THE POGUES - the cases for and against

[S-Mac]

need more celtic music tho. anyone has any recommendations?

Anything by The Bothy Band.

Séamus Begley & Jim Murray - 'Ragairne' (dont personally like the songs on this, but the sets of slides/polkas are some of the most joyful music ever)

Lunasa's self-titled first album.

Dervish's 'Spirit' and 'Live in Palma'.

 

[straight]

need more celtic music tho. anyone has any recommendations?

the pogues are a rare bunch, most other contemporary irish music is either sickly sweet, loaded with murderously sectarian (though i suppose that would interest you zhao from a political social point of view) or goes down a more cringe worthy bluesy celtic rock route. The only ones that stand out in my mind are The Men they Couldnt hang.

On a more traditional note I have in the past enjoyed a spot of the Dubliners (who've worked with the pogues, their singer ronny drew is hilarious) and luke kelly who also falls into that romantic derelict mould. if you want republican 'up the ra' idiocy go for the Wolfe Tones. Thats what they used to sell on the same bootleg tape stalls that us along with stolen fags and hellraiser hardcore tapes back inna day to fund 'the cause' back on the mean streets of derry,

 

[mos dan]

their lyrics really are superb, wonderfully poetic. and having caught them live at the fleadh once (it was a freebie, i don't normally shell out for festivals that feature the barenaked ladies near the top of the bill) - i was fucking impressed actually. a massive tent full of people really REALLY dancing.

 

[straight]

their lyrics really are superb, wonderfully poetic. and having caught them live at the fleadh once (it was a freebie, i don't normally shell out for festivals that feature the barenaked ladies near the top of the bill) - i was fucking impressed actually. a massive tent full of people really REALLY dancing.

im so glad i saw the popes in a smaller venue, they had spider stacey with them anyway and played most of the pogues back catalogue, ignoring the newer stuff. I cant describe the euphoria after standing round for an hour with all sorts of rumours flyin about to have them take the stage and blast out 'if i should fall from grace of god'

 

[Slothrop]

Anything by The Bothy Band.

Wow, I never thought I'd see them mentioned on Dissensus!

Anything by Planxty or Boys of the Lough is worth checking in a similar vein.

In terms of stuff currently coming through, though, I'm finding more English traditional that I like. Morris tunes = original wonky crew.

 

[stelfox]

i don't normally shell out for festivals that feature the barenaked ladies near the top of the bill

if barenaked ladies played their version of lovers in a dangerous time, i'd have happily shelled out for it. nowt wrong with that song at alll, though i doubt i'll ever listen to it again by choice

 

[stelfox]

i saw the pogues live on their penultimate gig before shane left/was kicked out. he was a total shambles and not in a good way, just utterly, utterly fucked up, stumbling just to the side of the stage to vomit, not doing anything that could be described as singing at all, not just forgetting words but absolutely unable to pronounce anything,. it was pretty grim, really. can't really see the point in going to see him now at all, but he's still a hell of a talented guy who has written some of my favourite songs of all time.

 

[zhao]

more looking for traditional stuff, maybe with bagpipes and overtones? maybe traditional dances with repeating melodies? like, really far out, psychedelic, mystical vibes would be great.

I'm glad no one said afro-celt soundsystem.

 

[Mr. Tea]

more looking for traditional stuff, maybe with bagpipes and overtones? maybe traditional dances with repeating melodies? like, really far out, psychedelic, mystical vibes would be great.

I'm glad no one said afro-celt soundsystem.

Wicker Man soundtrack!

OK, couple of the tracks are a bit twee, but some of it's great. The song playing at the very start as Sgt. Howie flies in to the island is proper shivers-up-the-spine stuff.

 

[mistersloane]

more looking for traditional stuff, maybe with bagpipes and overtones? maybe traditional dances with repeating melodies? like, really far out, psychedelic, mystical vibes would be great.

I'm glad no one said afro-celt soundsystem.

Clancy Brothers?


You gotta be careful what context you play that one in though.

 

[Melmoth]

Planxty!!

This is great especially Christy at the end on the bodhran when the audience start yelling

 

[S-Mac]

more looking for traditional stuff, maybe with bagpipes and overtones? maybe traditional dances with repeating melodies? like, really far out, psychedelic, mystical vibes would be great.

I'm glad no one said afro-celt soundsystem.

Hmmm, definately ceck out some uileann pipe stuff; the most amazing instrument IMHO
and one of the most physically difficult to play, even the best players are always locked in a continuous struggle with them lending to a suitably Catholic pleasure/pain effect.

Old school legend Seamus Ennis:
Bad boy John mcSherry with a slow air:
banging out a 4-part reel, pub sesh style:
And this a wicked kitchen-sink set from some (relative) youngers :

 

[datura]

The Clancy Brothers are a good reference point, I can check with my dad for any others.

Love the Pogues, the scene in the Wire with the wake in the bar as they play 'The Body of an American' was fantastic.

 

[Transpontine]

I think what made the Pogues a great band was not just Shane but the number of really good lyricists and musicians involved. Thousands are sailing, which Zhao quoted, was written by Philip Chevron who was in Dublin punk band The Radiators from Space. The Fairytale of New York was co-written by Jem Finer. Jem is now a sound artist who I have met a few times and is a really nice bloke.

 

[zhao]

Hmmm, definately ceck out some uileann pipe stuff; the most amazing instrument IMHO
and one of the most physically difficult to play, even the best players are always locked in a continuous struggle with them lending to a suitably Catholic pleasure/pain effect.

Old school legend Seamus Ennis:
Bad boy John mcSherry with a slow air:

OH. MY. GOD. this shit is fucking amazing!!!!! dead in my tracks, instant zone-out, deeply transporting beautiful stuff... i think from the first 10 seconds of that first vid I'm completely hooked... thank you!

 

[zhao]

Clancy Brothers?


You gotta be careful what context you play that one in though.

this is ripe for some ableton mashing me thinks!!! around 140 BPM and keeps the groove pretty even. surprised i have't heard any Celtic samples in Dubstep actually :slanted:

Planxty!!

This is great especially Christy at the end on the bodhran when the audience start yelling

ahhh this is so nice... the 1970s. what a great time it was... i remember those days, walking around in Tianenmen square as a toddler, dropping pants, and taking a literal piss in front of the big Mao portrait. one of the parents' favorite stories... don't you just love non sequitur

 

[CHAOTROPIC]

Hmmm, definately ceck out some uileann pipe stuff; the most amazing instrument IMHO
and one of the most physically difficult to play, even the best players are always locked in a continuous struggle with them lending to a suitably Catholic pleasure/pain effect.

Old school legend Seamus Ennis:
Bad boy John mcSherry with a slow air:

Good god ... haven't had shivers down my spine like that since I saw throat singers in Mongolia. That John mcSherry vid knocked my socks off, all those microtonal pitch bends. Timestopping.

I'd love to learn to play something like that, although it looks as hard as wrestling a wriggling cat & trying to grapple a tune out of its yowls.

 

[zhao]

Good god ... haven't had shivers down my spine like that since I saw throat singers in Mongolia. That John mcSherry vid knocked my socks off, all those microtonal pitch bends. Timestopping.

I'd love to learn to play something like that, although it looks as hard as wrestling a wriggling cat & trying to grapple a tune out of its yowls.

makes sense someone named CHAOTROPIC has the same reaction as me

might be very hard to master but at least your ganja addled lungs don't have to generate the wind force to power those vibrations i want one too.

was talking to someone from Malta last night, and he was telling me that all over the mediterranean and even in north africa bagpipes can be found in traditional ensembles, but that the arabic version is tuned differently (what we'd call minor key) compared to the Celtic. funny i've never encountered bagpipes in music from these places...

 

[stelfox]

surprised i have't heard any Celtic samples in Dubstep actually

please, zhao, don't do this. i have a strong feeling that this has the potential to be one of the worst combinations of music of all time.

 

[zhao]

please, zhao, don't do this. i have a strong feeling that this has the potential to be one of the worst combinations of music of all time.

ah but potentials remain potentials until iman acts pon dem