CELTIC FOLK PUNK AND MORE: REVIEW - EBRI KNIGHT "Tonades de fa temps" (2012)

EBRI KNIGHT "Tonades de fa temps" Cases de la mùsica CM002CD (2012)
Release date: 2 January 2012
Running time: 49:10, 15 tracks + 1 bonus track

After 7 years on the road and some demo tracks that were featured on The Celtic Punk Sampler vol.XIV, the Catalonian band Ebri Knight is back with their brilliant debut album “Tonades de fa temps”. These “Folk-rock hooligans” merge the Catalonian tunes with the Celtic spirit. They could have followed a different way, but they don’t want to be another Flogging Molly or another Dropkick Murphys wannabe band.

The seven-pice oufit play acoustic guitar, mandolin, electric guitar, accordion, fiddle, flutes and whistles, bass and drums. Most of the tracks are sung in Catalonian, but three of them are sung in English: a couple of standards (“I’m a Rover” and “Hills of Connemara”) and one self-penned song (“Bloody Mary”). Musically, the album features both great folk rock and Celtic punk numbers with a fiddle and traverse flute sound that links them with the likes of Celtas Cortos and Gwendal.

“La Masovera” is a catchy fast-paced number featuring great electric guitar, accordion, fiddle and flute. Another track that stands out is the next song, “Tard”. It begins with an acoustic guitar. Then accordion and banjo join and after a while the whole band burst into a great party Celtic rock song.

Apart from amazing Celtic rock songs Ebri Knight also plays a great western song, “Johnny Fiddle”. You can recall some Pogues numbers after hearing this song or even recent songs by bands like MoDERN B Beard and The Porters.

The following track, “5.2”, is different too. A brass section guest on this number. At the beginning, you can imagine a Big band playing on a jazz club, but then the band goes in a different direction, an excellent set of tunes à la Celtas Cortos on their instrumental debut album.

“Quan somrius” is one of my faves. Another catchy Celtic rock song featuring great accordion, flute an electric guitar. If you like The Vad Vuc early albums, I feel that you will enjoy this song too.

Fortunately the band has chosen a couple of standards that are not the usual ones. “I’m a Rover” runs 1:43 a real Celtic punk version. And “Hills of Connemara” features top-notch tin whistle, banjo and fiddle arrangements.

Finally, “Un sol glop” is an awesome rocking number. I guess that it must be one of the hottest moments on stage.

Go ahead! Download the album for free (without the bonus tracks) from the band’s website. And, if you like it, then buy it (only FOUR Euros from Bandcamp!!!!)

Tracklist:

01. Després de sopar 03:09

02. La masovera 03:42

03. Tard 03:03

04. Bloody Mary 03:07

05. Johnny Fiddle 03:57

06. 5.2 02:14

07. Global Ice 04:51

08. Quan somrius 02:08

09. I'm a rover 01:43

10. Titellaires 02:45

11. Xatrac 02:00