Icewagon Flu "Off the Wagon, Vol. 2" Jivin' Jones Records
Release date: June 2011
Running time. 38:26, 12 tracks
Different. Not your Paddypunk normal band, but quite good. Icewagon FLU, a band which is not easy to classify, has re-arranged some Celtic standards and the result is amazing. You should forget your prejudices and have a listen.
What have they done? They have taken some “worn-out” songs, added some traditional tunes, used instruments such as the uileann pipes, banjo and whistles and written their own arrangements.
A quick overview of the tracks:
- When you listen to the beginning of “South Australia” you feel that you’re listening to U2. Then, the uileann pipes tune fits perfectly.
- The next song is a modern rendition of “Nancy Whiskey”.
- “Hills of Connemara” is another stand out. A Caribbean sounding guitar great whistle and this time the tune is a polka, “John Ryan’s”
- “Galway Races”. It also has a small Reggae touch just before “The Kesh” jig. Excellent banjo and fiddle.
- More uileann pipes, whistle and a funky guitar on “Waxie’s Dargle”. The guys sing as if it was a rap song. You should love it.
- The next track, “Swindon Snake Charmer” starts à la “Kick it Over/Justice Tonight” and features epic vocals and programming.
- Another interesting point is how the band shifts rythms. “Follow Me Up to Carlow” is fast paced song, but at the same time it has a slow paced reggae rhythm.
- The uileann pipes are the main instrument in the next couple of songs “Boston Harbour” and “I’m a Man you don’t meet Everyday”. Probably some of the best material of the album.
- “Prima Nocta” reminds me of Davy Spillane band. Is that bad? Quite the contrary!
- The title of the last track of the album is “Tecno Jig”: a bodhrán and a whistle, then some keyboards. My first impression was that it was a track from an old Chieftains album. I was waiting for the harp and the fiddle ;-)
If somebody asked me if I would buy a CD by a Celtic punk band playing only covers of traditional songs, the answer would probably be “No”. But if somebody asked me if I would buy a CD by Icewagon FLU full of traditional Irish songs covers the answer would be: YES, OF COURSE.
Change your discs for next St. Patrick's Day!
Tracklist:
1. South Australia 4:44
2. Nancy Whiskey 2:52
3. Hills of Connemara 3:53
4. Galway Races 3:13
5. Fields of Athenry 4:08
6. Waxie's Dargle 3:47
7. Swindon Snake Charmer 1:50
8. Follow Me Up to Carlow 3:02
9. Boston Harbour 2:08
10. A Man You Don't Meet Everyday 2:24
11. Prima Nocta 2:30
12. Techno Jig 3:31
http://www.icewagonflu.com
http://www.myspace.com/icewagonflu
http://www.reverbnation.com/icewagonflu
http://www.facebook.com/icewagonflu
http://twitter.com/#!/icewagonflu
Click to buy from CDBaby:
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/icewagonflu7
Review by Kinksmarkham
Release date: June 2011
Running time. 38:26, 12 tracks
Different. Not your Paddypunk normal band, but quite good. Icewagon FLU, a band which is not easy to classify, has re-arranged some Celtic standards and the result is amazing. You should forget your prejudices and have a listen.
What have they done? They have taken some “worn-out” songs, added some traditional tunes, used instruments such as the uileann pipes, banjo and whistles and written their own arrangements.
A quick overview of the tracks:
- When you listen to the beginning of “South Australia” you feel that you’re listening to U2. Then, the uileann pipes tune fits perfectly.
- The next song is a modern rendition of “Nancy Whiskey”.
- “Hills of Connemara” is another stand out. A Caribbean sounding guitar great whistle and this time the tune is a polka, “John Ryan’s”
- “Galway Races”. It also has a small Reggae touch just before “The Kesh” jig. Excellent banjo and fiddle.
- More uileann pipes, whistle and a funky guitar on “Waxie’s Dargle”. The guys sing as if it was a rap song. You should love it.
- The next track, “Swindon Snake Charmer” starts à la “Kick it Over/Justice Tonight” and features epic vocals and programming.
- Another interesting point is how the band shifts rythms. “Follow Me Up to Carlow” is fast paced song, but at the same time it has a slow paced reggae rhythm.
- The uileann pipes are the main instrument in the next couple of songs “Boston Harbour” and “I’m a Man you don’t meet Everyday”. Probably some of the best material of the album.
- “Prima Nocta” reminds me of Davy Spillane band. Is that bad? Quite the contrary!
- The title of the last track of the album is “Tecno Jig”: a bodhrán and a whistle, then some keyboards. My first impression was that it was a track from an old Chieftains album. I was waiting for the harp and the fiddle ;-)
If somebody asked me if I would buy a CD by a Celtic punk band playing only covers of traditional songs, the answer would probably be “No”. But if somebody asked me if I would buy a CD by Icewagon FLU full of traditional Irish songs covers the answer would be: YES, OF COURSE.
Change your discs for next St. Patrick's Day!
Tracklist:
1. South Australia 4:44
2. Nancy Whiskey 2:52
3. Hills of Connemara 3:53
4. Galway Races 3:13
5. Fields of Athenry 4:08
6. Waxie's Dargle 3:47
7. Swindon Snake Charmer 1:50
8. Follow Me Up to Carlow 3:02
9. Boston Harbour 2:08
10. A Man You Don't Meet Everyday 2:24
11. Prima Nocta 2:30
12. Techno Jig 3:31
http://www.icewagonflu.com
http://www.myspace.com/icewagonflu
http://www.reverbnation.com/icewagonflu
http://www.facebook.com/icewagonflu
http://twitter.com/#!/icewagonflu
Click to buy from CDBaby:
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/icewagonflu7
Review by Kinksmarkham
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