Now I know this guy is regarded as the World's No 1 Piper, & I think the music is excellent by the way, but Is it just me or does this band's material not remind you of what Coolfin were doing about eight years ago?
........ & if so, does this perhaps indicate that Scotland are running 8 years behind Ireland, in ye olde 'Folk Revival' thingy?
Funny, I thought the same thing about that Blazing Fiddles album you gave me, 'Fire On'. One track in particular 'Lochaber Gathering', very similar sound to the 'Glentown/Miss Monaghan's... etc' of Coolfin.
I think Narcu knows of my distaste for the sort of drumming one finds on the Coolfin album - I think it dominates the music too much and overshadows the nuances personalities of the tunes. Could it be that the drums, being a common denominator here, make the two bands sound alike?
where you've been trying to provoke a reaction too. Some of them there will probably rise to the bait........as many of them reckon that Scottish traditional music has actually been more innovative than Irish over recent years.
Now, I don't think it really matters too much. Innovation, new ideas etc comes in phases. Much of it doesn't stand the test of time but the good aspects can influence "the music"(Scottish, Irish or whatever) for years to come.
I've not heard Fred's album yet but, even if it has been influenced by Coolfin, surely that's not necessarily a bad thing? As long as the music is good and original in its own sense , i.e. not a deliberate or blatant copy and it doesn't sound dated, what's the problem?
So, if there are some influences and similarity, this ought to be taken as a compliment by supporters of Donal Lunny's work rather than a negative reation to Fred Morrison's album.
After all, if innovative ideas cannot be repeated and/or developed over the years then they couldn't have been up to much in the first place.
"regarded as the World's No 1 piper" - by whom, and on what basis, may I ask ?
Fred is too modest and self-effacing a character to ever describe himself by such a ludicrous title.
Ha Ha! Aye Kenny, sorry about that, that was a quote from the site I picked the link up from & I just ran with it, hoping that perhaps modest, self-effacing, Robert Watt, over here, might have seen it & jumped in! I know it's about as daft as saying an All Ireland Champion is the World's best ... whatever.
Mind you, we do have a World Fleadh over here now, so there might just be winners from that event who are now strutting around claiming to be World Champions!
John, "... surely that's not necessarily a bad thing? ..." Absolutely not, after all, folks involved in Trad music have been getting their kicks for years now, trying to capture the magic of another musicians style, so there ain't nothing wrong with it at all.
Great Music is Great Music!
On the contrary, I'd say Fred should take it as a compliment, that his new band sounds, on the evidence of these two tracks at least, as good, at least to me, as Coolfin.
But let's be fair here, nobody can judge properly on the hearing of just two tracks.
Ah ha proinsiasrua, I knew it would only be a matter of time before we had a little input frae bonny Scotia.
As for the Drums thing narcu, with a trad band I prefer to hear the percussion kept very much in the background, so that I can clearly hear & enjoy those "nuances", but with bands like this, which are, to my ears very much rhythm led, I think the Drums/Bass need to be right up there in the thick of it all.
Yea really sounds very similar to John McSHerry and Coolfin he was playing with. In my own personal view it lacks the imagination and feel of McSherrys piping though,
That said this is still top class.
All ways liked Coolfin.
P.S. Kenny, I've just had a wee look at Fred's own website & I noticed that interestingly, he describes himself in the first paragraph of his home page, thus:
"Often referred to as ‘The King of the Pipes’"!
I found it not like a band at all. More like some guy on the pipes playing along to a backing track for something else. I didn't get the feeling at all that there was any listening going on either way between the band and the pipes.
I think it sounds nothing like Coolfin, and absolutely nothing like Moving Hearts. The backing sounds a bit more like the Flecktones, which he cites as an influence, but if I was Bela Fleck, I'd be a bit embarrassed.
Oh great, so the Flecktones have a piper in the band now - Cool, I must check the new line up out!
Aye, but seriously Llig, in the 'Jesus Jonny' track, I hear what your saying, but let's be honest, who the heck is going to come anywhere near the standard of the Flecktones, those guys are way, way out on their own: http://www.myspace.com/belaflecktones
Anyway, here's a link to the Coolfin CD for anyone who doesn't know their stuff.
Try checking out track 3 'Glentown' etc that proinsiasrua mentioned earlier, & see if you think there are any similarities: http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/1230759/a/Coolfin.htm
Must say I like it, but then I always was a sucker for a funky beat.
That idea you have Llig of it sounding like - "some guy on the pipes playing along to a backing track" I think comes from that far away sound you so often get from the Big Pipes, when they're used in a band set up. I don't get that feeling when Fred is playing Whistle or Uilleann Pipes.
Shades of Coolfin?
Shades of Coolfin?
Just been directed to the MySpace site of the new Scottish Band the 'Fred Morrison Band':
http://www.myspace.com/fredmorrisonband
Now I know this guy is regarded as the World's No 1 Piper, & I think the music is excellent by the way, but Is it just me or does this band's material not remind you of what Coolfin were doing about eight years ago?
........ & if so, does this perhaps indicate that Scotland are running 8 years behind Ireland, in ye olde 'Folk Revival' thingy?
# Posted on November 15th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: Shades of Coolfin?
Funny, I thought the same thing about that Blazing Fiddles album you gave me, 'Fire On'. One track in particular 'Lochaber Gathering', very similar sound to the 'Glentown/Miss Monaghan's... etc' of Coolfin.
# Posted on November 15th 2006 by proinsiasrua
Re: Shades of Coolfin?
I think Narcu knows of my distaste for the sort of drumming one finds on the Coolfin album - I think it dominates the music too much and overshadows the nuances personalities of the tunes. Could it be that the drums, being a common denominator here, make the two bands sound alike?
# Posted on November 15th 2006 by An Deargán
Re: Shades of Coolfin?
I know what you mean with the 'jazz' piping, though.
# Posted on November 15th 2006 by An Deargán
Re: Shades of Coolfin?
talk about keeping it in the family! Wonder will anyone else join this thread or will it be springhill only?
# Posted on November 15th 2006 by proinsiasrua
Re: Shades of Coolfin?
Ptarmigan,
I refer you to my comments on "the other site"
http://www.footstompin.com/forum?threadid=67579
where you've been trying to provoke a reaction too. Some of them there will probably rise to the bait.....
...as many of them reckon that Scottish traditional music has actually been more innovative than Irish over recent years.
Now, I don't think it really matters too much. Innovation, new ideas etc comes in phases. Much of it doesn't stand the test of time but the good aspects can influence "the music"(Scottish, Irish or whatever) for years to come.
I've not heard Fred's album yet but, even if it has been influenced by Coolfin, surely that's not necessarily a bad thing? As long as the music is good and original in its own sense , i.e. not a deliberate or blatant copy and it doesn't sound dated, what's the problem?
So, if there are some influences and similarity, this ought to be taken as a compliment by supporters of Donal Lunny's work rather than a negative reation to Fred Morrison's album.
After all, if innovative ideas cannot be repeated and/or developed over the years then they couldn't have been up to much in the first place.
# Posted on November 15th 2006 by Johannes J
Re: Shades of Coolfin?
"regarded as the World's No 1 piper" - by whom, and on what basis, may I ask ?
Fred is too modest and self-effacing a character to ever describe himself by such a ludicrous title.
# Posted on November 15th 2006 by Kenny
Re: Shades of Coolfin?
Ha Ha! Aye Kenny, sorry about that, that was a quote from the site I picked the link up from & I just ran with it, hoping that perhaps modest, self-effacing, Robert Watt, over here, might have seen it & jumped in!
I know it's about as daft as saying an All Ireland Champion is the World's best ... whatever.
Mind you, we do have a World Fleadh over here now, so there might just be winners from that event who are now strutting around claiming to be World Champions!
John, "... surely that's not necessarily a bad thing? ..." Absolutely not, after all, folks involved in Trad music have been getting their kicks for years now, trying to capture the magic of another musicians style, so there ain't nothing wrong with it at all.
Great Music is Great Music!
On the contrary, I'd say Fred should take it as a compliment, that his new band sounds, on the evidence of these two tracks at least, as good, at least to me, as Coolfin.
But let's be fair here, nobody can judge properly on the hearing of just two tracks.
# Posted on November 15th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: Shades of Coolfin?
Ah ha proinsiasrua, I knew it would only be a matter of time before we had a little input frae bonny Scotia.
As for the Drums thing narcu, with a trad band I prefer to hear the percussion kept very much in the background, so that I can clearly hear & enjoy those "nuances", but with bands like this, which are, to my ears very much rhythm led, I think the Drums/Bass need to be right up there in the thick of it all.
# Posted on November 15th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: Shades of Coolfin?
Yea really sounds very similar to John McSHerry and Coolfin he was playing with. In my own personal view it lacks the imagination and feel of McSherrys piping though,
That said this is still top class.
All ways liked Coolfin.
# Posted on November 15th 2006 by eurbanjo
Re: Shades of Coolfin?
P.S. Kenny, I've just had a wee look at Fred's own website & I noticed that interestingly, he describes himself in the first paragraph of his home page, thus:
"Often referred to as ‘The King of the Pipes’"!
See for yourself here:
http://www.fredmorrison.com/
So perhaps he does know how good he is, after all?
# Posted on November 15th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: Shades of Coolfin?
Sounds a bit like McSherry, but frankly is laking something in comparison.
# Posted on November 15th 2006 by Unseen122
Re: Shades of Coolfin?
Sounds a bit like "Moving Hearts" instrumental tunes, although personally I would prefer Spillane on the pipes.
A good sound, but lacks the "oooommmmmppppphhhh" that "Moving Hearts" had, but they had Sinnott, a master arranger.
# Posted on November 15th 2006 by bodhran bliss
Re: Shades of Coolfin?
Well, like I said guys, I'm going to reserve judgement until I get a chance to hear the whole CD, or better still, see them live.
Wonder if Fred got Dougie Pincock to bring over a few copies of their CD with him, to 'William Kennedy' this weekend?
# Posted on November 15th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: Shades of Coolfin?
I found it not like a band at all. More like some guy on the pipes playing along to a backing track for something else. I didn't get the feeling at all that there was any listening going on either way between the band and the pipes.
I think it sounds nothing like Coolfin, and absolutely nothing like Moving Hearts. The backing sounds a bit more like the Flecktones, which he cites as an influence, but if I was Bela Fleck, I'd be a bit embarrassed.
# Posted on November 16th 2006 by llig leahcim
Re: Shades of Coolfin?
Oh great, so the Flecktones have a piper in the band now - Cool, I must check the new line up out!
Aye, but seriously Llig, in the 'Jesus Jonny' track, I hear what your saying, but let's be honest, who the heck is going to come anywhere near the standard of the Flecktones, those guys are way, way out on their own:
http://www.myspace.com/belaflecktones
Anyway, here's a link to the Coolfin CD for anyone who doesn't know their stuff.
Try checking out track 3 'Glentown' etc that proinsiasrua mentioned earlier, & see if you think there are any similarities:
http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/1230759/a/Coolfin.htm
Must say I like it, but then I always was a sucker for a funky beat.
That idea you have Llig of it sounding like - "some guy on the pipes playing along to a backing track" I think comes from that far away sound you so often get from the Big Pipes, when they're used in a band set up. I don't get that feeling when Fred is playing Whistle or Uilleann Pipes.
# Posted on November 16th 2006 by Ptarmigan