by Michelle Osborne

Artist: Kate Rusby
Album: Underneath the Stars
Year produced: 2003

My first introduction to Kate Rusby was through finding her albums at my local Borders. I knew nothing about her and so I trudged home to check out some clips on amazon.com. I found she had a lovely voice and ended up getting this album for Christmas. I had mixed feelings about the album at first, but the more I listen to it, the more I fall in love with it.

Kate Rusby, who also sings with the all-female folk group the Poozies,appeared on the scene in 1998 with her first solo album, Hourglass. A little bit folk, a little bit Celtic, a little bit entirely her own, Kate has been a voice for a new generation of folk singers. Underneath the Stars, her latest album, is almost solely tracks composed by the artist. Does this leave her as simply folk, more than Celtic? A friend once told me that artists cross over into the "folk" category when they spend most of their time writing and performing their own tunes. In that way, Kate Rusby, is certainly folk, but the beautiful simplicity, Celtic vocal styling, and instrumental backup consisting of guitar, fiddle, and even whistle, give her music a sort of folk/Celtic fusion.

The opening track, "The Good Man," has traditional lyrics, but music written by Rusby. This is one of my favourite songs on the album. The words are deceptively simple and at first listening, I didn't really pay much attention. Upon focusing on the words, it becomes a song which could very well imply two different stories: a cheating wife or a suspicious husband? Other highlights on this album are "Let Me Be" (a song about a woman who wants to remain independent, but then finally meets someone she wants, only to have him overlook her) and the title track (a lamenting song about leaving before you can't leave of your own free will).


   Buy the Album: Underneath the Stars

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Celtic MP3s Music Magazine writer, Michelle Osborne, is a native to the central New York region. She plays both high and low whistles regularly with the Syracuse Irish session. Besides being heavily involved in Irish traditional music, she is also a classical clarinetist and composer.

by Phil Hall

Artist: Capercaillie
Album: "Choice Language"
Year produced: 2003

Here's something you don't hear that frequently: Celtic-style muzak. Capercaillie titled this release "Choice Language," but one can't help and wonder if any other choices are available. None of the 12 selections rise to anything resembling a memorable song. In fact, the only way the tracks can be differentiated is that some are in English and some are in Gaelic.

Vocalist Karen Matheson has a clear and lilting phrasing, but there's no passion or feeling in anything she puts forth. At times, she is so bland that it feels she's singing phonetically. A protest tune "Who Will Raise Their Voice?" comes out with such a tedious and unconvincing interpretation that it feels as if she is some degree of musical disobedience for being coerced to perform against her will. "I Will Set My Ship in Order" is meant to be a tribute to Ossian's Tony Cuffe and George Jackson, but her singing is so tepid that it feels more like an insult than a tribute.

Throughout "Choice Language," Capercaillie pollutes the tracks with a watered down concept of Celtic music that frequently sounds like bad New Age or bland lite jazz. The occasional groan of pipes and whistles remind the listener of the Celtic roots, but even then long stretches of musical monotony flows before those reassuring sounds turn up. It's not impossible for the mind to wander while the songs play - these tunes barely register or catch the fancy. If someone were to pipe Celtic music into elevators, this would be on the playlist.


   Buy the Album: "Choice Language"

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Celtic MP3s Music Magazine writer, Phil Hall is contributing editor for Film Threat, book editor for the New York Resident, author of "The Encyclopedia of Underground Movies" (MWP Books) and a proud child of Wales.

by Phil Hall

Artist: Altan
Album: "The Blue Idol"
Year Produced: 2002

This offering from the Irish folk sextet consists mostly of traditional tunes from Eire, although "The Low Highland" made its way over from Scotland and "Daily Growing" arrived via England. On the whole, "The Blue Idol" is a pleasant but strangely unmemorable production. There is nothing particularly wrong with it, but at the same time it just never clicks.

Vocalist Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh sounds lovely, as ever, and she graces both the English -- and Irish-language lyrics with clear and majestic phrasing. But strangely, her singing often lacks passion -- it's as if she is going for vocal style and not substance. "Daily Growing," a tale of a woman married to a lad some years her junior, never has any emotional impact when the story's cruel finale comes about – it is so antiseptic that it could easily have been a phonetic interpretation.

Other traditional tunes, such as the "The Sea-Apprentice Boy" and two versions of "The Pretty Young Girl" (an English and Irish rendition) are casually tossed off without any evidence of attachment. There is no soul or heart here. It literally just lies there, pretty but inert.

Even the instrumental pieces are strangely enervated. It would seem like Celtic Music 101 to fire up an audience with a lively reel or a jig, but here the music just plays blandly.

Altan has done better, can do better, and (if they continue to record) hopefully will do better. But with "The Blue Idol," they goofed.


   Buy the Album: "The Blue Idol"

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Celtic MP3s Music Magazine writer, Phil Hall is contributing editor for Film Threat, book editor for the New York Resident, author of "The Encyclopedia of Underground Movies" (MWP Books) and a proud child of Wales.

Another delightful weekend at faire. The crowds were a bit smaller, but it was much more relaxing and enjoyable for me as I returned to an old tradition--playing for vendors.

Our first few years at faire, Andrew and I played almost non-stop. The trick though was to play without cutting into someone else's show schedule. The faire is so small that's difficult, esp with a recorder playing. So at Excalibur, we stopped doing it a couple years ago. But ye know, that's one of the things I love doing most. It totally energizes me, and of course, we can do songs that rarely end up in our regular set.

Last weekend, I was talking to Penny at Penny's Magic Garden. She was saying how much she missed us playing at her shop out there. So instead of sitting by myself out in front of the live oak, playing for no one, Saturday morn, I went to her shop and played for her. Andrew joined me for a wee bit. Then I played for Chameleon Dreams. Then another vendor. It was so much fun that I did it again on Sunday.

Speaking of Chameleon Dreams, that's turned into one of my favorite haunts. Chamelon like many of the vendors is Such a sweet woman. I wish there were more people like her. She makes what she calls Goddess Dresses that kick arse. Very unique, flowy and beautiful. If you like Amy Brown Art, you'll probably love her stuff. Very much in the same genre.

Aside from exceptional clothing, she's an exceptional person. You don't find many people like her out there. One who gives so willingly and loves so openly. Wonderful woman.

I was also a bit saddened to hear that Becky of Becca's Magic has sold her booth. She won't be back next year. So this is the last chance to get one of her gorgeous cloaks. Major works of art.

And the PUB SING ROCKS! Wow! It's the best it's ever been. Andrew started a wee bit early this year to try and make it better. He started working with Cedric of the Bedlam Bards and the Excal Dance Coordinator, Whitney, in February. Together, they improved it. Cedric does a fantastic job leading the Pub Sing, while Andrew leads most of the dances. Everyone has a place, and no day is without excitement.

Saturday though was a maybe a little more exciting than usual as a the storm clouds swiftly blew in and the Pub Sing was cut short by a brilliant Texas storm. Faire ended early, but up until the last moment we were all having a great time. Yeah, this is the first year I really LOVE the pub sing.

Hope to see more folks out there!

I have a wee secret. Every day, for about five minutes, I travel to Italy. I don't even need to find a low fare guarantee through Orbitz or another online travel agency. Why bother when MY trip only costs $1.62 per day.

Okay, I admit it. My Italy trip is not to the actual country. It's all in my mind, because every day I go to Peet's Coffee House right across from the University of Texas at Austin. I buy an espresso to be drunk in the cafe. It's in one of those tiny espresso cups. And it costs me just $1.62, and from that I get an inexpensive trip to Italy.

Sure, I could pay twice that amount for one of their over-priced mugs of cappuccino. But quite honestly, their coffee isn't *that* good. It's the experience that I treasure.

I picture myself in Padova a decade ago. There's a small, market square on Wednesdays where I used to work with my friend Tiziano. He's a florist and sells in the markets. We would get up way too early in the morning, drive to the markets and setup shop. When we were all ready, it was still too early for most flower customers. So we walked to cafe and gelateria. We ordered an espresso or a cappuccio, maybe a brioche. We drank slowly, breathed the early morning air. Then we walked back to our stand and sold flowers until lunch time when we packed up and headed home.

For just $1.62, I return to that cafe every day. I smell the fresh morning Italian air, hear the Italians talking about calcio or discussing the latest news. I hear that television up in the corner off to my left. And I eye the gelato as I walk back to work where I find new ways to imagine away the drudgery of my day job. Today, I have my cat CD. It's not quite as sweet as those strong as the espresso memories. But for now, it'll do.

"I just wanted to tell you I love your music, and it has even tappered down to two of my children ages 9 and 11. One who is terminally ill, and the other who is autistic. Their favorite song you do is called The Leprechaun.

Thank you for making such beautifully music that has enriched our lives. I hope one day you come to sing and play where I live which is the Philadelphia, PA tri state area. I will most definitly be there along with my boyfriend who is also a singer/musician of Celtic music." -Debbie, Philadelphia, PA"

Thank you, Debbie! It's always great to hear that my Celtic music inspires them.

Download the Podcast (963 kbps)

My second attempt at a Podcast. Very short. Links to mention-ables...
Queen's Gambit
North Texas Irish Festival
and live performance of When Kitty Eyes Are Smiling.