Album review

Album review

Abigail Lapell – Stolen Time

There is a sense of melodicism that leads the way on everything that Abigail Lapell does. Her songs follow a harmonic logic that reassures with its certainty, even though her lyrics may confess dark doubts and attempt to negotiate impossible ...
Album review

Le Vent du Nord – 20 Printemps

In early March, Le Vent du Nord released a new album called 20 Printemps, a title that signifies rebirth and rejuvenation, appropriate for a group that has over two decades expanded and developed its musical vision – a vision dedicated ...
Album review

Mark Sullivan – Promenade Home

Three-time Canadian Grand Masters Fiddle Champion Mark Sullivan is a renowned composer of original Canadian fiddle music. He is a respected teacher and has won accolades for his playing from such luminaries of the fiddle scene as Donnell Leahy, Calvin ...
Album review

Alan Doyle – Here, Tonight

On March 11, Alan Doyle released his first live album, titled Here, Tonight. It’s a collection of songs recorded at shows over the past few years, backed up by the immensely talented The Beautiful Beautiful Band, consisting of Cory Tetford, ...
Album review

Bruce Cockburn’s Greatest Hits (1970-2020)

On Dec. 3, True North Records released Bruce Cockburn’s Greatest Hits (1970-2020), a two-CD, 30-song compilation that covers 50 years in the career of this iconic Canadian singer-songwriter. It was no doubt quite the challenge to decide what to include ...
Album review

Catherine MacLellan – Holiday

If we’re being honest, this holiday season may not be the easiest to ease into, as it’s our third year of life with COVID-19. Fortunately, Juno Award-winning singer-songwriter Catherine MacLellan has released a new four-cut Christmas EP called Holiday that ...
Album review

Over the Moon – Chinook Waltz

A chinook is a warm wind that blows eastward over the Rocky Mountains and warms up parts of western North America in the winter. When you live on a ranch in the foothills of southern Alberta, like Craig Bicknell and ...
Album review

Zoom with Shawn Kellerman – Chocolate Cake

In 2019, when the world was a different place, I attended a Kingston Blues Society show at the RCHA Club in which Shawn Kellerman played with Jerome Godboo and his band. I had seen Jerome a few times and had ...
Album review

Shane Cook and the Woodchippers – Be Here for a ...

This is definitely not your grandpa’s fiddle record. Shane Cook, with three of his very talented friends, has put together a magnificent selection of tunes on this CD, all superbly composed, arranged and played. Listening to Shane’s playing on this ...
Album review

The McDades – The Empress

For those unfamiliar with the McDades, they are an immensely talented Celtic-rooted group out of Edmonton consisting of three siblings: Shannon Johnson (violin and vocals), Solon McDade (bass and vocals) and Jeremiah McDade (whistles, bansuri, saxophones, guitar and vocals). They ...