Slow Moving Clouds.
By Daniel Neely
Slow Moving Clouds is an excellent, fascinating new group that draws on and re-imagines traditional Irish, Nordic, American, and minimalist experimental influences to create music that has a unique new sound. They’ve just released their debut album “Os,” which contains 11 tracks that explore this direction and realize a traditionally-derived sound that moves between moments of pastoral romanticism and robust baroqueness.
The group’s members are Aki (nyckelharpa & vocals), Danny Diamond (fiddle), and Kevin Murphy (cello, bass, and vocals). All three are accomplished players and have great experience playing together (a “Danny and Aki” project predated this album).
I have long been a fan of Diamond’s music, both in the group Mórga and through his solo album “Fiddle Music.” Murphy’s music is new to me, but his contributions are outstanding as well and add to the cohesiveness of the group’s sound. However, the album’s defining “sound” is Aki’s nyckelharpa, a traditional Swedish instrument that looks like a keyed fiddle. With melody, drone, and sympathetic strings, it produces a remarkable and otherworldly sound.
The album’s opening track “The Conquering Hero” is an excellent example of the nyckelharpa’s brilliance. There, the instrument creates a lush sonic texture into which the fiddle and cello fit seamlessly. The effect is a huge, mysterious sound that benefits from a taut, impressionistic arrangement. (I would say the same about their version of the air “The Death of Staker Wallace.” It is an exquisite–but utterly confounding–take on the piece.)
One of the album’s standout tracks is “Devil’s Polska.” “Devil's Polskas” are an evocative traditional tune type in Sweden that both let musicians show off their skill and suggests a degree of supernatural intervention to their abilities. The group’s take here seems, then, very much in line with tradition. The cello opens with a simple, repeating percussive motif, however it’s quickly followed by the entry of the fiddle and nyckelharpa, which create depth and convey a sense of drama. It’s a great track.
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Another of the album’s great tracks is the song “Hiljainen Suru,” an ethereal take on a Finnish folk song. (Although Aki is Finnish, the whole group in fact traveled to Finland to better understand Finnish music in preparation for this project.) The arrangement is intoxicating, full of long drawn strings and close harmonies that suggest the language of early music ensembles. However, the subtle processing on the voice draws squarely from the palette of popular music studio technique and take this song in an incredibly interesting direction. (“Suru Suuri” is another of the album’s vocal tracks – it’s lovely and shares a similar approach.)
Although informed by traditional musics, “Os” is not, strictly speaking, a “traditional album.” Rather, it’s something that crosses over into “third stream” territory (to borrow the genre name coined by composer Gunther Schuller) because it synthesizes disparate source material into something ambitious and new. This allows the group a good bit of creative freedom, which they explore to excellent effect. Those interested in the creative excursions of groups like the Gloaming, This Is How We Fly, and the Ghost Trio will find “Os” a deeply satisfying. Learn more about Slow Moving Clouds and “Os” at slowmovingclouds.com.
In other news: ’Tis the season, so just a quick heads up about all the bands that are out and about this Patrick’s Day season! The great Lúnasa (www.lunasa.ie) left town on March 2, will be away through the 24th and will perform in WA, HI, OR, AR, CA, NM. Many of these gigs feature Grammy Award-winning country and bluegrass artist Tim O’Brien! Téada (teada.com) also took to the road on the 2nd, and will visit OH, MI, OR, AZ, CA before the head back home on the 12th. The Alan Kelly Gang (alankellygang.ie) started it’s tour on the 4th, will be out until the 17th and will visit MN, WI, IL, MI, IN, MA, RI, NY, MD, VA along the way. WeBanjo3 (www.webanjo3.com) also headed out on the 4th and will be on the road through the 19th, visiting MI, OH, PA, TN, WV, IL, WI, MD. They will return April 22-May 5 and to shows in MA, NYC, PA, DC, DE, NC, WI.
If you’re looking for a seasonal event in NYC, Loretta Egan Murphy, Rose Flanagan and Brendan Dolan at Glucksman Ireland House (http://irelandhouse.as.nyu.edu) on March 11. There’ll be some great names playing at the Sober St. Patrick’s Day event on March 17. See www.soberstpatricksday.com for details. In addition, Mick Moloney will bring his huge, star-studded Celtic Appalachian Celebration back to Symphony Space on March 12, see irishartscenter.org for details. Moloney’s concerts are always outstanding and I recommended them highly.
Finally, Kevin Ferguson’s documentary “The Irish Catskills: Dancing at the Crossroads” will premiere on Albany’s WMHT on the 10th. This is an important production that focuses on one of Irish America’s great stories, so check it out if you’re able. Learn about viewing opportunities at www.narrowbackfilms.com.
Daniel Neely writes about traditional music in the Irish Echo each week.
