Vintage Wine "Drums & Guns"Avik AV 034512 - 2
Release date: 2012
Running time: 28:10, 8 tracks
The Czech Celtic punk scene has delivered quite a few interesting bands. Apart from Pipes and Pints, the likes of Benjaming Clan, Curlies and Cheers! are well-known for the followers of Celtic Folk Punk and More. Recently I have come across Vintage Wine, a kick-ass six piece band from Prague with a wider musical approach. These lads have released a couple of folk-rock EPs and a mini-album and I feel that they deserve a bigger exposure.
“Drums & Guns” is Vintage Wine’s debut album. It was released in 2012 and I’m still wondering how I missed it when it was out. There is a balance between the self penned stuff and the covers. Petr Polák (lead vocals, mandolin) wrote three songs and the other original was written by Petr and Radim Lapcík (fiddle, banjo, vocals).
The first track is a solid cover of “Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya”. It’s followed by “King of Fairies”, a fantastic original on which you can notice Petr vocal antics.
Track no. 3 is a brilliant rendition of “Mrs. McGrath”. The rythm section really shines on this song and there is a rap part reminiscent of Great Big Sea’s “Beggarman” cover. “Crossroads” is a slower number, a sort of a rest before the album reaches its peak.
“Vargtimen” is one of the hottest moments on “Drums & Guns”. Vintage Wine do a great job covering this Swedish folk-rock number written by Hedningarna. The original can be found on “Trä” (1994).
The next song is titled “Veneric Disease” and I guess that the main musical influences on this number come from their own country.
“Drinking Song” is the track that any Celtic punk fan will love: a fast-paced anthem featuring mandolin, fiddle an accordion.
The last song on the album is “Whores of Baltimore” and it has the harbour atmosphere: boat sirens, waves, seagulls and … whores. It’s stated on the track listing that this song is inappropriate for youth under 18 ;-)
Scroll down to read the review of Vintage Wine “Selection of Grapes”.
Tracklist:
1 - Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya 2:59
2 - King of Fairies 3:37
3 - Mrs. McGrath 5:05
4 - Crossroads 3:43
5 - Vargtimmen 3:09
6 - Veneric Disease 2:19
7 - Drinking Song 2:31
8 - Whores of Baltimore 4:43
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Vintage Wine "Selection of Grapes" EP Avik AV 036613 - 2
Release date: August 13, 2013
Running time: 8:35, 3 tracks
“Selection of Grapes” is Vintage Wine latest offering and it was released in the Summer of 2013. The guys worked again with Pavel Brom (producer), Přmek Haas (mastering) and Jindra Polák (layout). The main difference with “Drums & Guns” is that there is no banjo, since Radim Lapčik focused on fiddle only.
“Fiddle Fey” is an infectious number written by Radim Lapčik about a haunting fiddler girl. The fiddling reminds me of the German band Paddy Goes to Holyhead. Remember that he guys released a video for this song.
The next number is “Four Raven Feathers”, a song written by Petr Polák. Petr vocals have a Maggoty Brats twist and there is a small ska part à la Fiddler’s Green.
Finally, “Irskej Folk” (“Irish Folk”) is another song written by Radim Lapčik which is sung in Czech. It has a The Rumjacks flavour and a “Lannigan’s Ball” vibe. Brilliant stuff.
Vintage Wine have blended Central European, Celtic and Scandinavian folk music and their efforts have paid off. These Czech musicians have found the right balance between musicianship and fun. Can’t wait to hear their new stuff!
Tracklist:
1 - Fiddle Fey 3:22
2 - Four Raven Feathers 2:32
3 - Irskej Folk 2:40
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Reviews by Kinksmarkham
