This record is infused with the creative spirit of Scottish Celtic Fusion pioneer Martyn Bennett. Bennett, the extraordinary Newfoundland-born piper who died of cancer in 2005 at age 33, championed the combining of traditional Scottish folk music with techno beats. Bennett is invoked on two occasions – through recorded samples of his voice – both of which are worth quoting: "it's important for people to push boundaries, otherwise things become stagnant"; and "I'm not trying to change the face of Scottish music, it will change on its own in ways I don't even know how, in the future… and I think that's what I was trying to do… is to try and get a way into popular culture without diluting the origins of it." The CD features 8 original compositions, including the mildly didactic opener Prendi l'onda ("ride the wave dj!") and 4 trad arranged,throughout which Fiamma Fumana resolutely apply Bennett's method to traditional Northern Italian folk music – BPM's ranging from 76 to127. There are some lovely moments – especially the trad songs featuring the women's choir Coro delle Mondine di Novi. I have only one complaint, and it's not inconsequential given the nature of the project. The beats are totally banal, dated, and easily the least interesting, yet most pervasive aspect of the recording. Given the innovation, variety and growing sophistication in electronic and dance music, it's a bitter irony that Onda's programmed beats – and not the pipes, accordion or folk songs – end up sounding anachronistic.
Wednesday, 12 December, 2007
Fiamma Fumana – Onda (Omnium)
This record is infused with the creative spirit of Scottish Celtic Fusion pioneer Martyn Bennett. Bennett, the extraordinary Newfoundland-born piper who died of cancer in 2005 at age 33, championed the combining of traditional Scottish folk music with techno beats. Bennett is invoked on two occasions – through recorded samples of his voice – both of which are worth quoting: "it's important for people to push boundaries, otherwise things become stagnant"; and "I'm not trying to change the face of Scottish music, it will change on its own in ways I don't even know how, in the future… and I think that's what I was trying to do… is to try and get a way into popular culture without diluting the origins of it." The CD features 8 original compositions, including the mildly didactic opener Prendi l'onda ("ride the wave dj!") and 4 trad arranged,throughout which Fiamma Fumana resolutely apply Bennett's method to traditional Northern Italian folk music – BPM's ranging from 76 to127. There are some lovely moments – especially the trad songs featuring the women's choir Coro delle Mondine di Novi. I have only one complaint, and it's not inconsequential given the nature of the project. The beats are totally banal, dated, and easily the least interesting, yet most pervasive aspect of the recording. Given the innovation, variety and growing sophistication in electronic and dance music, it's a bitter irony that Onda's programmed beats – and not the pipes, accordion or folk songs – end up sounding anachronistic.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
0 comments:
Post a Comment