Fiddler Tomas Callister, Welsh accordionist Jamie Smith, and bouzouki player Adam Rhodes, make up the Manx power-trio, Barrule. Hailing from The Isle of Man, a small island in the Irish Sea which is home to the world’s oldest parliament, rich Gaelic traditions, and old Manx songs, Barrule represents the traditions of the Isle of Man with fresh, original arrangements mixed with modern Celtic roots music. Made up of three master musicians, Barrule delves deep into Manx traditions on their new album, Manannan’s Cloak. Fiddler Thomas Callister is one of the leading lights of the young traditional Manx music scene and a virtuosic musician, Jamie Smith is an acclaimed Welsh accordionist who’s also known for his ground-breaking Welsh band Mabon, and Adam Rhodes is a hard-driving bouzouki player. Together the musicians are the perfect team producing stunning arrangements.
The album was named for the Manx Celtic sea god, Manannán mac Lir, who watched over the islands, drawing his cloak of fog and mist around them to obscure them from intruders, and the band itself is named for Manannan’s mountain summit from which he dispensed fiery judgment on the intruders that made it to shore. With such a mythic legacy, it’s only fitting that the record was recorded in the historic St. Bridget’s Chapel, in the Isle of Man’s Nunnery grounds, in December 2014.
The record opens with the rousing instrumental track, “The Wheel of Fire”. The musicianship on this track is absolutely stunning and gorgeous, and sets up the tone for the record perfectly! There are five instrumentals on the record, including the opening track, all absolutely stunning in their own way. Also beautifully done, “Kinnoull” is a softer, slower moving track, reminiscent of the beautiful Irish countryside. “Illiam Y Thalhear (William Taylor)” is even slower, with the accordion taking the spotlight. There’s a darker feel to this track, maybe just due to the lower tones, but whatever the reason, it conjures up images of a story Irish evening. “Graih Foalsey (False Love)” is a sweet little tune, with the fiddle taking the spotlight and the accordion accompanying it. There’s a touch of melancholy to the song, and if we are to judge by the title, we’d assume the track is about false love. “To Dingle With Love” picks the pace back up with a rollicking fiddle and accordion playing a fast Irish jig.
“Yn Ven-Ainshter Dewil (The Cruel Mistress)” tells the tale of a man whose female boss turns her position against him. It’s truly wonderful how the musicians can emote so much energy and emotion into a song through the instruments they play. The song is sung completely in Gaelic, and it’s extremely enjoyable to sit back in listen to the beautiful language. “Fir Hammag Yioogh (High Net Worth Individuals)” is a fresh, modern take on rich overlords. “The King of the Sea” is another gorgeous jig, and just pure magic. “Illiam Boght (Poor William)” is a sweet, softer tune, with beautiful fiddle parts.
The record closes out with another rousing jig, “The Laxey Reels”. It’s an excellent way to round out a stunningly beautiful record. The musicianship on this album is awe-inspiring, absolutely top notch. You can’t help but sway along and jig to the music. Manannan’s Cloak is pure Celtic magic! I’d recommend it to anyone looking for excellent music. Seriously! You HAVE to listen!
Originally posted here.
