Contemporary Folk/Folk-Rock for people who don't like underwear.

13 MP3 Songs
FOLK: Modern Folk, ROCK: Folk Rock



Details:
It's just you and me, and the big guy looking over your shoulder (no, don't look).
The music; I won't list my musical influences in their entirety (yawn), as it would include everything I've ever listened to and enjoyed (and some I haven't). But I can name a few that have probably twisted this cd into its current shape ; Mark Knopfler, Moody Blues, Kate Rusby, Gordon Lightfoot, Solas, Bothy Band, Archie Fisher, Dan Fogelberg, Raven, Dougie McLean, blah, blah, blah, in no particular order. Now, don't go blaming all these fine folks for the cd if you don't like it. The Celtic influence has been particularly strong these last few years (I spend a lot of time at the traditional Irish sessions). This is not, however, traditional Celtic music. But if you're keen, you'll be able to hear the influence.

History time, hooray! I picked up the guitar shortly after high school when I discovered I couldn't sing and play the trumpet at the same time (well, yes, I tried). Late 60's/early 70's folk-rock was still around and so I started off learning to play by listening to records (like everyone else and their pet tortoise). When someone loaned me a couple Bothy Band records, I was hooked on the Celtic sound. Over the ensuing years I've blended the various influences into what I write and enjoy playing.

Most recently, I've played in the Celtic band Raven and we've released 4 cds during a six year span. I even won a Just Plain Folk award as songwriter for "If I Were the West Wind" in 2004 (we pause now for a moment of silence). The group kept pushing (they call it encouraging) me to put an album of original songs together and it has resulted in Archæan Moon. A couple of the tracks on the new album (can I still say album? It just sounds better) are songs we played around the Portland area but didn't get around to recording (floods, pestilence, I broke a nail) and they have more of a Celtic influence. One song was written by my older brother, who, not realizing he had a gem, promptly gave it to me. The other songs are a little more contemporary, a bit less Celtic and weren't suited for working up with Raven. That didn't keep me from having each of the members of Raven perform as guests on the album, along with some great friends from Calgary who are in the Celtic band Seanachie (Raven did an album with them). A mish mash of peculiar personalities let loose in a recording studio for the benefit of all mankind, I'm sure.

So, here's the album you may have been waiting for; Archæan Moon, a confectionary's delight of quotable quotes and delectable comestibles. Hope you enjoy, Thom