Fan-of-Martin-Furey

I'd like to meet:

Martin Furey's Music Career:

Moving to Edinburgh in the late '80's, Furey started his first band, "Sam Harlet", with guitarist Robin Hurt http://www.myspace.com/robinhurt ... Al Denholm(of Hobotalk) and Greg Stewart http://www.guillemots.com

The band was hugely innovative and recognized as such by the vibrant Edinburgh scene of the time. Returning to Ireland in 1992, the band changed its name to Bohinta with Furey's sister, Aine joining the line-up. Bohinta's band members were the same with the exception of, Roy Marchbank http://www.myspace.com/roymarchbank who replaced Robin and Dave McLeod who replaced Al Denholm.

Mixing their extensive knowledge of traditional with a deep interest in contemporary sounds, Bohinta received glowing reviews for the haunting collection of songs on their debut album, "Sessions" in 1996. Reviews of "Sessions" appeared Mojo and Q Magazine, who said ...."Martin is a songwriter of some might…and in 1999 an eight week tour of Australia was awesome and many crazy people met their musical fate! Dogs barked, cats meowed and cows were milked furiously".

In 2002, Bohinta released their second album, "Belladonna", featuring another stunning array of songs and receiving the "same enthusiastic reviews as "Sessions" Bohinta made appearances showcasing songs from "Belladonna", at The Fleadh in London, Glastonbury, and Dranouter Festival in Belgium, the big green gathering(fave).

"Belladonna" was recorded at Realworld Studios in Bath, the home of Peter Gabriel. The Album was produced by Stuart Bruce (Bob Marley, Nik Kershaw, website) http://www.flammusic.com/pages/profil_gb.php?pro_id=5

Supporting Finbar Furey on his 2002 tour, Bohinta introduced Belladonna to legions of new fans as well as performing with the legendary folk singer on stage.

Although the making of the album proved a huge learning curve, it resulted in a definitive progressive album, "Belladonna". Martin studied Stewart Bruce's engineering practices, with a view to engineering a solo album of his own in 2002. This album was to be Martins "Monkey's Wedding".

From 2001 to 2005 Martin also collaborated with the group "Mouth Music" and is featured on three of their albums.

In February of 2003, the following year saw the release of Martin Furey's debut solo album, "Howl". Recorded at the Scottish studio of Mouth Music's, Martin Swan, "Howl" merges the music of traditional music with ethnic and tribal rhythms to create the laidback ambience of stunning tracks like "Never Weep", "Strange Bird" and "Falling". The album features 11 new self-penned songs and "MUSIC SCOTLAND" saw Martin ..."as a singer with the technique and the nerve to be right out in front".

"Howl", which as described by Mojo Magazine... "Martin Furey writes oddly haunting songs, some he takes a further step into the ethereal. Its not easy - the songs don't leap up and bite you - but there's something about his anguished voice, the percussive edge and spookily sparse arrangements that gets under your skin".

Martin was working in Ireland, until recently. Visit Martin's MySpace site http://www.myspace.com/martinfurey ... the music on that page is from a live gig in Dublin. Band MEMBERS ARE AS FOLLOWS; Robin Hurt (Guitars/Mandolin) Garry Low (Percussion), Martin Swan (Fiddle), Mick Flynn (Accordion), Tommy Keane (uilleann pipes/low whistles), guest Vocals by Aine Furey and Martin (Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Low whistle (Goldie), Uillean Pipes).

In late 2007, Martin was approached by the highly acclaimed musical producer David Downes, who is the musical genius behind Celtic Woman and formerly the musical director of Riverdance. David wanted to bring Martin, along with Brian Dunphy, Darren Holden and Finbarr Clancy to form a new group, "The High Kings". February of 2008 "The High Kings" released their first self-titled album and DVD. The intricate harmonies and driving rhythms to The High Kings songbook, gives them a freshness and sparkle that is infectious. Since the debut of the Album, The High Kings have been on a whirlwind promotion tour in the United States, as well as the honour of being invited to front for the "Celtic Women" for several weeks of their tour. Currently "The High Kings" are in Ireland preparing for their grand tour there this summer, to be followed by a return to the United States for a fall tour.

Eddie & Finbar Furey Playing With Their Father.

The Fureys professional musical career began in the mid-sixties as the duo of "Eddie & Finbar Furey", the eldest of Ted and Nora Furey's four sons. Ted Furey, a fiddler and singer, was a very well known figure on the folk, and their mother Nora, was an accomplished a singer, accordion and banjo player.

If you would like a banner link for "Official Martin Furey Fans" for your profile, just copy the banner code below in the scroll box and paste it in any module of your choice under "Edit Profile"

Music:

"Martin's Involvement with Different Bands Through the Years"

Martin With "Bohinta"
Albums Recorded

Sessions – 1996

Track Listings
1. Home
2. Bonnie Winds
3. Hand In Hand
4. Heaven
5. Gypsy
6. Fortsong
7. Good Years
8. Broken One
9. Lament
10. 13 Wishes
11. Halflight

'The Sessions', a collection of recordings spanning some seven years, tracking the development of the band from 1990 to the present, through six recording studios, and with a total of sixteen guest musos. And it's a great album, just great.

The tracks don't run in chronological order, they have been sensibly structured around their content giving the whole a well-balanced cohesion. All the songs were written by Martin, although three were written in collaboration with others, and show both originality and maturity. Influences can be identified, but they are only influences, the songs are genuinely individualistic, as are the arrangements with 'Heaven' and 'Fortsong' being particularly impressive. The singing is also excellent, with both Martin and Aine have terrifically expressive voices which put me in mind of Paul Brady and Linda Thompson respectively. Alright, a bit fanciful perhaps, but they both sing with power and accomplishment beyond their years. Aine puts in a remarkable performance on 'Hand in Hand' and Martin is superb on the opening song 'Home' which also has some very fine piping. The final track 'Halflight' also features the pipes in another interesting arrangement, with Martin and Aine singing together and complementing each other perfectly. A fine track to finish a fine album.

Belladonna - 2002
Track Listings
1 Belladonna
2 Feeling
3 Colour's Bride
4 What Makes You Dream
5 Wedding Song
6 Paint
7 Wonder
8 Beauty
9 Wanting Too Much
10 Race
11 Spirit Breathe
12 Hand in Hand

A Quote By Martin Furey - "A Modern Celtic Identity"

We were born among glaciers looking for sun.

We were born before Christ, we have traveled the world, proud and have decorated it in Education, Music and Art. We were subjects of Brehon Law and conversant in our own animalism.

We were born in the dark ages and lived with the wilderness, which is familiar still.

We were Kings and Queens, their courts, their counsel and their quarry.

Later we wore a semblance of modern tartans and dress but we didn’t hide, we merely changed our appearance in an accepted fashion.

History tells terrible tales but only because it is recorded most often, from a military point of view, Great battles, over millennia, recorded as emblems, distinguishing the beginning of one great dynasty from the next.

We were ourselves, as we are today.

Our music does not only exist to seek to evoke the past. We are the past and present, we are therefore, our own tradition, the tradition of Celtic music, as influenced by all modern interpretations of music and by all the tools at our disposal.

Traditional Celtic music because, now we need to look at our identity and say, yes, if we had been then, we would have lived among our clan and we would have known our own ways as we know them now, by instinct. We hear ourselves in echoes of a past and in the true ghosts, haunting our music, smiling with joy that we still love to play, even though skyscrapers surround us. Most of our leaders will be considered insane by history, so nothing has changed, this is just one example of how we sound now!

Martin Furey,from the famous Irish family of traditional and contemporary musicians , Martin has had his own composition ‘Lord Gresham’ inducted into the archives of traditional Irish music .Martin Furey , a critically acclaimed singer-songwriter and Uilleann piper has been working with band Bohinta and Mouth Music , bands that are landmarks in Celtic music. Martin currently works as a solo artist and with his 3 piece which is staggering in it’s virtuosity and emotionally stirring . This is the full on,celtic experience.

Movies:

Martin with "Gin Goblins"
Album Recorded
IT’S A DAMNED DAMNED DAMNED WORLD (CD, Neat Damned Noise/Satellite Records 1997, USA)

Martin With "Sister,Áine":
Albums Recorded

Sweet Summer Rain - 1999
Martin - "Whirlwind," a wonderfully upbeat song with a strong rhythm, inspiring lyrics and beautiful singing.
"Winter Winds" is sung a cappella and is the one truly memorable song on the album. Here Martin's vocals are deep and moving, unlike many of the other pieces. The sparseness evokes the driving coldness of winter.
Martin's singimg of "Winter Winds" is with such intensity, it is breathtaking.
Martin with "Father, Finbar and Sister Aine":
Albums Recorded
Chasing Moonlight: Love Songs of Ireland

Finbar Furey's - No Farewells, No Goodbyes 2007 Aine (H/vocals) (Martin) Guitar & H/vocals

Martin with "Celtic Woman", Album Vol. 2 (2000) - Various Artists

Credited Role:Guitar
Song List: Listen to Songs by Celtic Woman, Vol. 2 Our World, Vanities' Child, Valparaiso

Television:

Martin with "Mouth Music":
Mouth Music is a literal translation of the Scottish Gaelic 'puirt a beul'(a style of Gaelic vocal music intended for dancing). The band in 2005 fronted by multi-instrumentalist Martin Swan also features vocalist Kaela Rowan and piper Martin Furey.
Mouth Music burst onto the roots scene with a striking debut album in 1991, combining Swan's experimental soundscapes with the voice of Gaelic singer Talitha MacKenzie. The dramatic mélange of traditional sounds and break beats made an immediate impact with world music fans and global dance fusionists alike.
Mouth Music have recorded several CDs including in 2001 the popular Seafaring Man which featured English and Gaelic song in a contemporary instrumental setting with dance and roots influences which drew on-board vocal input from Kaela Rowan and Ishbel Macaskill and Martin Furey (Bohinta) and Martyn Bennett on shehnai.
Martin Furey (vocals, uillean pipes)
"Trippy,cool and Gaelic elements all to the fore here with rhythm and voice at the core" TIME OUT
..
Seafaring Man - 2001

Song List:
1. Seafaring Man
2. Whaling Ship
3. Milleadh Nam Braithrean
4. Manitoba
5. Month of July
6. Inveralligin
7. Thoir a Nail Ailean Thugam
8. Snowgatherer
English and Gaelic song in a contemporary instrumental setting with dance and roots influences.
Martin Swan (vocals, guitars, fiddle, bass, hammered dulcimer, flute, accordion, percussion) with Martin Furey (vocals, uillean pipes), Kaela Rowan (vocals), Martyn Bennett (shehnai), Tom Bancroft (drums), Jim Sutherland (bodhran), James MacKintosh (drums) and Ishbel MacAskill (vocals).
Produced and recorded by Martin Swan. English lyrics included.
The Scrape - 2003

Credited Role:Group Member, Flute|Horn|Pipe|Uillean Pipes
Song List:
01 Polska
02 Scalloway Lasses/Shetland #3
03 Two Birds/The Scrape
04 Trip to Ballyshannon/Exiles of Erin/Sean Sa Cheo
05 The Marquis of Huntly's Strathspey/The Ewie Wi' the Crooked
06 The Derry Hornpipe/The Maid from Castlebar/The Silver Spear
07 Bombay Blue/You Splotch-Faced Ram and Horo/My Logshed Keeps
08 Rakes of Kildare/The Witches of East Nigg/The Haunting of the Harrow
09 Iarla Air/The Road to Tipperary
The Order of Things - 2005

Song List:
1. We are Material
2. Maisies an Earth Girl
3. Quiet Land of Erin
4. Sea of Love
5. The Dae Doers
6. Northwards
7. Are You Experienced
8. Roisin Dubh
9. The Territory
Mouth Music are the original trailblazers of Celtic / World fusion. Brainchild of musical maverick and 'jazz anthropologist' Martin Swan, Mouth Music has always carved out its own niche somewhere between folk and world, celtic and new age, acoustic and electronic.
As a live band they have toured extensively in Europe and North America, with festival appearances at Roskilde, Bumbershoot, the Edmonton Folk Festival, WOMAD in the UK, Canada, Australia, and Glastonbury. Their previous albums have topped the Billboard World Music Chart and the CMJ Chart in America.

The Order of Things is their most organic album to date, intimate and direct in expression, largely acoustic but with moments of high distorted drama. It features six 'new traditional' songs by Martin Swan, two traditional ballads in Irish, and an instrumental piece believed to be the earliest written example of Scottish music.
Featuring Martin Furey and Kaela Rowan (vocals).
"A big barren sound that goes against most preconceptions, yet it’s so earthy it’s impossible to resist" (Mojo)
"a stark and undeniably haunting beauty" (The Times)
"the cold rivers and stone-crusted hills of Scotland provide the backbone for the voices of Kaela Rowan and Martin Furey unfolding tales of solitude and ocean-bound lovers"(The Observer).

Books:

Martin's Solo Career:
Albums Recorded
"Monkey’s Wedding" - 2003
Song List: ( Not in Album track order nor a complete list)
Birmingham
Cherish
Flesh 'n' Bone
Information
A Better Place
Epitaph
XXX
Swing

"Howl" - 4/01/2003
Song List:
1. Never Weep
2. Strange Bird
3. House Of Love
4. Speaker Of Evil
5. Paint Girl
6. Sole Lady
7. Aula
8. Falling
9. Cool Thief
10. Howl
11. Dark Angel

Howl will slip under your skin when you're not watching and swirl infinitely in your brain in a delightful fashion... 'The Scientist' is framed with the same lovely raining piano line that graced 'Trouble' but this time rendered in a major key, thus radiating warmth, yet with a certain delicious resigned sadness to it. Building nicely, the gently swirling verse into a chorus, which floats gradually skywards, never quite taking off with the inherent melancholy, before the drums and bass really develop the backing.

The chorus really takes lift on the second refrain, the hook subtle enough to slip under your skin when you're not watching and swirl infinitely in your brain in a delightful fashion. The lyric has a hint of everyman angst "No body said it was easy / Its such a shame for us to part,", sufficiently ambiguous in meaning to appeal across a range of emotions. The closing guitar coda has just enough bite to conclude things nicely and helps the track preserve an air of frail power; Martin howling on the fadeout adds to make this a simply superb piece of music. Cut in the same vein but even more gorgeous is the closing 'Amsterdam', which is yet another entry into my list of tracks of the year.

Heroes:

"Martin of The High Kings"
Banner Links to Each of The High King Lad's Web Sites, My Space Sites, or Forums, ETc>
Click on any of the banners below to take you directly to any of The High King or the individual Lad's Sites
The High Kings: Official Web Site

The High Kings: MySpace Site

The High Kings: MySpace Fan Site

Martin Furey: MySpace Site

Darren Holden Official Web Site

Darren Holden: MySpace Site

Darren Holden: MySpace Fan Site

Brian Dunphy: Official Web Site

Brian Dunphy: MySpace Site

Brian Dunphy: MySpace Fan Site

Finbarr Clancy: MySpace Site

Finbarr Clancy: MySpace Fan Site

Go check out a new online forum just for the Fans of Darren Holden, entitled "House of Holden" ... Not only will you find up to date news about Darren, but the other three Lads of The High Kings as well!!!

As well as Darren Holden's Official Fan Group on Facebook

Video: Martin Furey - Mouthmusic, Seinn O

Celtic Myth Podshow - Click on Banner below to go to their WebSite

What is the Celtic Myth Podshow?
The Celtic Myth Podshow will tell you ancient tales and legends of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, Brittany and the Isle of Man bringing you the bravery of heroes and heroines, the magnificent pantheon of gods and goddesses and the magic and wonder of druids, faeries and folklore. It weaves together the rich, beautiful tapestry of mythological history, battles and sagas of the Celts.
Each podcast lasts approximately 25 mins so sit down, get comfortable and join us every other week and listen to news, chat and a story from Celtic Mythology.
Come and join Gary & Ruth and their friends as they tell you the great stories from Celtic legend. The series is starting with the Book of Invasions from the Irish Mythological Cycle.
NB: This Podshow and the website are, and always will be, KID-SAFE and FREE.
Episode & News Widget

Get this widget! Visit the Widget Gallery

To Subscrine to Celtic Myths Podcasts by RSS Feed click banner below

Copyright of Banners, Photos or Videos are the sole ownership their original owner as listed below
2008 Brian Dunphy at

http://www.brian-dunphy.com/index.html

2008 Darren Holden at

http://www.darrenholden.com

2008 Finbarr Clancy at

http://www.myspace.com/finbarrclancy

2008 Finbar Furey at

http://www.finbarfurey.com/

2008 Aine Furey c/o at

http://www.finbarfurey.com/

2008 Celtic Myths Podcasts At

http://celticmythpodshow.com/

and may not be copied, reproduced or redistributed with out prior consent from The High Kings or any of it's Individual Band Members or Celtic Myths Podcasts.