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Conference marvin::uk_music

Title:The UK Music Conference
Notice:Welcome (back) to UK_MUSIC on node MARVIN.
Moderator:RDGENG::CROOK
Created:Mon Mar 28 1988
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1381
Total number of notes:39269

903.0. "Capercaillie" by SYSTEM::COCKBURN (Craig Cockburn) Thu Sep 12 1991 18:07

With Runrig now hitting the big time UK wide, I wonder if Capercaillie
will go the same way? Capercaillie were one of the main support bands
at the recent Loch Lomond gig (the fastest sell out in Scottish history)
and are now starting to release singles. Their first single was in
Gaelic and got daytime Radio 1 airplay(!) - something Runrig never
managed. Is Radio 1 waking up to the fact that it's OK to play folk
music or are the Capercaillie singles very good? I think they have
another single (in English) out now, and an album due out at the
end of the month. Has anyone heard either of the singles ? Were 
they any good? Has anyone seen them in concert recently?

I have details of Capercaillie's new record company somewhere if
anyone's interested

Craig

p.s. Capercaillie takes it's name from a rare Scottish bird - a large
member of the grouse family I think. The name is usually pronounced
"cap-er-cay-lee", instead of "cape-r-cay-lee"
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
903.1DeleriumBAHTAT::SUMMERFIELDCDial B for BaldrickTue Oct 08 1991 19:578
    Just got the new Capercaillie album, called Delerium. Whilst at times
    it seems a little bit Clannad-ish, it tends to have more oommpphh for
    the want of a better word.
    
    Highly recommended, especially the Gaelic tracks.
    
    
    Balders
903.2Capercaillie's new albumSYSTEM::COCKBURNCraig CockburnSat Oct 12 1991 10:47114
Article 3341 of soc.culture.celtic:
Newsgroups: rec.music.folk,soc.culture.celtic
From: [email protected] (Craig Cockburn)
Subject: Album review - Capercaillie "Delirium"
Reply-To: [email protected]


Delerium : Catalogue number: ZD 75513

1) Rann na Mo/na
Language: Irish Gaelic
Lively tune with atmospheric start. Sounds very like Clannad, I quite
liked the tune once it got going. No translation provided

2) Waiting for the wheel to turn
Language: English
Sounds very like Clannad. A song about summer homes and modern
emigration from the highlands and islands.  Lyrics remind me of 
Runrig. Maybe they got the idea for the song from Runrig's latest
album title. Fairly catchy, but too many modern instruments for
my liking. Came out as a single in the UK.

3) Aodann Srath Bha\in
Language: Scottish Gaelic
Slow ballad. Karen solo singing, main instruments guitar and piano
The melody feels traditional

4) Cape Breton Song
Language: Scottish Gaelic. Lyrics untranslatable - words have mutated
in the course of oral transmission
Catchy tune, sounds like a slow puirt a beul. I quite like it.

5) You will rise again
Language: English
Slow ballad. Sounds like something an English folk band might do. 

6) Kenny MacDonald's jigs
Instrumental
Sounds like the jigs on the ealier albums, except the synthesiser is
far too noticeable for my liking. The tune is good though

7) Dean sa\or an spio/rad
Language: Scottish Gaelic and English
Sounds like Clannad. Fairly slow ballad.

8) Coisich, a ru\in (was a single in the UK)
Language: Scottish Gaelic
I really like this one. Starts off moody but quickly builds into
a fast puirt a beul style. I would have liked it even more without
the synthesisers. If the band manage to write their own songs in
this style then they should do very well.

9) Dr. MacPhail's reel
Instrumental
Quite a good tune. Features fiddles with some guitar and keyboards

10) Heart of the Highland
Language: English
Features Karen on vocals and backing guitar. The song has the feel
of something Runrig might write in one of their moments when they are
singing about Scotland

11) Breisleach
Language: Scottish Gaelic
A very nice ballad. Karen sings fantastic. Has a real Gaelic feel to it.
Probably the only track on the album which shows of her voice in the
same style as Sidewaulk and Crosswinds. 

12) Islay ranter's reels
Instrumental
Nice lively song featuring fiddle and guitar.
Reminds me a bit of west coast Irish music, perhaps that's just because
it's from Islay which has the greatest Irish influence of the Scottish
Islands. I liked it.

13) Servant to the slave
Language: English
Slow ballad, sounds like Clannad.

Having written the above, I've noticed that the songwriters are listed on
the inside back cover. Track 1 is the only song written completely by the 
band which I liked. Track 11 is jointly written by the Gaelic poet
Aonghas MacNeacall.

For those who have listened to Sidewaulk and Crosswinds, be prepared for  a
big change. This album is more commercial and slower. Fans of Clannad will
probably like it, Karen's voice is also quite similar to Ma/ire's. The
band's accountant will proably like the album too! Purists who are
interested in traditional Gaelic music will probably like it less. I'm
not against bands developing their style and moving away from complete
traditionalism. I quite like "Mouth Music" and Enya's albums for instance.
However, what usually ends up happening is that the band end up losing
their unique style which made them special. Runrig are sounding more like
what Big Country were doing 10 years ago, and Capercaillie have given up
their unique position of a lively, modern ceilidh type band and seem to be
heading down the road which Clannad went down in the 70's. Karen has a
fantastic voice, but it doesn't shine enough on this album for me. The band
have also started going in for pictures like "this is the band in the hills
by a loch trying to look natural but ending up looking silly". After this
album, my favourite Capercaillie tracks still remain "Am buachaille ban",
"Both Sides the Tweed" and "Alasdair mhic cholla ghasda"

Band line up:
Karen Matheson: Vocals
Marc Duff: Whistles, bodhran, wind synthesiser
Manus Lunny: Bouzouki, Guitar, Vocals on tracks 1 & 13
Charlie McKerron: Fiddle
John Saich: Bass, Guitar on track 10. Vocals on tracks 5 & 10

For info on the band, contact:
Survival Records
P.O. Box 337
London
W5 4XG
903.3SYSTEM::COCKBURNCraig CockburnSat Nov 30 1991 10:357
I saw Capercaillie in concert last night, they were supporting Runrig.
They have released the traditional Gaelic song "fear a' bh�ta"
(=the boatman) as a charity record to raise money for the families
who have lost people at sea. This is a lovely song, with an easy
to sing chorus and is in many Gaelic song books

Craig
903.4WELCLU::NISBETDougie Nisbet @WLO 7 853 4334Tue Dec 03 1991 09:2811
>p.s. Capercaillie takes it's name from a rare Scottish bird - a large
>member of the grouse family I think. The name is usually pronounced
>"cap-er-cay-lee", instead of "cape-r-cay-lee"
    
    This is going to take a bit of getting used to. I noticed Donnie Munro
    pronounced it "Cap-er-cay-lee" on Saturday night. I'd better get
    practicing.
    
    Dougie
    
903.5MAJORS::COCKBURNCraig CockburnWed May 20 1992 19:0645
All,
    Here's the info on Capercaillie from the organisation which will become
their fan club:

Capercaillie "Rock achievement of the year"  - The Times

Radio 1 continues to support Capercaillie, their latest EP is already
recieiving air play.

The band's recent concert at the Mean Fiddler in London was described
by the Times as "Unique and Stirring"

I've even heard a rumour that they're Prince Charles' favourite group !


Subscription:

If you would like to receive regular news on Capercaillie you can officially
join the mailing list for a subscription fee of �6.50 for 1 year's
membership.

When applicable, this service will provide you with details of tours, new
releases, TV and radio programmes, plus general news and press for interest.
One or two promotional items will even be thrown in!

You will receive a newsheet every 2 months i.e. 6 times a year. If you
decide to join, the first official mail will be for the beginning of June,
the second for August and so on. If of course you have any questions 
inbetween, you can contact Paula at the address below, but please
enclose a SAE.

Please direct all correspondence to:

Capercaillie Info
P.O. Box 5011 
London
W12 7ZD

Please make cheques payable to "Etive Records" and write your name
and address on the back

From: Paula Moore

 The above info was send to me via Capercaillie's record company,
Survival Records (Based in Ealing, West London)
903.6SYSTEM::COCKBURNCraig CockburnThu Nov 12 1992 17:0949
The "Get Out" album is now available nationwide. I saw a few copies in the
Virgin Megastore in Reading for �9.99. You can tell Capercaillie are 
getting popular as their records have migrated from the folk section to
the rock section !

Craig

             <<< IRNBRU::IS_DISK:[NOTES$LIBRARY]SCOTLAND.NOTE;1 >>>
                          -< The Scotland Conference >-
================================================================================
Note 37.117          Concerts coming up/Scottish bands info           117 of 117
SYSTEM::COCKBURN "Craig Cockburn"                    39 lines  10-OCT-1992 15:38
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capercaillie news (see previous note on how to get this info on a
regular basis)

....

26th Oct 92: "Get Out" a special edition LP (Survival/BMG) is to be
released. This is 40 mins long and contains 8 tracks. The LP will be
released on CD and cassette and should be around �9.99. It contains
live tracks and remixes taken from the Scottish Delirium tour.

9th Nov 92: The video "Two nights of Delirium" will be released. This
is 1 hour long and comprises footage from Aberdeen and Nairn dates. There
will also be informal black and white footage of the band on the road

Touring:

25th Sep - 20th Oct 92, Capercaillie will be touring in Europe. 22 dates
are scheduled for Germany and 3 for Switzerland. For more info, contact:
Carsten Linde Agency, Tel Germany 5507 846 Fax: Germany 5507 2516

Next major tour for Ireland, Scotland and other parts of the UK will be 
December. More details nearer the time. A new studio album is planned 
for Spring.

TV coverage:

"Talla a' bhaille". This series begins on 8th Oct 92 for six weeks and uses
some Capercaillie footage. This is a Gaelic programme and will only be
transmitted in Scotland

"What's that Noise". This BBC series is to be transmitted across the UK 
later in the year. Watch out for the Glasgow/Scotland episode (14-Oct-92,
4;35pm, BBC1)

To mail order records, contact:
Survival Records, P.O. Box 888, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 2YQ
903.7Capercaillie albumsSYSTEM::COCKBURNCraig CockburnThu Nov 19 1992 21:43122
Capercaillie new releases:

On CD, a new album:

Get Out - an 8 track mini album. Playing time 40 mins. Available for �9.99 in
the UK, seen in WH Smiths today for �7.30. Usually album prices are �11-�13
I had to wait two weeks for this to arrive at Our Price - the publishers 
had sold out and couldn't keep up with the demand!

Tracks:
1) Waiting for the Wheel to turn (92 Version - produced by Iain Morrow)
2) Pige Ruadh (live) The Brown Whisky Jar ( Traditional Puirt-a-beul)
3) a) Dean Cadalan S�mhach (Sleep softly my darling) 
   b) Servant to the slave (92 version)
4) Silver spear reels (live)
5) Outlaws (live)  also known as "The Poll Tax Song"
	- it's about time this made it onto an album
	probably the best political song since "Flower of Scotland" in my 
	opinion
	"Have you seen it before
	the names of the women and men
	decreed by the sword and the pen
	to be outlaws
	all over again"
6) Coisich a' R�in (live)
	The first Gaelic song to enter the UK top 40. 400 years old
	Really lively waulking song
7) Fear a' bh�ta (my boatman) (live version)
	a popular traditional Gaelic song.
	Put out as a single to raise money for those who lost relatives at sea
	"My heart is broken and crushed,
	 and often the tears are streaming from my eyes
	 will you come tonight, will I expect you
	 or will I close the door tonight with a sorrowful sigh?"
8) Dr. MacPhail's trance (92 version) (tradional)	
	(instrumental reels)

There are no words in Gaelic or English with the album. Most of the words
(with translations) are on other Capercaillie albums, or in traditional 
songbooks

An absolutely excellent album - buy it! In fact, buy lots and give the
extras to your friends for Christmas. Even if they aren't Scottish or
speak Gaelic, this is a wonderful album which can be appreciated by anyone.
I am usually disappointed by live albums, but Capercaillie and Runrig are
an exception. They come over better in concert than the studio in my
opinion.


Capercaillie - The blood is strong
Originally released in 1987, now on CD for the first time.
Went platinum in Scotland.
Music from the Grampian television series "The Blood is Strong" about the Gaelic
Scots and their dispersal across the globe

  "From the lone shieling of the misery island
   mountains divide us, and the waste of seas -
   yet still the blood is strong, the heart is Highland
   and we in dreams behold the Hebrides"

Track listing:
  Aignish
  The Hebrides
  Cumha do dh'Uilleam siosal (trad)
  Iona theme
  Oh mo dhuthaich (trad)
  Calum's Road
  Callanish, Picts, Celts
  Fear a' bh�ta (trad)
  Alasdair Mhic Colla (trad)
  Dean cadalach samhach 
  Lordship of the Isles
  Grandfather Mountain
  Arrival reprise
  An Ataireachd Ard (tradional - Canadian)
  Colum cille
  'S fhada leam an oidhiche Ghemhraidh
  Downtown Toronto
  Maidhdean an na h-Airidh (trad)

Featuring harp by Rhona MacKay

A great selection of old and new traditional songs. The tracks are short, and
the album is only 36 minutes. Well worth getting though if you've got any
money left after getting "Get out". Most of the music is quite peaceful, 
melodic and atmospheric, but there are also some very lively tracks

Both the above are on the Survival/BMG label. Contact details follow:

Capercaillie Fan club/info:
  Paula Moore, PO Box 5011, London W12 7ZD

Management:
  Chapmanagement, 49 Derby Street, Glasgow, Scotland, G3 7TU
  Fax: 041 337 1577

Records:
Survival Records, P.O. Box 888, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 2YQ
(about 20 mins drive from me!)

Additional Capercaillie info:
	Winners of the Pan Celtic festival 1985

	"Capercaillie's music is not rock, not folk, not mainstream and
	 certainly not new age. Rhythmically it is an energetic combination
	 of fling and funk, while melodically it is laced with the beautiful,
	 dappled resonances of the North. Like the black woodland grouse with
	 which their share their name, it is music of an extremely rare and
	 elegant breed. After years of living and honing their craft,
	 Capercaillie have harnessed the riches of their heritage to a 
	 modern aesthetic with a fine and special grace"
	 
	 David Sinclair, London, August 1992.

	"the gloriously rich singing of Karen Matheson lifts this band
	above practically any other from Scotland"	Daily Telegraph
	
	"Karen Matheson turns everything she touches to musical gold"
			- The Scotsman

	"in Karen Matheson they boast one of the Celtic world's finest
	 singers"  South Wales Echo
903.8Capercaillie tour info - UK & IrelandSYSTEM::COCKBURNCraig CockburnMon Nov 30 1992 07:5670
Capercaillie news and touring info

News:
  The release of "Waiting for the wheel to turn" has been moved to the new year.
 
  Capercaillie have been asked to write the theme music for the new Gaelic
  Soap "Machair", due for broadcast from Jan 93.

Touring info: 

4-Dec The Arts Centre, Belfast
	Tel:  0232 324936	Price #5 

5-Dec The River Bank Theatre, Dublin
	Tel: Box Office	 (late show - doors open 11pm)  #6.50

7-Dec Newcastle's Riverside Club
	Tel: Box Office 091 261 4386	
	Price: #4

8-Dec Leeds Irish Centre
	Tel: box office 0532 480887
	Price #5/#6

9-Dec Manchester University
	Tel Box Office 061 275 2930

10-Dec Birmingham Hibernian Centre
	Tel: Box office 021 472 0136
	Price #7

11-Dec The Mean fiddler, London
	tel: box office 081 963 0940
	Price #6
	- I won't be there, as I'm in Inverness then. If anyone is 
	 interested in handing out Gaelic leaflets, could they contact
	 me please

12-Dec Edinburgh - Open Air Show - Check local press

14 Dec East Kilbride  John Wright Centre
	Tel: TOCTA outlets 031 557 6969	
	price #8 and concessions

15 Dec Cernegie Hall, Dunfermline
	Tel: box office 0383 720108
	Price #9

16 Dec Aberdeen Music Hall
	Tel: box office 0224 641122 
	price #9

17 Dec Perth City Hall
	Tel: Goldrush 0738 29730, Concorde 0738 21818  
	price #8

18 Dec Glasgow Barrowlands
	Tel: Virgin, Union St 041 226 4679
	price #8.50

19 Dec Alness Averon Leisure Centre
	Tel: Box office 0349 882287

20 Dec Fort William - check local press

21 Dec Wick assembly rooms
	Tel: Wick music shop 0955 2598
	price #7.50

No other touring info available at the moment.
903.9RIOT01::SUMMERFIELDSkin up, vote Labour !Tue Sep 14 1993 14:244
If any out there is interested, Capercaillie have a new album out. Entitled 
"Secret People", it carries on in a similar vein to "Delerium".

Balders