NOTE : DEAD LINKS We'd like to thank everyone for preventing us of dead links. For the moment, we are note able to re-up them.
Feel free to keep on preventing us of those dead links. We will update them when we (I and Jeb-E-Diah) have more time to (understand : from september). Some of them will be partially or completely repacked considering albums which would have been issued thereafter and surely with new and improved artworks.
EV has never ben a major band. But they have been very important in the Breton culture and in the struggle for the reunification of Nantes region with Brittany.
At their very beginning, EV was nothing but another french pop bands whose music was nothing much different from the band Indochine. Fortunately the music has evoluated and the lyrics were not only in french but also in breton ... and in finnish, as one of the members come from Finland.
Success rapidly came but never went further than a local fame. So that's why I decided to make their Baistophe, not only to make them discovered from forreign countries but also within their home country.
My EV TOP3 :
1. Huchal (1996)
2. Distruj (1992)
3. Pemp (2001)
4. Reuz (1994)
5. Dizehan (2005)
6. Skomp (1987)
But if you have to own only one of them, I just can advise you their live album. A must have, as you will witness from the tracks I chose from it.
Funny how our programmation have put Steely Dan and Steeleye Span very close to one another. A very similiar name for completely different sound. Steeleye Span was planned in january but too hard to finish or many other projects that I wanted to do made it only be posted today. As we took awareness of Tim Hart's death, the idea of making Steeleye Span's Baistophe came to an evidence. This essential english folk band has been very prolific and is not really as famous as they deserve it. Their music is truly beautiful, especially when Maddy Prior singing, and very few albums are to forget. This constance in quality and this longevity had to be saluted in our blog.
Mike Oldfield is a genius. A schizophrenic. I don't claim it, he does. He even proved it. Just watch his discography : 23 albums. 1/4 pastoral symphonic folk prog, 1/4 celtic instrumental poprock, 1/4 80s FM songs, 1/4 techno ambiant DJing. He even admitted it wildely in his autobiography, saved by the Bells. Because whatever he does, whatever he did, Oldfield will always be remembered for one thing : Tubular Bells. Whichever version you think of.
So how can you try to describe Oldfield's entire career, especially knowing that Oldfield has had quite a few compilations ? I chose to do it in three CDs, following the trend of The Complete Mike Oldfield but extending it. First CD is a 77-minute non-stop suite of his earlier works, told by many as his very best. You'll find an edited version of what still stands as his greatest work ever, Tubular Bells, as well as a 21-minute sum-up of his craziest work, the one-hour-length instrumental extravaganza Amarok.
Second CD is another suite of all his best stand-alone instrumental works between 1980 and 2008. Here you'll find a huge variety of styles, going from flamenco to disco, from classical guitar to electronic music, from celtic rock to orchestral medieval symphony. Some great works are missing here - Music from the Balcony, Arrival, Wonderful Land - but you'll get a very wide picture of Oldfield's abilities... and schizophrenia !
Third CD is exclusively made of pop songs. I know this is what Oldfield's been constantly criticized for, but there were two reasons behind this decision : first, I think he was a truly gifted FM-poprock-hitmaker, even though he would deny it. Second, this is the first and only time that you'll meet a "commercial" compilation of "commercial" songs by Mike Oldfield - all the best of what he did in this musical area, 19 songs back to back, no instrumentals.
I hope you'll enjoy this baistophe, it's been quite a hard work but sometimes real fun. The most incredible part is that, although it is 3 CDs long, if you like it you still have some sides to Oldfield's work that weren't revealed in there yet. So have fun with this, and don't forget : the compiler was a bit schizophrenic, too.
Take The Pogues and transpose them in the Boston area, make them grow up listening to Slapshot, the Clash, Stiff Little Fingers and the Mighty Mighty Bosstones and you'll have Dropkick Murphys. Sure, it's not as simple as that but it's basically the recipe for success those lads used on their six studio albums. From them, what I enjoy the most is the celtic/folky punk outbursts of which Shipping Up to Boston is the finest. Do not be surprised, thus, if this compilation displays very few of their pure punk songs. In fact, what I intended to do with "Loyal to No One" is a compilation of the Dropkick Murphys for those who don't enjoy punk music that much and I think I did a pretty good job at it. So here it is, 25 songs that will make you want to pogo... Celtic style!
My DROPKICK MURPHYS List 1. The Warrior's Code (2005) 2. Blackout (2003) 3. The Meanest of Times (2007) 4. The Gang's All Here (1999) 5. Sing Loud, Sing Proud! (2001) 6. Do or Die (1998)
RIYL: Flogging Molly, The Pogues, Stiff Little Fingers
The Levellers are an English rock band influenced by punk and traditional English music. They are based in Brighton, England where they were founded in 1988. There are several stories regarding how they got their name; from the Levellers, a radically democratic faction of Oliver Cromwell's New Model Army; as a reference to "The Level", a flat open space near where members of the band used to live in Brighton; or simply, according to guitarist, Simon Friend, a word they chose from a dictionary. Strongly interested and outspoken about green anarchism issues the band have built up a strong and devoted fanbase, despite being nearly universally ignored by mainstream critics. The band have been spokespeople for a number of issues including campaigning against the Criminal Justice Act (and its measures against rave parties ) and various anti-capitalist and environmental issues. They continue to tour extensively around Britain and Europe but maintain a mutual dislike with the music press which stems from their early days.
My LEVELLERS Top 3 1 - Levelling the Land (1992) 2 - A Weapon Called the Word (1990) 3 - Zeitgeist (1995)
My LEVELLERS Bottom 3 1 - Hello Pig (2000) 2 - Green Blade Rising (2003) 3 - Mouth to Mouth (1997)
In the beginning, Gwendal was a pure celtic instrumental band. The majority of their best selling albums are from that period, up to En Concert. On that live album, though keeping the celtic sound, Gwendal became much more 80s fusion oriented. For over a decade, that new sound changed their audience while decreasing at the same time as the albums (Locomo and Danse La Musique) were not very well written... Fortunately, at the end of the 80s, Gwendal came back to his celtic roots producing fresher music and improving spectacularly until 2005's War-Raog which is, sadly, also their last release to date. Would they have gone a little further they could very well have produced one of their best efforts... Until that happens, we'll have to do with this great collection of instrumentals. Enjoy !
My Gwendal TOP3 : 1. Rainy Day (1976) 2. War Raog (2005) 3. Irish Jig (1974)
My Gwendal BOTTOM3 : 1. Danse La Musique (1985) 2. Locomo (1983) 3. Pan Ha Diskan (1995)
This high priestess of celtic music is much more known for her name than for her work and is so often compared with low-quality artists like Enya or other New Age people. Although she belongs in that New Age movement, Loreena's music isn't as poor as her so-called neighbours. Because she travels through different worlds, from non-homeland ireland (she's canadian!) to arabic landscapes in her later job, she brings this easy-listening music to a higher point. One of the major celtic singers and one of the marvellous voices ever heard, McKennitt knows what she sings and sings what she likes, even if it has to last more than 8 minutes, which is, for (too) many people, a problem... rubbish !
My LOREENA McKENNITT TOP : 1. The Mask And The Mirror (1994) 2. The Visit (1991) 3. To Drive The Cold Winter Away (1987) 4. The Book Of Secrets (1997) 5. Songs For Winter Gardens / A Midsummer Night's Dream (1995/2008) 6. Elemental (1985) 7. An Ancient Muse (2006) 8. Parallel Dreams (1989)
MES SOULIERS SONT ROUGES 21 GROSSES POINTURES (1995-2003)
Behind the name of that band hides an old Quebec folk song's name which they made theirs. In their short lived discography, Mes Soulier Sont Rouges managed to unite both old France and Nouvelle France culture. Being celtic, acadian or only simple songs, Mes Souliers Sont Rouges had great success in the very early 2000 and could have become one of the hugest french folk bands ... if they had not decided to progressively drop their musical trademark to become much more Pop than before, so that they lost their recognisable sound !
Extracts : Le Bout Du Banc
L'Arbre Est Dans Ses Feuilles
My MSSR TOP : 1. Proches (2000) 2. Tape La Galoche (1995) 3. En Dehors Des Clous (1998) 4. Gaillardises (1997) 5. Une Heure Déjà (2003) 6. 5 (2002)
As I said on the last post, Malicorne broke up in 1984 after "Les Cathédrales De L'Industrie". Gabriel felt then free to go on as a solo singer along with his wife Marie, who rapidly left to lead Virgin's World label (then Peter Gabriel's Realworld). By the way, the solo career, as we could expect on the last Malicorne LP, was no longer folk/celtic but just singer/songwriter albums, with, sometimes, some inches of traditionalism. Gabriel Yacoub is one of my favourite frenche singers for that simple reason : he is a simple man making simple, intelligent songs, with a good taste for melancholy. Just listen to "Les Choses Les Plus Simples" to admit that at least this one is hugely moving !
Extracts : Les Choses Les Plus Simples
Ces Dieux-Là
My Gabriel Yacoub TOP3 : 1. Bel (1990) 2. :Yacoub: (2001) 3. Trad Arr. (1978)
My Gabriel Yacoub BOTTOM3 : 1. Elementary Level Of Faith (1986) 2. Babel (1994) 3. De La Nature Des Choses (2008)
(very hard to make such a top/bottom, even Elementary Level Of Faith is great, so...)
Gabriel Yacoub was one of Alan Stivell's backing band members. In 1973, he left to found a new band with her wife, Marie. After a promising first LP, the duet turned into a real band which was called Malicorne, a middle west little town's name. One thing has to be clarified : Malicorne is not a breton band but just a folk(-rock) band. Yacoub was indeed born in the east of France. By the way, Malicorne's music does not sounds really like celtic music but refers to much more french traditions... By the turn of the 70's decade, the band sold less and less albums and had to break up after a "Cathedrales De L'Industrie" which already sounds like a Yacoub solo album (see ABO#116)
Extracts : Marions Les Roses
Le Branle des Chevaux
My Malicorne TOP3 : 1. Malicorne II (aka Le Mariage Anglais, 1975) 2. Malicorne IV (aka Nous Sommes Chanteurs De Sornettes, 1977) 3. Almanach (1976)
My Malicorne Bottom3 : 1. La Balançoire En Feu (1981) 2. Les Cathédrales De L'Industrie (1984) 3. Malicorne I (aka Colin) (1974)
Tri Yann was my very first step into music. That was one of the very first thing I liked from what my parents used to listen. Then, in my teen-age, I drop this interest to music that was more in my teenage mood : rebel ! But I must admit this is a really great band and that's why I came back to listen to them and complete my TY knowledge. Tri Yann, with Alan Stivell were the very first to promote celtism into great popularity. And their success never fell (even if in the eighties, their was a gap of miscreativity) ! With 1985 new member Jean-Luc Chevallier (bass, ex-Magma) the band became more rock (witness En Concert 1997,(very highly recommended)) and Louis Marie Sevenot (violin) they maintained their attachment to celtic and traditional music.
Extracts: Le Soleil Est Noir
O'Carolan's Devotion / Irish Dances 1
My Tri Yann TOP3 : 1. Urba (1978) 2. Le Café Du Bon Coin (1983) 3. An Heol A Zo Glaz (1981)
My Tri Yann BOTTOM3 : 1. Belle Et Rebelle (1989) 2. Anniverscène (1985) 3. Le Vaisseau De Pierre (1987)
France is on of the most cosmopolitan european countries, with so many culture : corsican, occitan, basque, aslacian, ... One of the musically most prolific region to emerge since the early 70s is Brittany. That celtic land has been the first to expose its culture in the modern rock world, helped by its cousins, the scottish, the irish, or the galician. The apparantly lack of variety in the music has been vanished by crossing other culture. That's why, you'll find some finnish songs (EV) or arabic songs (Taÿfa) in that compilation. Modernisation has also been one of the strength of that culture. Alan Stivell (see ABO#034) has been one of the very first to mix both celtic and rock music. That's then no surprise to find so many modernised traditional songs as Denez Prigent's electro work or even amazing Bagad Brieg's one. So here will be some Breton songs (made by Brittany native people) that brings proudness to that wonderful land. You easily will understand not to find Alan Stivell nor Tri Yann (ABO to come) in that compilation, because of their too big popularity.
Jethro Tull was founded in 1968. In the beginning, Tulls music was purely blues-oriented, sounding like the first Fleetwood Mac albums. This blues had that particularity to feature Ian Anderson's flute which rapidly brang a folk/celtic color on their second LP Stand Up. Their popularity exploded while the Aqualung album issued in 1971. Labelled as a folky Led Zeppelin IV, this wasn't very surprising because the two bands were very friends and the two albums were made exactly at the same time in the same studio. Jethro Tull is stamped "Hard Rock" even if it's much more a progressive folk band. Most of their LPs are very Folk oriented (War Child, Songs From The Wood) or Medievalish Hard Rock (Minstrel In The Gallery). But their masterpiece is Thick As A Brick and later the arguably A Passion Play. By the end of the 70s and John Glacock's death (1979/11/17) the Tull fell down into mediocrity until they found their new signature, a kind of Dire Straits - style that bring them a 1987 reward for their album Crest Of A Knave in the Metal category (!) just stealing the reward to Metallica (!!). This is a premiere on Baistophe, this is the very first (not the last I guess) 3CD set we suggest you, Jethro Tull's music and talent being so expanded...
CD1: 1. A Song For Jeffrey 2. A New Day Yesterday 3. Fat Man 4. Reasons For Waiting 5. With You There To Help Me 6. To Cry You A Song 7. Love Story 8. Aqualung
9. Cross-Eyed Mary 10. My God 11. Locomotive Breath 12. Wind Up (Quad. Version) 13. Wond'ring Again 14. Life Is A Long Song 15. Thick As A Brick (extract) 16. Critique Oblique
CD2: 1. Magus Perdè 2. War Child 3. Back-Door Angel 4. Skating Away On The Thin Ice Of A New Day 5. The Third Hoorah 6. Minstrel In The Gallery
7. One White Duck / 0^10 = Nothing At All 8. Quizz Kid 9. Salamander 10. The Chequered Flag 11. Songs From THe Woods 12. The Whistler 13. One Brown Mouse 14. Heavy Horses 15. Conundrum 16. Quatrain
CD3: 1. Dark Ages 2. Dun Ringhill 3. Fylingdale FLyer 4. The Pine Martin's Jig 5. Broadsword 6. Cheerio 7. Jump Start 8. Part Of The Machine 9. A Christmas Song 10. Another Christmas Song 11. Still Loving You Tonight 12. Like A Tall Thin Girl 13. Valley 14. Wounded Old And Treacherous 15. Hot Mango Flush 16. El Niño
17. A Winter Snowscape
My Jethro Tull TOP3 : 1. Thick As A Brick (1972) 2. Aqualung (1971) 3. Songs From The Wood (1977)
My Jethro Tull BOTTOM3 : 1. Underwraps (1984) 2. Broadsword And The Beast (1982)* 3. A Passion Play (1973)
* : I know so many love that album but, I'm sorry, I really can't stand this one.
BAISTOPHE is a collection of home-made compilations as those available in store are, most of the times, unsatisfying. We make our own artworks (front & back) so that everything can be burnt, printed and look nice in your CDs collection. Also, we are always looking for new people to help us achieve a quasi-encyclopedic collection. If you think you can help, feel free to contact us. And don't forget to leave a comment, it's always gratifying to see our hard work pleases people!
NB: It goes without saying that these compilations are meant to be introductions to artists we enjoy. If you like what you hear,BUY THE ALBUMS!
NOTE: Artists and labels who do not wish their music to be available on Baistophe can ask us to remove it. Please contact: baistophe{at}gmail{dot}com
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