Gallery "The Wind That Shakes The Barley" (Midas/Guerssen Records, 1972/2014)
A reissue of an obscure (but rewarding) English folk album, with a basically traditional orientation, colored by some artsy tendencies. The band, featuring lead singers Barbara and Royce Seabourne, largely eschewed the pop/rock experimentations of the Fairport and Steeleye crowds, preferring a more stripped-down, acoustic sound... A strong set of old songs such as "Seven Gypsies," "Dowie Dens Of Yarrow" and "The Wind That Shakes The Barley," along with some less well-known songs.

Dick Gaughan - see artist profile

Myriam Gendron "Not So Deep As A Well" (Feeding Tube Records, 2014)
(Produced by Myriam Gendron & Harris Newman)
I came to this album backwards, after discovering the magnificent Ma Dilere album, below. This is a tribute to the fabled poet/aphorist Dorothy Parker, and has much the same doleful, downtempo feel as Gendron's later work... which might be a problem. Gendron seems to drill deep into Parker's dark side, but misses out on the willful whimsy and playfulness of Parker's work. It's strikingly glum, but I'm not sure if it really hits at the center of Parker's world view. Check it out, and see what you think.

Myriam Gendron "Ma Delire: Songs Of Love, Lost And Found" (Feeding Tube Records, 2021)
(Produced by Myriam Gendron, Tonio Morin-Vargas & Eric Villeneuve)
In a world awash with pretty-sounding, pedal-steel drenched neo-freak folk-pop peregrinations, French Canadian singer/multi-instrumentalist Myriam Gendron tacks northward with a refreshingly back-to-basics acoustic approach, combining the traditionalist severity of Shirley Collins with the sweet melodic simplicity of Elizabeth Cotton. On this exquisite album she follows yellowed, forgotten maps to discover a remote, frozen atoll of doleful, haunting quietude, and lingers there, seemingly for eternity. The set opens with an incandescent version of John Jacob Niles' "Go Away From My Window," then moves into French-language material of equal resonance. Sparse but emphatic acoustic guitar accompanies her reflective, misery-laden vocals as she mines deep into the wellsprings of North American traditional music. Musically monochromatic, it's nonetheless a very striking album, with one arresting acoustic performance after another, punctuated by a sprinkling of intentionally difficult, jazz-inflected tracks that still follow in the same emotional pathways. Fans of Anne Briggs, Alasdair Roberts and Gillian Welch will find a lot to love here, though -- admittedly -- a few more casual listeners may find the overall vibe to be a bit of a bummer. One of my favorite albums of 2021.

General Humbert "General Humbert" (Dolphin Records, 1975) (LP)
An early album featuring Irish singer Mary Black...

General Humbert "II" (Gael-Linn, 1978/Shanachie Records, 1983) (LP)

Gentiane "Musique D'Auvergne" (Cesame/Music & Words Records, 1979?)
A landmark, early-1970s French folk album that featured rugged acoustic versions of traditional music of the Auvergne, played on the original instruments. The rough patches were definitely left in -- or rather, reinserted -- giving this set a distinctive, challenging feel. Indeed, this can be pretty taxing to all but the most devoted traditionalists... But it's notable for the reintroduction of rural instruments such as the bagpipe and hurdy-gurdy into the French (and European) folk scene, laying the foundations for bands such as Milladoiro, et al, who pursued this style even further. Mostly it's an instrumental album, with a couple of songs featuring vocalist Emmanuelle Parrenin -- otherwise, lots of raspy, active fiddling and squeaky bagpipes, all played with a tremendously high energy level. Apparently this was the only album by this group; members went on to other groups such as La Bamboche and Melusine, a few of whose albums are also out on CD. Ms. Parrenin recorded several albums of her own, and in collaboration with others.

Genticorum "Le Galarneau" (Ozone Music, 2002)

Genticorum "Malins Plaisirs" (2005)

Genticorum "La Bibournoise" (Mad River Records, 2008)

Genticorum "Nagez Rameurs" (Mad River Records, 2011)
(Produced by Pascal Gemme & Olivier Demers)
An outstanding set of soulful French Canadian folk music, presented by a trio of young men who may well represent the future of this style in the same way that bands such as Planxty and the Chieftains led the Celtic folk revival of the 1960s and '70s. Led by fiddler Pascal Gemme, Genticorum excels at vocal harmonies with a haunting, somber, droning feel; fans of Gallic trad artists such as Gabriel Yacoub, Malicorne, Kornog and Pierre Bensusan will definitely want to check these guys out. There are several vigorous instrumental romps -- reels, mostly -- but as with European trad, I tend to focus more on the vocal numbers, all of which were excellent. Now that I'm hip to these guys, I'm going to make a point of tracking down their earlier albums.

Gigymen "Gigymen" (Guerssen Records, 1974)
(Produced by Pascal Gemme & Olivier Demers)
One of those ultra-obscure folk-rock rarities, the lone album by the Gigymen, a shaggy-looking, shambolic band from Cambridge very much in the style of Lindesfarne, Steeleye Span, et.al. The group included five lads -- Alex Cooper, Alan Harvey, Paul Marsh, John Porter and Andy Thurston -- and legend has it this album (which has since been reissued) was originally pressed with only one hundred copies, though for such a tenuous release, it's a pretty solid set. Side One starts at a gallop, careening straight into some impressive though rough-edged rock'n'trad, where it takes a while for the more folkie elements to emerge. It's a full-tilt effort, though, and hard to appreciate their sincerity and the level of skill with which they've absorbed the sounds of the bigger bands. On Side Two a more conventional rock sound comes to the fore, with a Beatles-y tone on several songs. You might not "need" this album if you already heard their forebears, but it's a striking set, nonetheless. Reissued on the Guerssen label in 2012

Tom Gilfellon "Loving Mad Tom... And Other Unlikely Stories" (Leader/Trailer Records, 1972) (LP)
(Produced by Seamus Ewens)
English trad, as we like it. Newcastle's Tom Gilfellon appeared on a few compilation records, including a later stint as a guitarist, though here he picks and sings, both quite nicely. The opening track, "Mad Tom Of Bedlam," is an homage to one of the great mythic figures of British folklore, Mad Tom, the embodiment of craziness, dementia and wild abandon; other songs are of a more demure nature, trad standards such as "The Cruel Mother" and "The Outlandish Knight," as well as more modern fare, such as the Incredible String Band's "October Song." A very pleasant, understated set that's worth hunting for... Recommended!

Tom Gilfellon "In The Middle Of The Tune" (Topic Records, 1976) (LP)

Give Way "Full Steam Ahead" (Greentrax Records, 2003)
Somewhat perfunctory rock-flavored Celtic instrumentals by an all-gal Scottish band. I wasn't blown away by this; it sounds like an okay pub-band that got into a studio and cleaned up their sound. That's about it... nothing too distinctive, but it's pleasant nonetheless.

Give Way "Inspired" (Greentrax Records, 2005)

Golden Bough "Celtic Love Songs" (ARC Music, 2009)
(Produced by Paul Espinoza & Golden Bough)
Somewhat syrupy renditions of sentimental old ballads... I like the songs, actually -- a nice repertoire! -- although the performances from this long-lived California-based trio are a little cloying, if truth be told. Good musicianship, though, and great old tunes, not all of which are, strictly speaking, romantic love songs. Despite his last name, the group's male singer, Paul Espinoza, has a lovely, lilt-y, brogue-y voice, in the classic Irish style. The female vocals, from Margie Butler and Kathy Sierra (often singing in harmony) are a bit too trilling and precious (despite occasional glimmers of a more rugged, Maddy Prior-like keening). Overall this is a fine album, and listeners with a higher tolerance than I for sugary-sounding folk music will find a lot to enjoy here.

Dave Goulder & Liz Dyer "January Man" (Argo Records, 1970) (LP)
(Produced by Frederick Woods & Kevin Daly)
Long out of print, this is one of those old albums I picked up cheap years ago, and (foolishly!) donated to my public radio station. It's a nice folkie album, though not a dazzler. Dyer's voice is too "folk" in the American sense of the word -- a bit too Judy Collins-y for me, but okay. Goulder, though, is appropriately gruff, and his version of the title track is quite nice, as are a few other tunes on the album. Worth checking out if you can track a copy down.

Dave Goulder "Stones, Streams & Starlings" (Outer Green Records, 1995)
I have absolutely no idea what this sounds like, or when it was recorded... But I am intrigued!

Grada "Endeavor" (Compass Records, 2002)

Grada "The Landing Step" (Compass Records, 2004)
An absolutely gorgeous album, with bright, striking vocals by Anne Marie O'Malley, and sprightly, solid playing by the rest of the band. These folks are really top flight -- making some lovely-sounding modern trad-folk, and writing new material that fits right in with the tradition. Highly recommended!

Grada "Cloudy Day Navigation" (Compass Records, 2007)
One of the preeminent new bands on the Celtic trad scene, here Grada throws their lot in almost entirely with the contemporary singer-songwriter camp of the trad-folk scene. Other than a few of the instrumental tracks, there are no traditional tunes on here at all(!) although the trad musical elements -- acoustic instruments, including fiddle, uilleann pipes, tin whistles and bodhran drum -- are certainly at the core of their sound. Singer Nicola Joyce handles most of the vocals, although the album closes with a male vocal on "Steerer John Begg," which is a standout track. I didn't find myself drawn in by most of these songs, but I'm sure many listeners will, particularly those eager for the Celtic trad scene to move in new directions. The musicianship is quite high, and the wealth of original material is impressive. The album also comes with an accompanying DVD disc that captures the band in 2006, playing a half dozen songs live at the Temple Bar, in Dublin.

Grada "Natural Angle" (Compass Records, 2010)
(Produced by Tim O'Brien)
Although there's a strong traditional component, this album drifts into twee, crossover-y territory that I personally am not that into. It's not that they've gone overboard into some sort of New Age-y fusionfest, but they do sweeten things ever so slightly enough that some of the haunting qualities I like about Irish trad seem to get lost. Nicola Joyce is still the main singer, and for some reason I found her less appealing here than on their previous release. Still, there are some interesting song selections, and a subtle crossover with Celtic music and the the Appalachian/American repertoire, including versions of gothic old ballads such as "The Butcher Boy," "Pretty Polly" and "Louis Collins," which is credited to Mississippi John Hurt... All in all, an okay album, though it didn't really ring my bells.

Davy Graham - see artist profile

Len Graham & Joe Holmes "Chaste Muses, Bards And Sages" (Free Reed Records, 1971)

Len Graham "Wind And Water" (Topic Records, 1977)

Len Graham & Joe Holmes "After Dawning" (Topic Records, 1979)

Len Graham "Do Me Justice" (Claddagh Records, 1983)

Len Graham "Ye Lovers All" (Claddagh Records, 1986)

Len Graham "It's Of My Rambles" (Northern Ireland Arts Council, 1993)

Len Graham & Cathal McConnell "For The Sake Of Old Decency" (Sage Arts, 1993)

Len Graham/Garry O Briain/Padraigin Ni Uallachain "When I Was Young: Children's Songs From Ireland" (Shanachie Records, 1998)
A lovely and delightful album, featuring pretty, lavishly melodic versions of over two dozen obscure Irish children's songs. Graham's old-man voice is always a delight, while for her part Ni Uallachain fills these songs out with a classic Celtic sonorousness. The material is pleasantly unfamiliar, playful and engaging, while the arrangements are richly fleshed out and satisfying. Nice disc -- highly recommended, especially as the title might lead some Celtic music fans to pass it by.

Len Graham & John Campbell "Ebb And Flow"

Len Graham & John Campbell "Two For The Road"

Great Big Sea "Great Big Sea" (Rounder Records, 1993/2004)
These Canadian fellas offer an earnest, bouncy mix of upbeat, slightly dorky, soft rock and Celtic-by-way-of-Newfoundland trad, sort of like the Pogues but without all the drunkenness and 'tude And, hey, it's not bad! There's sort of a relentless, Muppetlike cheerfulness about their debut record which can wear down even the most snappish and grumpy of traditionalists. And it you're looking for some bright, lightweight pop, this could be a big winner for you. Worth giving a spin.

Great Big Sea "Up" (WEA, 1995)

Great Big Sea "Play" (WEA, 1997)

Great Big Sea "Rant And Roar" (WEA-Rhino Records, 1998)

Great Big Sea "Turn" (WEA-Rhino Records, 1999)

Great Big Sea "Road Rage" (Rounder Records, 2000)

Great Big Sea "Sea Of No Cares" (Rounder Records, 2002)

Great Big Sea "Something Beautiful" (Rounder Records, 2004)

Great Big Sea "The Hard And The Easy" (Rounder Records, 2005)
These mellow Canadian rockers score a grand slam (or the hockey equivalent...) with this fun set of traditional tunes from their seafaring home of Newfoundland. Easing up on their jam band tendencies, Great Big Sea live up to their name with a lively, earnest album of sea shanties and sailing songs... Ahhrrrr!! It's a fishin' life, up North! GBS give a rollicking, whole-hearted performance; fans of the good, old, yo-ho-ho gusto of the Irish Rovers should get a kick out of this fun, funky record. It's definitely worth checking out for the music alone, although the companion DVD is even more charming, capturing the trio in a series of informal jam sessions as they rehearse the songs and cheerfully explain where they learned each tune, also discussing the importance of music and DIY folksinging to the cozy Newfoundland social life. It's totally charming and will win over all but the stoniest of hearts. Nice album art, too!

Great Big Sea "Courage & Patience & Grit: Great Big Sea In Concert" (Rounder Records, 2006)

Great Big Sea "Fortune's Favour" (Great Big Sea, 2008)

The Green Fields Of America "Live In Concert" (Green Linnet, 1989)

The Green Fields Of America "The Green Fields Of America" (Compass Records, 2009)
(Produced by John Doyle & Mick Moloney)
Moreso, perhaps, than many other folk musicians, Irish-born multi-instrumentalist Mick Moloney is a true scholar of Celtic music, and in particular of songs that document and reflect the long Irish diaspora to America. He has recorded several albums exploring the subject, and he moonlights as a college professor specializing in Irish-American ethnomusicology. In the late 1970s, he founded Green Fields Of America, which is both an academic/folkloric foundation and an amorphous musical ensemble in which various musicians are invited to join Moloney either in concert or, when we're really lucky, to record an album. This self-titled outing is another dazzling record, mixing high-energy instrumentals with great songs, soulfully sung, about immigration and emigration to the new world. Joining Moloney for this set are guitarists John Doyle and Robbie McConnell, as well as fiddler Athena Tergis and accordionist Billy McComiskey, forming a compact band that creates a big, joyful sound.

Marc Gunn & The Dubliners Tabby Cats "Whiskers In The Jar" (Mage Records, 2008)
Well, this is downright silly...!! Austin, Texas autoharpist Marc Gunn is also the town's biggest cat lover, and he is making a whole musical career out of crafting feline-oriented parodies of classic Celtic songs. This CD is the second in what may prove to be a long line of warm, fuzzy, purr-inducing albums, (starting with the now-legendary Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers). Gunn's approach is more along the lines of those old Makem Brothers & Clancy albums, somewhat stripped down and with robust, jovial vocals. In addition to the surprising song selection (a puddy-tat parody of "Arthur McBride"! Now you're talking my language.) one of Gunn's great strengths is his intimate, couch-level understanding of the felid brain: I think my favorite songs on here are "Kitty At The Door" and "Danny Boy" which deal with the timeless scourge of cute little kitties who can't decide whether they want inside or out, and won't stop piteously meowing, either way. If, perchance you happen to know a cat lover or two who also like Celtic folk tunes, this disc could be the purrfect present. (For more info, check out: www.marcgunn.com )

The Gunns "Songs From Ireland" (Delyse Records, 1958)
Straight-up old-school Celtic folk by a family group from Dublin, led by guitarist Hugh Gunn...

Gwendal "Gwendal 4" (Pathe Marconi, 1979) (LP)
(Produced by Roger Decourtieux & Daniel Michel)
I suppose in theory I should be in favor of experimentation within the genre, but in all honesty, Gwendal's aggressive collisions between Celtic folk-rock and avant/fusion-jazz are pretty hard on the ears. The album opens on a particularly grating track, "Les Mouettes S'Battent," which clatters and clangs along -- yes, hearing traditional instruments used in new settings is challenging and intriguing, but difficult listening nonetheless. Points should be given for their reggae-reel mashup, "Le Reggae Gai De Gueret," but again, it's not a track I'd ever need to hear again. An all-instrumental set, by the way; I wouldn't have minded a bit of French-language vocals to break things up.

Gwendal "Gwendal" (Pathe Disques, 1984)
A retrospective of work from the early 'Seventies by these French-Celtic folk revivalists. I believe this is a best-of collection...

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