Interactive poll No. -46 2/3 - the folk music poll

^I was thinking about them. I am still trying to decide on what to post. May not be until the weekend.

Generally I love this topic! I have a weak spot for many things folk and there is so much more out there than I know... great potential for getting to know some really good stuff.

This one has so many right up my alley that I know it will be just about impossible for me to pick favourites….and so many I never have heard, either! Congratulations on all of the Page One entries so far, just fantastic!!!  Here are my thoughts on these, at first listen.

The Anders: Spinal Tap “Indonesian Folk Music”  An inspired intro to the poll!  Thanks for doing this theme, we really didn’t do folk music on the protest/folk poll, so I think it’s quite fitting and a theme that I personally love.  Väsen “IPA -Gubben”  Most excellent Swedish folk trio here….I’m quite familiar with the nyckelharpa (have actually played with one before) wonderful instrument!  I do not know of this piece or these people, however.  The music is lively and the blend of the lower viola with nyckelharpa and guitar , goes so beautifully together.  During the piece, they also slow it down a bit and get contemplative, everyone has a moment to shine here.  Just love it!

Shadowyzard:  Blind Guardian “A Past & Future Secret”  I really like this one for it’s semi-Medieval tone and the grandeur as the drums kick in, the vocal choruses are beautiful and the dynamics are lovely.  Very nice intertwining of folk with a very modern vocal twist from time to time.  Obscurus Orbis “Kost Ar C’hoat”  Not heard a note yet, but expecting something similar to Corvus Corax….we shall see.  And yes, here we go, just as suspected from the photo before hitting play.  Nice combination of instrumentation, a rousing Viking-esque tune with hurdy gurdy, tenor mandolin (I believe), bagpipes, recorder and, of course percussion.  Lovely, haven’t heard either of these before! 

Logan:  Mark Fry “The Witch”  Begins intriguingly with an almost-whispery voice and some wringly sort of stringed instrument(s) and very far back flute and percussion in the mix.  Goes into a raga-rock jam partway through, I sat through many a jam session like this back in the day.  This is very appropriately haunting, the mix makes it sound like the listener must be under an enchantment.  Very psych in feel, what was this person ingesting?  😊  I like it!  Interesting article on him, here:  https://www.psychedelicbabymag.com/2016/10/mark-fry-interview-dreaming-with-alice.html

Cristi:  Valeriu Sterian “Cantec de oameni”  Delicate fingerpicking with acoustic and electric guitar and electric bass begin (I love it when folk people add electric to the instrumentation).  Simple percussive ornamentation.  Definitely that 70’s Alan Stivell/Fairport kind of sound to this, very pleasing to my ear.  Little bits of almost sitar-y sound at the end.  Delicate and beautiful song.  Phoenix “Ciclul anotimpurilor, Preludiu: A oilor, Jocul timpului; Primavara”  Begins with lead electric guitar, then shimmering cymbals as guitar continues.  Very slow build with flute or keys (?) gradually adding into the mix.  Bass wanders in about 2/3rds in and the pace picks up a notch.  Fuzzy electric lead concludes this very subtle piece.  Nicu Alifantis “Mosul Iene”  Another delicately produced song, this one feels very cinematic to me with it’s quiet vocals and very subdued orchestration.  Quite beautiful lyrics, mournful song.  Winds up with some synth-type lead before the lament concludes.

Lorenzo:  Adriano Cenentano “Ragazzo della via gluck”  Upbeat song, this one also has a cinematic feel to it.  Has certainly a 60’s pop feel to it, with some horns ornamenting the vocalist.  Has a feeling of a warm, sunny day to me, sort of carefree and light.  Bruce Springsteen “Johnny 99”  Opens with strains of a train sound (by Bruce), and chorded acoustic guitar.  It has kind of an almost upbeat sound, despite the subject matter, perhaps done in irony.  Very much a traditional American-type folk song, with harmonica embellishments.   John Hiatt “Mr. Stanley”  This one has a dark feel to it, with John Hiatt’s whisky-voice, and banjo-y guitar, this one has a more Delta kind of feel to it, also traditional style.  Johnny Cash “Like the 309”  Unmistakably Cash here, in all of his gruff authenticity, in a bare-bones setting.  No one else quite like him.  Stormy Six “Arrivano gli americani (Americans are coming)”  Steady beat and shimmering strings with what I am coming to appreciate as a certain “Italian,” sound to the vocals.  This one is obviously about Americans bringing some good things (chocolate!), I was prepared for dismay, but of course, this is from a different era.  There is a happy violin part in the center of the piece, elation at the chocolate, no doubt.  More lyrics, followed by a slippy-slidy sort of Gypsy jazz violin which briefly plays “Yankee Doodle Dandy.” Sounds very stage-y to me, as if it might be in a musical. Followed by Stormy Six again with “Il barbiere (The Barber)”  I couldn’t find lyrics in English to this one, but quite enjoy the Gentle Giant-y violins and strings that hop merrily along and eventually seem to hit a stride when the singer begins, again with that “Italianate,” sound.  Goes into lots of vibes and the strings hopping about with each other, sometimes in a discordant way, then settles back in to vocals.  The piece slows down to it’s outro.  More Stormy Six with “Le Lucciole (The Fireflies)” Unable to find English lyrics for this one, either…But very interested to hear, after the last one.  This one begins in another GG fashion, lots of time changes and unusual presentations of horns flitting about with electric guitar and percussion…leading to a very pretty duet with flutes and cello.  The singer is more atonal in this one.  I quite liked the flights of fancy with the horns, violin and electric guitar.  This ends with horns, guitars and drums in a kind of demented march. 

Mike:  The Low Anthem “Charlie Darwin”  Really pretty, wistful female lead vocals and sort of a lazy feeling to the song.  Very subdued production here, with some acoustic guitar and not sure what bolsters the song in parts, it’s very inventive, how it is heard, yet hidden.  The Amazing Blondel “Seascapes”  Recorders set the tone here, there is quiet orchestration underneath in the way this is produced.  Very early 70’s British folk/pastoral rock feel here.  Really puts you in the place that they are singing of.  Fovea Hex “You Were There”  Deep cellos start this one out, with a haunting vocal, very much liking this, I agree with you, it certainly has folk elements.  Hypnotic, with a sense of medieval chant to this one.  Fleet Foxes “Ragged Wood”  This one has a modern alt folk sound to me.  I have heard of these guys, but not heard much of their music (once was, as you said, in another share of yours).  This one is quite pleasant, but doesn’t give me the rush I got from Fovea Hex.

Lewian:  Opa Cupa “Pompei”  Wow!  Really intriguing mix, as you said!  This certainly has a feel of Balkan and Romani musics, but so cool how they mix in jazz and rock.  Initial repeating keyboard lines begin the piece, a female singer fronts the band, with a sax solo, then trumpet solo, repeating the main melody of t1he song.  Also accordian and cello in the band, truly an exciting blend….very compelling.Solarference “Cold Blows the Wind”  Love the descriptive of “laptop folk.”  Traditional type of folk song, with electronic assistance to chorus the female singer’s vocals with an acoustic guitarist.  The (male) guitarist then sings verses, while the woman joins in singing the other part.  Beautiful blending of sounds and styles.  Heilung “LIFA – In Maidjan LIVE”  This band I do know already and just love them, it was a tossup to enter them or Faun, for me, and I went with Faun, so I’m very glad you brought them to the party.  This is a very dark Germanic/Viking/Goth/folk band, a style that is very appealing to me.  It begins with a horn of some sort, then the male singer goes into an growl/rap sort of thing and tabor-like drums, along with a deep sort of kettle-type drum, keep the beat.  It works up to a chant-like part, with everyone joining in, including a female voice.  They take a bit of a pause ¾’s in and the woman begins an absolutely eerie vocalization and ululation, while one of the males in the group plays a bowed somethingorother…stunning!  The piece continues to intensify and they conclude with a fadeout as the woman plucks the previously bowed instrument and the male singer concludes in a speaking voice.  Their costuming is also fantastic for the music.  Although I can’t vote for it, I’m sure people will get a kick out of it, it is truly very original. I saw from looking them up that they are scheduled to play at Red Rocks Ampitheatre in Colorado, in October (if it doesn't get rescheduled, of course, with covid), that is probably the most spectacular outdoor venues in the country, what a show that would be.

Edited by Snicolette - March 18 2021 at 16:37

Edited by Lewian - March 19 2021 at 08:06

Lewian wrote: The Woodcat one doesn't work for me. Is this one fine? <snip video>

Many great folk bands and songs...several of my favorites...

This was an oddly difficult category for me. While I have an immense amount of folk music in my library, nearly every tune I considered for nomination is not available on YouTube. (Many are not available, period, now that CD Baby has closed its online shop.) I did find a few. Here are two.

Here is my first take so far on Page Two:  Also, yes, thank you to George for deciding to collect all of the tracks!

Shadowyzard: Two very Medieval tinged selections... A Past and Future Secret by Blind Guardian has also a kind of grotesque theatrical and orchestral aspect to it, especially when that raspy metal-voice comes in. Obscurus Orbis are in a hurry but remain in the Middle Ages with their traditional instruments. At the same time they give the track a definite modern take. Both are nice but not really surprising, actually. I prefer Kost Ar C'hoat from these two.

Logan: Mark Fry brings us The Witch who puts a psychedelic spell over the folk music. Sitar dominated with some acoustic guitar and flute sparsly interwoven and a trance inducing percussion characterize this song with its eery vocals. Typical early 70s and very atmospheric - quite nice!

Cristi: Nice to put up three Romanian artists/bands, and they're all three quite good to my ears. Valeriu Sterian combines acoustic and electric guitars and a modest percussion to deliver his song. It gives it almost a pop-rock quality in folk-disguise. Phoenix start off very electric (you would expect a rock song...) before the acoustic guitar puts in its melody. Electric guitar and bass keep on a very minimalist rythm until it becomes more rock indeed just to fade out... Wonderful, but clearly a part of a greater whole. Nicu Alifantis must have been popular in his country: beautiful and emotional voice and great songwriting, here packed in that typical late 70s synthy-orchestral arrangements. Makes it a bit dated, maybe, but I like it very much. For me it is between him and Phoenix...

jamesbaldwin: Adriano Celentano brings us a typical 60s song, which does not much to me. Then three great artists that need no introduction but are always great to hear... I never really plunged into the music of Stormy Six. This is a nice selection. The vocals were always their weak part, to my ears, but their music always intriguing. It has some chamber folk quality (and some Nino Rota influences?) that sometimes leans more to avant, indeed. From these three it is especially Il barbiere that stands out for me: fascinating and captivating (and the singing is OK, I'll get used to it...)

TCat: The Low Anthem will get the prize for the best animated clip: beautiful stop-motion! The song is a very delicate one: guitar-voice, some backing vocals and sounds and a harmonica to complete this saddening song. Beautiful. Amzing Blondel bring us a 70s orchestral and pastoral song (flute, vocals, guitar, orchestra...). It sounds nice, but I'm waiting for something spectacular to happen, which doesn't come... Fovea Hex surprise me much more with this minimalist eery piece of music. Heavily leaning on the vocals and some instrumental backing (cello, electronics?) before the percussion sets in modestly making us listen in devotion... Fleet Foxes start off very up-tempo, slow down and settle us in a very pleasant song, recognizably American folk, great melodies and playing. Difficult to make a choice from these, but I think I'm most surprised by Fovea Hex.

Snicolette: First the beautiful voice of Connie Dover accompanied by some other layered vocals and synths for an orchestral quality. Brings me to the landscapes of Ireland... Very nice. Faun brings us to the Middle Ages, with everything that we can expect, except maybe for that beat that puts me of. A pity, because for the rest - singing, instrumentation and playing - it is quite good. Then a trip to Galicia with Milladoiro. A beautiful voice again accompanied by harp (yes!) and some other traditional instruments that could keep us in medieval territories, but the singing and playing are much more modern to my ears. This is my preferred one!

Lewian: Opa Cupa bring us almost a kind of brass balkan rock, with some jazz outings and an awful disco-dance-beat. Great playing, wonderful singing, and if that beat could have been different it would convince me... Solarference is more to my liking, very intriguing. And great to watch them putting this "laptop folk" together. Great vocal harmonies/canon and a very modern take on folk - definetely a contender. Now, Heilung... Yes, what is this? Something very tribal and ritualistic. After seven minutes I want them to explode, but no... A cry, yes, but just to set in the eery voice and sacrify us to whatever nature-god it may be. Intriguing, but not something I would return to...

The Anders: Väsen are very surprising with what they deliver with just three string instruments. Great playing and that nyckelharpa is an intriguing instrument... Nice to see them play together - they're clearly very accomplished musicians (and I love the rabbit!). A very good surprise this!

dr wu23: Esper's take on Rosemary Lane is quite nice, modest but at the same time very rich in its instrumentation accompanying the delicate voice. Enchanting in a way. After this Shirley Collins & The Albion Band sound almost a bit conventional. And I'm not really fan of her singing. I prefer Dando Shaft and this pastoral and typical British folk; they create an interesting atmosphere in this song with all its diversity.