New Songs In Irish – Amhráin Nua i nGaeilge | Albums | Official Website and Blog of Enda Reilly

ENDA REILLY

Amhráin Nua i nGaeilge – New Songs in Irish

EndaDeRoad Records EDRD 004, 14 Tracks, 41 minute

www.endareilly.com

When I opened Enda Reilly’s new CD, for a moment or two I was magically transported back to my Pentangle days of the sixties (that’s the nineteen sixties, by the way – just in case any of my friends cheekily check which century I mean, the dossers). It’s the voice and the arrangement and the instruments, you see. So, that Pentangle observation is by way of giving a compliment, because as the tracks kept coming up, I saw that here’s a talent, no doubt about it. That it is also so evocative and reminiscent is for this listener a huge extra.

Also, while I’m no luddite and shun face-booking, tweeting and blogging, I do appreciate the efforts performers make on line to provide us with interesting information on who, what, were, etc., in their web site presentations. Enda is quite avant-garde in all this, and in so far as that expression relates to being musically innovative and progressive, that, too, is our Enda. Very contemporary, very modern and very easy on the ear, musically, of course, but also in the moods and thoughts that come through in a dozen and more songs that appeal on many levels.

Enda writes songs in Irish and English, and he and his co-writer, Christine Deady, were the winners of the IMRO Christie Hennessy Song Competition in 2012 with their song, Follow the Water. He’s no stranger to TV and radio and plays with The Lazy Band and The Gospel Project and he’s a member of the Urchin Collective.

His web site is a gem of high production values and worth viewing for that alone. It is so chock-full of inviting things to click on (I’m such a techie, ain’t I?) one is helplessly drawn to listen and to even see the songs being performed by Enda.

Of course, because the songs on Amhráin Nua i nGaeilge – New Songs in Irish are as it says on the tin, in Irish, I wish I were writing this as Gaeilge, just to share my pleasure at the songwriter’s enjoyment in passing on creative thoughts and sounds in songs like Bíodh Áilleacht Ann / Let there be Beauty, Mol an Aimsir (agus Tiocfaidh Sí) / Praise the weather, and Ceol As An Dorchadas, where Enda uses Irish and English words about receiving music out of the darkness and imíonn stró is strús – stress and strain are gone! It’s like that with this CD, too.

Aidan O’Hara

Skirting on the margins of the Dublin music scene is no bad place to be, particularly if you use that time to tease out the finer points of your musical identity. Enda Reilly has previously collaborated with poet Stephen James Smith. Now, with his second solo collection, he’s unveiling a raft of his own compositions, mostly, as the title suggests, in Irish. Reilly’s style is distinctly middle of the road, but his wide listening interests seep through in intriguing ways. The edgy strings and freewheeling arcs of the instrumental Jive Joni, complete with Keith Jarrett-like over-hums, and the scat vocals on Bealtaine hint at an ear keenly tuned to jazz inflections. Guest vocals fromAoife Scott on Do Mhuirnín Ó broaden the light spectrum further. The only question is why Reilly chose such a pedantic title; the message is so much more than the medium here. endareilly.com

Singer-songwriter Enda Reilly is an artist that has always walked a singular path of expression. Pouring spirit and emotion into music and songs or collaborations with other artist to combine music and spoken enda-reilly-New-Songs-In-Irish-word, he has long-celebrated Irish tradition, music and verse. Now there’s a new album to savour, Enda, who writes in both Irish and English, has released ‘Amhráin Nua i nGaeilge’ or for those of us without the gift of Gaeilge,’New Songs In Irish’.All the songs on this album are in the Irish language, which even if you fail to understand the meaning, detracts not one jot from the enjoyment. Indeed, there’s a haunting magic at work throughout that engages at an ancient, primal level. There’s a unique soundscape, where not understanding the content only increases the depth of enjoyment. The lilting ‘An Fáinleog’ slides softly into ‘Mol an Aimsir’, sparkling melodies carry ‘An Nasc Nua’ and ‘Cur an Long ag Seol’, while ‘Do Mhuirnín Ó’ with Aoife Scott holds simple splendour. The album delivers a wide breadth of expression – the infectious hook of ‘Bealtaine’, the longing ‘Dónal Ná Fág 2013’ and the soft understanding of ‘Éireoidh Grian’.This collection is primarily written by Enda with the help of words to ‘Éireoidh Grian’ from Gabriel Rosenstock, ‘Ag Ól Ag Ól Ag An Garbhóg’ co-written with Pearse McGloughlin and ‘Do Mhuirnín Ó’ written with Aisling Kavanagh. Alongside Enda Reilly (vocals, acoustic guitar, lap steel, harmonica, fiddle, bass) on selected tracks are Gary Raymond (percussion) Eimear Lynch (fiddle) Cathy McEvoy (fiddle) Christophe Capewell (fiddles, accordion) Tim Hart (whistles) Aoiffe Scott (vocals) Pearse McGloughlin (vocals, guitar) and Mossy Nolan (mandolin).Whether or not you possess the Gaeilge, ‘Amhráin Nua i nGaeilge’ will tempt you to engage with this most lyrical and expressive language, which has the oldest vernacular literature in Western Europe. The album is available through Enda’s website: www.endareilly.com where you will also find the lyrics in both Irish and English.Reviewer: Tim Carroll

Is amhránaí na cosmhuintire é Enda Reilly. Guth óg spleodrach a bhfuil an-ghlaoch air fé láthair. Chuala den gcéad uair é cúpla bliain ó shin nuair a cuireadh ‘Mol an Aimsir’ chun iomaíochta i gcomórtas mionteangacha. Fiú ansin, ba léir go raibh ceoltóir suaithinseach inár measc ar bhonn a chumais amháin, ba chuma cé acu teanga ina raibh sé ag saothrú.Is mó bóthar siúlta aige ó shin idir fhéilte, shaothair i mBéarla, agus chomhoibriú le lucht litríochta na príomhchathrach. Eisíodh ceirnín leis i dteannta Stephen James Smith ó chianaibh ar an lipéad céanna EndaDeRoad Records. Tá fuílleach físeán dá chur i láthair ar líne, ceann fé stiúir ag draoi na físe Myles O’ Reilly san áireamh.

Is bailiúchán é seo ar na hamhráin Ghaeilge atá cumtha aige thar na blianta seachas albam le coincheap coibhneasta amháin. Is aistear fós é éisteacht ó thús go deireadh. Fán ina nglaoitear ar fharraige, ar an mbith, ar chrainn, ar éanlaith, ar na dúile, is orainn féin. Dúirt an fear féin in agallamh go dtagann nithe fé leith chun cinn nach mbíonn súil leo nuair a shaothraíonn sé sa Ghaeilge. Is féidir an gaol fileata idir ceárta na teanga féin is sméaróidí cruthaitheacha an chumadóra a bhraistint go flúirseach sa saothar..

Is togra na beatha é gach píosa ealaíne. Broinn a bhfanaimid ann seal nó go dtagann fás orainn is claochlú ar ár radharc ar an ngnáthshaol. Úrú sealadach ar mhothúcháin ar dhóigh linn iad a bheith gan luach. Fáiltíonn an draoi Bleá Cliathach romhainn ina bhlas féin chun an nasc nua a dhearbhú is a cheilliúradh fairis, gan a thuilleadh righnis.

In aois seo an IDM (intelligent dance music) á dhíriú ar an inchinn is ar cheimiceáin san fhuil, nó amhráin ‘commercial’ dár mbodhrú i ngach ollmhargadh mar fhógraíocht mhiangasach ar mhaithe leis an tomhaltachas, is faoiseamh neamhchoitianta é guth eolaí óg ag canadh ar nithe níos doimhne, gan cur i gcéill, gan sotal, gan de bhrabús á lorg ach a bhfuil tuillte ag blianta fada ag casadh ar an tsráid. Agus ní aon dóithín é sin.

Tá ráite liom le déanaí ag ceann des na ceoltóirí ‘folk’ is mó dá dtáinig as Cathair Chorcaí sna seachtóidí gurb é an t-aon ghuí amháin aige ar mo shonsa nach ceoltóir a bheidh i sliocht shleacht shliocht mo shleachta de bharr an crá croí is díoscán fiacal a bhaineann leis an tionscal! Canathaobh seo? Cé atá ag cur bac ar ár n-ealaíntóirí dúchasacha?Is é teist na healaíne, dar liom, an mhéid a bhaineann sé le dearcadh comónta na ndaoine. D’fhéadfadh ‘Do Mhuirnín Ó’ deora a bhaint asat is tú ag tiomáint fan cósta braonach na gcuimhní, guth na mná binne Aoife Scott, do do stiúradh go brónach fé dhraíocht. Seans go n-aithneofá macallaí an fonn traidisiúnta á shealbhú i ngael-bhlues ‘Pócaí Stróice’ is má chuireann tú ‘Bealtaine’ ar siúl i bhfochair páistí ní mór laincisí a chur orthu chun staonadh den ngeáitsíocht ‘s den spraoi!

Tá a sheacht mbliana d’oiliúint déanta ag an mac (tíre) seo. Ní printíseach anois é. Faighimid teacht isteach ar na taithí sin sna scéalta. Sa traic ‘Ag Ól ag Ól ar an nGarbhóg’, mar shampla, (a scríobhadh le Pierce McGloughlin, leis) a ndúisítear an cumha ionainn. Is é an tseoid liriceach seo is mó a théann i bhfeidhm orm gan dabht ná dearmad. Tarraingíodh ar thobar an tseanchais, ar Ailill is ar Mheadhbh na Tána, ach tá aibíocht na péine pearsanta laistiar de na haircitíopaí. Ní fheadar cad chuige é, ach tá rud éigin an-chorraitheach ag baint le samhail na habhann. Abhainn Ghaelach, abhainn a bhfuil spiorad inti de réir a hainme, fórsa ag gluaiseacht de shíor thar na cianta. Ag breith léi an bhuairt…

Tá an stíl ceoil s’aige mar chraobh d’éabhlóid cheol ‘folk’ idirnáisiúnta na linne. Gairdín saibhir ar a bhithéagsúlacht de thorthaí. Meascán desna gormacha, ceol tíre, pop, indy, easy-listening agus dúchas. Cumadóir nua-aoise le tionlacan cuí. Is mó is cosúil le cruit é an giotár is é á chasadh de réir nós an lae. An DAGDAD dordánach ag tonnaíl go domhain, is an t-aer á chlingeadh ag téada na séise.

Is fíorard caighdeán na gceoltóirí, leis. Na veidhlíní ag faoileáil siar agus aniar. Ar uairibh, ag breith ar an uain a mian féin a cheol, uaireanta eile, níos cúthaile ar gcúl mar ealta ag téaltú i muinín na gaoithe. Tá an dord íseal ar nós míol mór ag shimmyáil ar ghrinneall an aigéin, an fhuaim ar fad á líonadh i línte ‘groovy’ a bhaclainne. Fleá cheart is ea é! Nuair is call tagann drumaí, guthanna eile, agus uirlisí traidisiúnta de spreang. Fiú tagann an file mór Gabriel Rosenstock ar cuairt lena a bhriathra fealsúnachta le sonrú go paiteanta san urnaí páganta ‘Éireoidh Grian’.Is ait liom nár cumadh na hamhráin is ‘albam’ ar intinn. Leagadh amach chomh nótáilte is tuisceanach sin gan cur isteach ar trá is tuile na gluaiseachta. Beidh ionadh ort a mhéid d’fholús a bheidh fágtha nuair a chríochnaíonn sé. Tá sé chomh maith agat é a chur ar ‘repeat’ roimh ré, geallaim!

Cheannaíos an ceirnín tar éis bualadh le hEnda sa phríomhchathair. Fear uasal go dearbh. Tugann sé dóchas domhsa gur féidir teacht ar fhéirín mar seo ar an tsráid. Tá sé ag dul i ndéine is i ndéine áit a bhaint amach sna meáin do cheol croíúil neamhspleách mar seo. Caithfimid dul sa tóir ar a leithéid, agus tacaíocht ghroí a thabhairt leis.Bíodh amhráin an Raghallaigh mar chuireadh do ghach éan sa choill uaigneach! Bímis ag scol is ag éisteacht leis an mbinneas le chéile.An ceol is macánta dá bhfuil cloiste agam i 2014…

Buachaill bó is é ar aonach
Cailín óg tá sí déanach
Níl sí in ann bheith ann in am
‘s níl sé in ann fanacht
‘s Níl sí in ann bheith in am inniú

Fáinleog ard is é ag faire
Tugann sé an scéal faoi deara x2

Eitlíonn an fháinleog chuici
Is goideann sé a ciarsúir
Eitlíonn an fháinleog chuige

Is tá’s ag an mbuachaill bó
Go mbeidh a chailín óg leis inniu

Eitlíonn sé chuici
Is goideann sé a ciarsúr
‘sin eitlíonn sé chuige

Is tá’s ag an mbuachaill bó
Go mbeidh a chailín óg leis inniú

Tá “an fháinleog” baininscneach. Ba chóir go mbeadh na “sé” go léir mar sí. Agus Ba chóir go mbeadh an tainm “An Fháinleog”, ach táim chun é a fhágáil mar atá sé.

The Swallow

A farm boy is at the fair

A young girl should meet him there (Oh)

But She can’t get there on time

And he can’t wait

She can’t get there on time today

A swallow high, looking on

Seems to know what’s going on

A swallow high, looking on

Seems to know what’s going on (Oh)

The swallow flies to her

Takes her white napkin

The swallow flies to him

And now the farmboy knows

That his love will be with him today

Mol an aimsir is tiocfaidh sí
Fág sa bhaile an scáth báistí
Mol an aimsir is tiocfaidh sí
Fág sa bhaile an scáth báistí
Bí ag damhsa bí ag spraoi
Mol an aimsir is tiocfaidh sí

Má bhíonn tú brónach ó mhaidin go hoíche,
Is ceapann tú go mbeidh pus ort choíche,
Ná bí ag fanacht lá i ndiaidh lae,
bí réidh, bí réidh

Mol an aimsir is tiocfaidh sí
Fág sa bhaile an scáth báistí
Mol an aimsir is tiocfaidh sí
Fág sa bhaile an scáth báistí

Bí ag damhsa bí ag spraoi
Mol an aimsir is tiocfaidh sí
Seo chugainn an Ghrian
Seo chugainn an Ghrian
Seo chugainn an Ghrian
Seo chugainn an Ghrian

An gceapann tú go bhfuilim as mo mheabhair?
Bhfuil mé ceart go leor, bhfuil mé ag iarraidh cabhair?

Ó nílim ag fanacht lá i ndiaidh lae
Táim réidh Táim réidh
Seo chugainn an ghrian
Seo chugainn an ghrian