Brutus' Daughters "Beating Beyond Folk Ashes" Self-released
Release date: August 2013
Running time: 31:15, 10 tracks
Whatever happened to Brutus’ Daughters? The folk punk band from Madrid became extremely popular among Celtic punk fans in 2010/2011. Paula (lead vocals), Rebe (drums), Charly (bass), Pablo (rhythm guitar), Pitxe (lead guitar & vocals), Noel (fiddle) and Xipla (Asturian bagpipes) released their 8 track debut album under Creative Commons licence and soon it was available everywhere. They were one of the bands that covered The Mahones on the Whiskey Devils tribute album and they began to play big outdoor festivals in Spain and Poland.
Brutus’ Daughters were running too fast, but Paula moved to Germany because of her studies and she couldn’t stay with the band. This situation put a damper on the band’s progression. Brutus’ Daughters were obliged to find a new singer, obviously a girl. Brutus’ Daughters MK I was over.
Fortunately, Alex (Alejandra) joined the band and Brutus’ Daughters MK II began to gig around Spain and a lot of songs that should make their second album were polished on stage.
Once again, reality hit hard and three band members left the band for different reasons. The remaining members (Alex, Rebe, Pablo and Xipla) made up their minds: “show must go on”. Rak (bass) and Lorena (fiddle) came on board and Brutus’ Daughters MK III played gigs in Spain and Italy and while they kept on writing new songs.
Finally, Brutus’ Daughters entered the studio last April. Once again, they trusted in Anne at Geek Records. They had worked together when The Mahones “Take Me Back” cover was recorded. The final result (“Beating Beyond Folk Ashes”) is a real roots-rock-rebel album.
Anne has recorded, mixed and mastered the album and has produced it together with Brutus’ Daughters. All the elements that define Brutus’ Daughters music are there: fast-paced anthems, female vocals, top-notch fiddle and pipes playing, lyrics about sexuality, mass media, a love and hate song to the city they live in…. Anne has become a 7th member of the band and most of the songs and the band sound have been improved. I ‘m particularly impressed with the pipes and the fiddle sound. Together with the work that old members Pitxe and Noel have done. Noel guest on “Nuechi del ñuberu” playing the button accordion and Pitxe has been in charge of the background vocals.
Release date: August 2013
Running time: 31:15, 10 tracks
Whatever happened to Brutus’ Daughters? The folk punk band from Madrid became extremely popular among Celtic punk fans in 2010/2011. Paula (lead vocals), Rebe (drums), Charly (bass), Pablo (rhythm guitar), Pitxe (lead guitar & vocals), Noel (fiddle) and Xipla (Asturian bagpipes) released their 8 track debut album under Creative Commons licence and soon it was available everywhere. They were one of the bands that covered The Mahones on the Whiskey Devils tribute album and they began to play big outdoor festivals in Spain and Poland.
Brutus’ Daughters were running too fast, but Paula moved to Germany because of her studies and she couldn’t stay with the band. This situation put a damper on the band’s progression. Brutus’ Daughters were obliged to find a new singer, obviously a girl. Brutus’ Daughters MK I was over.
Fortunately, Alex (Alejandra) joined the band and Brutus’ Daughters MK II began to gig around Spain and a lot of songs that should make their second album were polished on stage.
Once again, reality hit hard and three band members left the band for different reasons. The remaining members (Alex, Rebe, Pablo and Xipla) made up their minds: “show must go on”. Rak (bass) and Lorena (fiddle) came on board and Brutus’ Daughters MK III played gigs in Spain and Italy and while they kept on writing new songs.
Finally, Brutus’ Daughters entered the studio last April. Once again, they trusted in Anne at Geek Records. They had worked together when The Mahones “Take Me Back” cover was recorded. The final result (“Beating Beyond Folk Ashes”) is a real roots-rock-rebel album.
Anne has recorded, mixed and mastered the album and has produced it together with Brutus’ Daughters. All the elements that define Brutus’ Daughters music are there: fast-paced anthems, female vocals, top-notch fiddle and pipes playing, lyrics about sexuality, mass media, a love and hate song to the city they live in…. Anne has become a 7th member of the band and most of the songs and the band sound have been improved. I ‘m particularly impressed with the pipes and the fiddle sound. Together with the work that old members Pitxe and Noel have done. Noel guest on “Nuechi del ñuberu” playing the button accordion and Pitxe has been in charge of the background vocals.
The ten tracks on this labour of love album are really amazing.
“Six Beers” used to be an intro with no lyrics, but it evolved into a sing-a-long drinking song. “Big Fish & Fisherwomen” is the perfect sea shanty. Excellent vocal harmonies on this track. “Y mientras tanto” is one of the new songs. Brutus’ Daughters MK III picked up a tune and some ideas that have been put on the shelves by the previous incarnation of the band and gave them a new lease of life.
The core of the album starts with “Raising”. This upbeat song was formerly known as “Grandpa O’Brien”. Brilliant vocals harmonies at the beginning of the track, gang vocals along the song and fantastic traditional sounding pipes at the end. “Break Down Roles” is a new number written by the current line-up and one of the best songs on the album. The usual battle between pipes and fiddle is featured on this song. A kick-ass folk/punk song. “Nuechi del ñuberu” is the new title for “La Danzina”. It’s the only song in Asturian language and different creatures in Asturian mythology are mentioned: bruxa, cuélebre, trasgu, ñuberu. This song has different parts: a lively folk part, a punk-rock part, an accordion and pipes part and the last one (the woah shouts), that comes from a well-known song about a mining disaster. “Mala Prensa” is another highlight and the band is really tight on this: lead vocals, background vocals, guitar, bass, fiddle and pipes. Hats-off!
“No Battle” is another new song that runs before one of the top3 songs on “Beating Beyond Folk Ashes”: “Ciudad de las Alturas”, a song about Madrid. Brutus’ Daughters live in Madrid, but the city itself has its own life. Vocals are shared by Alex and Yto (the Fucking Fuckers singer ) In fact, when the song was written it was intended to be sung by Yto too.
The last track on the album is “They Won’t Turn Back”. I appreciate when a band writes their own material and doesn’t record the usual covers. I prefer that traditional tunes are placed inside self-penned songs. And this is one of those songs, some traditional tunes are played. One of them, “Morrison’s Jig”, is performed in such a way that it sounds different. By the way, awesome percussion by Rebe at the beginning of the song.
Brutus’ Daughters are alive and kicking. These 4 girls and 2 guys are showing that a band doesn’t need to sound like Dropkick Murphys, Flogging Molly or The Pogues to be a real Celtic folk punk outfit. Welcome back Brutus’!
Tracklist:
01 - 6 Beers 1:23
02 - Big Fish & Fisherwomen 3:04
03 - Y mientras tanto 3:27
04 - Raising 2:19
05 - Break Down Roles 3:13
06 - Nuechi del Ñuberu 3:37
07 - Mala prensa 3:19
08 - No Battle at All 3:16
09 - Ciudad de las alturas 3:57
10 - They Won't Turn Back 3:36
https://myspace.com/brutusdaughters
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Brutus-Daughters/287868281342256
Contact the band via Facebook to buy the CD
Review by Kinksmarkham
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