Jennifer Licko is an artist and performer from North Carolina. Her music embody the perfect compromise between new world and old world folk, blending in elements as diverse as Americana, bluegrass, country and Celtic.
I've always been passionate about music genres that grow and evolve based on so many different factors. European folk music traveled a long, long way across the vast and cold Atlantic Ocean to reach the shores of America. People brought their own songs, their own stories and their own memories in the form of their favourite tunes, but the music kept changing and acquiring new meanings; one generation after the other. Eventually, instruments and melodies of European music blended in with sounds that traveled all the way from Africa, originating exciting genres such as blues and rock. When I listen to the songs featured within "A thousand curses upon love", the latest studio work by Jennifer Licko, I am reminded of this beautiful story of sound - this story of evolution and emotion embedded deeply in the heart of those who sing and those who listen.
As a world traveler and multi-instrumentalist, Jennifer develops a truly kaleidoscopic attitude to musical composition, making for exciting and personal performances with a credible and spontaneous energy: it's all about bridging the gaps between culture and emotion! Culture is actually such an important part in Jennifer's life that she set out to collaborate on many school programs focused on the importance of cultural diversity.
"A thousand curses upon love" is not only the portrait of a talented performer, but also a fantastic journey through many musical and cultural traditions and more importantly…a collection of heartwarming and beautiful songs. And that earns it not only a 5 star review from Celtic Radio, but our selection of the 2014 Celtic Radio Album of the year!
Find out more and let the music tell you the rest of this story:
1. Turning Away 2. The Moon Going Home 3. Mile Marbhphaisg Air A'Ghaol 4. Fickle Breezes 5. Nollaig na mBan 6. The Song of the Singing Horseman 7. Siuthadaibh bhalachaibh 8. Hard Times Come Again No More 9. The Sea 10. Clare to Here
Since Richie Blackmore and Candice Night joined forces as Blackmore’s Night, they have been almost single-handedly responsible for the newfound mainstream popularity of traditional folk music. The band, however, didn’t only limit their output to interpreting and performing music the way it used to be performed (even paying particularly attention to reproducing the sound and feel of antique instruments), but they set out to adapt their influences to their own sensibility, creating a unique blend of sonic aesthetics that have become more and more consolidating record after record.
The former Deep Purple and Rainbow member seems to have found his right home within this prolific project, now reaching the important milestone of its 10th studio album!
While, the title track introduces the album set list with some truly hypnotic vibes, slightly reminiscent of Balkan folk, following number "Allan Yn N Fan" echo the sounds of Irish / Celtic music with some modern updates, as electric guitar lines add an extra bit of contrast. One of the album's pivotal moment is definitely the band's rendition of Mike Oldfield's classic single, "Moonlight Shadow". Candice Night truly owns the lyrics and set out to make the vocals her own with a stunning and ethereal performance.
One of the most impressive qualities of the album is definitely the sheer variety of the arrangements and the beautiful sonic aesthetics associated with the composition and performance of these songs. The diverse backdrop of instruments as well as Candice Night’s very distinctive vocal performances have been a part of Blackmore’s Nights trademark sound since day one, but the band feels more and more confident in their performances, as if Blackmore & co became more and more aware of their means, as well as of the perks of their unique sound, record after record. On All Our Yesterdays, the kaleidoscopic approach to music of this band is definitely explored as an exciting possibility, whether the group is performing stunning originals or heartfelt cover versions.
The album stands out as an excellent effort, showcasing how Blackmore’s Night seamlessly continues to establish themselves as a unique act with their one-of-a-kind blend of folk songs, antique instrumentation and hints of contemporary rock. 5 Stars from Celtic Radio.
All Our Yesterdays
5.0 Stars!
Track List
1. All Our Yesterdays 2. Allan Yn N Fan 3. Darker Shade of Black 4. Long Long Time 5. Moonlight Shadow 6. I Got You Babe 7. The Other Side 8. Queen's Lament 9. Where Are We Going From Here 10. Will O' the Wisp 11. Earth Wind and Sky 12. Coming Home
Although The Selkie Girls have been around for less than 2 years, their music and passionate live performances already managed to make waves throughout the Texas Celtic scene.
With an extended line up consisting of textures and instruments as diverse as guitars, flutes, vocals, whistles and fretless bass; the band feels versatile and comfortable within many different settings, from small club gigs to festival stages where they get to engage with a larger audience.
The Selkie Girls recently released their second studio effort; “Long Time Traveling”, hailed positively by critics and audiences alike because of the sheer energy and positivity of the performances, not to mention the musicianship of these artists. I often like to focus on the contrast between Celtic music being so timeless, yet so fresh and new when performed with the right passion and integrity: this is exactly what happens when The Selkie Girls take the stage or where I wear my headphones and get lost into their tracks echoing ancient times, but making them so contemporary and relevant – even in the crazy, kaleidoscopic world we experience in this day and age.
These dynamics are very powerful to me, because this music reminds me how we are still the same human beings looking for the same basic emotions, even though we carry smartphones with us at all times instead of sending messages through pigeons! 5 stars from Celtic Radio!
Long Time Traveling
5.0 Stars!
Track List
1. Gaelic Song 2. I've Just Seen a Face 3. Bold Jamie 4. Toss the Feathers 5. Molly Ban 6. MacPherson's Rant 7. Why Should I Cry 8. Eileen Aroon / Mna Na H-Eireann 9. The Great Selkie of Sule Skerry 10. Red Haired Mary 11. Long Time Traveling 12. Galway Girl 13. The Boys of Barr Na Sraide
Man kind is on the verge of a digital & technological revolution the likes
of which will forever change the landscape of this world. The impact and fallout
from this revolution can not even been seen or heard in the corporate board
rooms – but it is coming, slowly inching its way closer each and every
day.
It was only 100 years ago on December 24, 1906, just a few miles
from the Highlander Radio Studios, that the first extended broadcast of
the human voice was transmitted through the air from Brant Rock, Massachusetts.
Reginald Fessenden, a Canadian Engineer who worked for Thomas Edison, was
convinced that the "wireless telegraph", which then carried only the sputtering
dots and dashes of Morse code, could carry the human voice.
Today, with
the promise of blistering high speed wireless internet, continual advances in
the creation of smaller and faster CPUs and the prospects of carbon nanotube technology, we stand on the verge of a basic shift in
digital media. No longer will the corporate board rooms control what the
listeners hear, but the listeners will decide what they want to hear – freed
with the help of our new found technology.
“All we hear is Radio Ga Ga –
Radio Goo Goo.” once sang a famous 1970’s rock group. And that is true,
listening to today’s current AM/FM dial is a mesh of the same music perpetuating
America’s airwaves with the same old business model that has been used for the
last 50 years. Like the amateur radio broadcasters of the 1920s, Internet Radio
will succeed and eventually twilight the radio media forces of the 20th century.
Take for example our collaboration with Charles Dewhurt & the crew
of Scotland’s based music and talk show, “No Celtic Boundaries.” The No Celtic
Boundaries show is broadcasted from the Outer Hebrides of
Scotland and is heard on Lochbroom FM, 102..2 FM & 96.8 FM in Scotland. And
now it will be heard on Highlander Radio on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
every week. Check out our broadcast schedule for complete details.
And just a few months
ago we introduced our listeners to the Cleveland Celtic Podcast, bringing our listeners music, interviews and
commentary by Cleveland’s finest Podcaster - Wendy Donahue. The Cleveland Celtic
Podcast can be heard on Highlander Radio Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
These are just two examples of the tip of the iceberg of what’s in store
for the listeners of Internet Radio across all genres. When the perfect storm of
technology, music and internet comes together, there will be no stopping the
grass roots, community driven web sites that music and the radio revolution will
foster.
No longer separated by the borders of countries, listeners of
all backgrounds and diversities will come together to forge new communities,
relationships and make a lasting impact on the coming media revolution. Perhaps
it might even change the world – and the dream of a music broadcast with no
boundaries might accurately reflect what the coming digital medial revolution is
all about! Read more »
So you've written a sweet song, and like a true rock star you want to record your work. Luckily for you, even you don't have much cash, you can still make a decent recording using your computer. One of the most important things needed for good recording is a good microphone. There are many great microphones out there for recording, including some specialized for computer recording. Even on a budget, there is a plethora of options to get musicians on the path to making a great recording. However, there are some basic questions you need to consider before making your mic purchase.
What will you be recording?
Recordings could be as simple as a solo keyboard or electric guitar or as complicated as a full band. If you are planning on recording an instrument like acoustic guitar or vocals, you will likely need to invest in a decent microphone. There are different types of microphone, mainly categorized as either dynamic or condenser. For things like voice or acoustic guitar, condenser mics are much preferred because they capture more of the complete sound of a room. However, dynamic microphones may be more versatile and don't require phantom power to operate. Phantom power is a voltage that needs to be supplied by a pre-amp for some microphones to work.
USB Microphones
However, for those who want to invest for far superior quality, there are several options. Firstly, there are microphones specialized for computer recording that plug right into your computer's usb port. Before buying these, it's important to check their compatibility with whatever recording program you're using. A list of available usb microphones is available through a great online music store called Musician's Friend. From experience, I will vouch for the MXL 990 usb microphone as a great relatively inexpensive usb condenser microphone, at $99.95. The great thing about this mic is that it come with a little stand and a sturdy case. The sound quality is great, and from my experience it's pretty reliable. The MXL 990 can be purchased from Musician's Friend. If you're on a tight budget, Nady makes a usb mic that only costs $31.95. It too can be purchased from Musician's Friend.
Dynamic Mics
If you need your microphone to be very versatile, you may want to invest in a dynamic microphone. These can be great for micing things like guitar amps or drums. A great, fairly cheap dynamic mic is the Shure SM57. It is considered to be "the industry standard" and is a great general-use workhorse microphone. They cost about $99 new, but they are so popular that it is fairly easy to find a used one for cheaper. Another great feature of the Shure SM57 is it's solid build. It's a very sturdy mic that can survive a few drops or kicks. If you want a cheaper option, Behringer makes some incredibly inexpensive microphones that only cost about $25 each. These might be good if you are on a tight budget but your project requires lots of microphones. Quality wise, they are not up to par with Shure, and are built with more questionable quality.
Condensers
Condenser mics as previously mentioned are great for recording things like vocals and acoustic guitar, and can really capture the richness of sound you experience when you're playing live. Condenser mics can run up over $8000, but there are several affordable options as well. For an affordable option, MXL makes a version of the 990 (as previously mentioned) without usb capability. This mic only costs $70, making it a great coice for someone on a budget. For a step up in quality, Studio Projects makes a fantastic condenser mic called the B3. It retails for under $150 and sounds very good. More info on tis quality mic can be found at Studio Project's website.
Built-in Computer Mics
Some computers come with basic microphones, but generally the quality of these is very poor and they are apt to clip or distort easily when you are recording. If you're really desperate and just want to use the little mic that came with your computer, you can cover it with a sock. As strange as this sounds, it prevents some of the clipping problems that are commonly found when recording with these mics. With this method you can get some rough recordings down.
Lastly, it's important to make sure the mic you buy will work with your recording set-up. Condenser mics will likely also require a pre-amp with phantom power, so it's important to consider these costs as well when purchasing a mic. Good luck and enjoy your next recording project!