Turning Japanese

aving taken a break from their hectic social life (I mean touring schedule) to get on with other projects, including some solo albums and scoring for television, Kila have now obviously decided to re-enter the fray – with a vengeance.

They have released a CD single of a cracking new version of their classic song ‘Tóg É Go Bog R. The band recorded the new arrangement of the track in collaboration with traditional Ainu musician Oki, playing the tonkori, an guitar/harp instrument from northern Japan.
Kíla and Oki played a concert together for the Dún Laoghaire festival of world cultures in August, in the beautiful setting of Monkstown Parish Church.
It is a mellow, funky arrangement, with Rónán O Snodaig’s voice sounding amazing. When O Snodaig was asked how he’d describe the track, he came up with "good weather music, like that clear blue sky day ye wait for all year".
Can’t say better than that!
The single is on sale through the Kíla website and in shops. It also has a track by Oki’s band, Dub Ainu – a version of Eoin Dillon’s tune ‘Moon on my Back’ and a cool Sakana remix of Tóg é.
This is the second in a series of singles that will see Kíla collaborate on tracks with musicians from all over the world. It is essentially a bit of fun for the band, who wanted to celebrate some of the amazing musicians they have met and played with over their years of touring.
First out of the traps was ‘An Tiomanai’, recorded with another Japanese musician, Horoshi Yamaguchi, from Heatwave. Plans are well in hand for the next collaboration which, I hasten to add, will feature someone from much closer to home. Stay tuned for further details!
Also being masterminded at Kila Central is the release of Liam Ó Maonlaí’s Rian, which is planned for this side of Christmas.
A deeply personal album, it is a far more introspective collection of songs than the material we’re familiar with from the Hothouse Flowers front-man. Artwork and sleeve notes are also by the singer himself.
Ó Maonlaí has always been up to his oxters in traditional music and this rich selection of traditional Irish tunes and Séan Nós songs delivered in his inimitable, free-flowing style simply showcases the other side of the coin.
Recorded over the past four years with close friend and renowned producer John Reynolds, Rian demonstrates an abundance of talent as a solo and traditional artist.
Some interesting guests grace the record, including Justin Adams who has been known to step into Jimmy Page’s shoes as guitar slinger to Robert Plant. Their jam of ‘Find My Train Fare Home’ was the high point of the Festival in the Desert live album.
On the live front Vicar Street continues to fight the good fight, bringing us Clarence Fountain, Jimmy Carter, Joey Williams, Eric McKinnie, Bobby Butler, Tracy Pierce, and Bishop Billy Bowers on November 29th. The Blind Boys of Alabama, as they are collectively known, have been spreading the spirit and energy of pure soul gospel music for over 60 years, ever since the first version of the group formed at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind in 1939.
The group toiled for more than 40 years on the traditional gospel circuit. But in 1983 their career reached a turning point with their crucial role in The Gospel at Colonus, the hit musical by Bob Telson and Lee Breuer. This, coupled with their appearance on a brace of soundtrack albums, brought the Blind Boys’ timeless sound to an enthusiastic new audience.
The Blind Boys of Alabama have enjoyed one of the more striking comebacks in recent memory.
Since signing with Peter Gabriel’s Real World Records label in 2001, their last three albums have earned them the best reviews and sales of their career, and introduced them to a completely new, contemporary audience.
Those albums have also won the Grammy in the Best Traditional Soul Gospel category for three consecutive years.
The Blind Boys continue to expand the very definitions of gospel and soul with Atom Bomb, released in March this year, their most intimate yet modern album to date.
In what has turned out to be the Year of the Old Guy (check out John Prine’s new album or Buddy Miller’s awesome United Universal House of Prayer if you need convincing), these old hipsters pull out all the stops.
Joining them are some high octane performances by David Hidalgo from Los Lobos, Charlie Musselwhite (on blues harp) and the best Beatle there never was, Billy Preston, on Hammond B3.
Vicar Street’s loss is the Spirit Store’s gain as the Dundalk venue will throw open its doors on November 22nd to Emm Gryner, whose Dublin Show has been cancelled. Gryner has sung with Lou Barlow, Rob Zombie, David Bowie and Curtis Mayfield. She has, in addition, toured with Ron Sexsmith, Rufus Wainwright, Bernard Butler and The Cardigans. This will undoubtedly be one of those magical evenings that the Spirit Store has the franchise for.