best album and it was released in 1994 on the Fontana Island label. I was pretty disappointed, it wasn't what I expected at all. I expected a modernised version of West African roots music but found that this artist from Benin had more in common to today's crap pop than pop at its best and there was not enough of the African sound for my liking. This I blame on the US and ...
...it was a bit ahead of its time as it has a lot in common with current pop. Her voice for whatever reason just didn't have the smooth sound that I had expected, this may have something to do with me not being a great fan of soprano voices. 1. Agolo 2. Adouma 3. Azan Nan Kpe 4. Tatchedogbe 5. Djan - Djan 6. Lon Lon Vadjor 7. Houngbati 8. Idje - Idje 9. Yemandja 10. Tombo ... Read review