MUSIC CD2 - DOWN THE IRISH GRAVEL ROAD
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 CD1 - DARK RIVER TUMBLING
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Enjoy!
WORDS AND MUSIC - A LITTLE ABOUT MY BACKGROUND
Music was always part of our lives growing up in Ireland. My early influences began with the singing of my grandmother and father.
Later, of course the folk boom which swept Ireland, revived by The Dubliners, Planxty, and far too many to mention here.
In the seventies, O’Donohoe’s bar in Dublin, was a great spot to sing and pick up new material from the countless musicians who played in the city. The Coffee Kitchen, Grapevine, and The Universal Folk Club also gave ample opportunity to loosen up the vocal chords.
DRAMA and POETRY had equally a hold on my life. From the wondrous account of W.B.Yeats,
sketching out his poetic vision of Irish Mythology, to the inner illuminations of Samuel Beckett.
All this being enough to encourage me to get my own words out which blossomed into the publication
of a book of poetry and three professional productions of my plays.
The eighties, launched my first song writing endeavours, and set me on the road performing across Europe until finally settling in Holland where I now live. In 2001 after an invitation from The Oscar Wilde school to participate in a poetry reading in The Chamber Of Commerce Dublin, which resulted in my work being published in an anthology of Irish Poets, I was pulled emotionally and creatively back to Ireland in my writing.
One of the results of this experience is my CD: “Dark River Tumbling”.
Dark River Tumbling is a wide selection of original songs. Songs which I enjoy writing and playing, written in both contemporary and traditional style, some reflecting to days language, others, reaching back into a more traditional Irish culture.
Love: FOUR GYPSIES (TRACK 1) Rebellion:DAN BREEN (TRACK 2) and drinking songs: THE DONEGAL RAMBLER (TRACK 4) have long held their place in the folk tradition of Ireland and I have touched upon these issues with pleasure weaving them into the numbers.
It has taken me quite a while to get round to making this CD, but surrounded by a fine array of established top musicians was more than an inspiration to get the songs down.
I wish you the same pleasure in listening as I have when I delve into the rich and living tradition of Ireland which is handed down to us from the bardic school and is still very much alive today. Irish music is firmly rooted in solid ground, constantly revolving, without going too far from the source from whence it came, the rambling minstrel poets of Ireland.
REVIEWS
> "Tom Acton captures in words and music an intriguing balance of self penned conte".
"From first listening to this album one should be struck by the inherent spirit of the genuine Irish ballad tradition flowing through the music and words of Dark River Tumbling. Tom Acton captures in words and music an intriguing mixture of self penned contemporary songs with strong folk traditional themes . What makes these songs work so well are the blending of honest and imaginative works from the perspective of the emigrant troubadour beautifully captured on Travellers from the North and also to the fore in the well crafted title track Dark River Tumbling. Another feature of success in this album is the feeling of rapport that the musicians have with the songwriter ,definetly a happy band sound. Other highlights from this highly recommended album are Dancing in the Summer Rain and the bright melodic catchiness of the parting track Doolin. I look forward to hearing more from this highly imaginative and promising artist , definetly a name to check out in 2005."
Colm Mitchell
> "Gorgeous after a long days work,beautifull atmosphere".
"A soothing voice brings me in a pleasant atmosphere. It's very up to date and still authentically Irish. I'ld love to have the words."
Anneke Rasink
> "Tom's voice and texts are tainted by life itself."
"This debut CD presents you with a variety of songs and styles that those who experienced the folk era will immediately reconnect with. Wit and depth follow each other throughout the lyrics, and it's Tom's voice that grows on you with its straightforward and non-conformist qualities. Delightful accompaniment enhances the warm atmosphere of Tom's first CD."
Rob Bitter
THE TRACKS:
1 DAN BREEN
2 FOUR GYPSIES
3 DARK RIVER TUMBLING
4 TRAVELLING MAN
5 DANCING IN THE SUMMER RAIN (FUIME STUDIOS)
6 TRAVELLERS FROM THE NORTH
7 REAL LOVE (FUIME STUDIOS)
8 SPELL SENDER
9 LOVE IS NO PERMANENT STATE (FUIME STUDIOS)
10 LIVING FOR THE MOMENT (FUIME STUDIOS)
11 WHO’S GONNA LOVE YOU?
12 DOOLIN
ALL SONGS: © 2004 - TOM ACTON/FULL SPIRAL CELTIC PRODUCTIONS
THE MUSICIANS:
ANNEMIEK VAN DE PADT: VOCALS
AIDAN BURKE: FIDDLE
PHILIP MASURE: GUITAR
JULES BITTER: WHISTLES / FLUTE / BODHRAN
FRENK VAN DE HOOFT: BOUZOUKI / BANJO
GUY ROELOFS: ACOUSTIC GUITAR / KEYBOARDS / BASS GUITAR / DRUMS
JASMIJN SCHOLTENS: CELLO
AD VERMEER: DOBRO AND ELECTRIC SLIDE- GUITAR
KEES SCHOONE: ACCORDION
SAMPLE LYRICS:
FOUR GYPSIES
“THE WINDY NIGHT THREW UP WILD HORSES
I SAW THEM RACING ACROSS THE MOOR
UP IN THE SKY WHITE LIGHTENING FLASHED
LIT UP THE TREES AROUND MY DOOR”
DOOLIN
“WEAVING DOWN SLOWLY COMES THE SPRING WATER
GENTLY LAPPING TOWARDS THE TIDE
AND IN THIS WAY I HAVE COME TO KNOW YOU
THERE ARE NO LAWS WHICH YOU ABIDE”
DARK RIVER TUMBLING:
“CELTIC FIRES ARE RAGING NOW
ACROSS THE YEARS TO ME SOMEHOW
FROM THE HILLS OF SWEET TYRONE
THEY CALL ME HOME, AND HOME I’M GOING
FOR THERE’S A BEATING HEART INSIDE ME
I’LL KICK UP THE DUST AND LET THE RIVER DRIVE ME ON”
TRAVELLING MAN:
“I’LL PUT ON MY HIGH HAT,
BOOTS OF SPANISH LEATHER
AND IT’S UP THE COAST ROAD DO I GO
IN THE GUSTS OF THE STORMY WEATHER”
SPELL SENDER:
“THE NIGHT TRAIN PUSHES NORTHWARDS, TOWARDS THE COLD WINTER ICE
THAT WILL MELT WITH THE SPRING, BUT MY HEART STILL PAYS THE PRICE
SINCE YOU’VE CAST OUT YOUR SPELL, REACHING ME WHERE I DWELL
I’M CAUGHT IN LOVE”
DAN BREEN
“TOGETHER WITH SEAN TREACY, THEY ROAMED THE COUNTRY WIDE
THEY USED TO LAUGH AT DANGER AND NEVER STEP ASIDE
WHENEVER THEY WERE CHALLENGED, THEY’D ANSWER WITH THEIR GUNS
AND MANY A HEROES TALE IS TOLD OF WHEN THEY WERE ON THE RUN”
DANCING IN THE SUMMER RAIN
“MOONLIT EYES, WE WENT SWIMMING IN THE DARKENED WOOD
A SPECTRE FROM THE WORLD ABOVE, SO I STEPPED INSIDE
BY YOUR STRANGE ROMANCE I WAS TAKEN
YOU SAID, PLEASE DON’T STRAY FROM THIS PART
I WANT YOU HERE AS YOU ARE, TONIGHT ”
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