Reviews
Artist:Claudia Schwab Album: Went To Walk
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 10
Website: https://www.claudiaschwab.com/
As someone who lives for innovative music, it was a privilege to be able to write a few words about this extraordinarily inventive and beautiful album from Austrian fiddle player, singer, yodler and composer Claudia Schwab. The album is "Went To Walk", released in July, and if you also love innovative music, you should definitely put this on your listen list.
Schwab is based in Sligo, and fuses her classical training with traditional Irish sounds - including a spoken word piece from an old Irish gentleman (born in 1918?) - that give this album a unique quality. It was quite a challenge to single out individual songs, but the title track is a sonic triumph - all 7 minutes 26 seconds of it, with Schwab's vocal weaving between a range of natural sounds and instruments. It isn't the longest song on the album, which surely must be categorised as 'progressive folk music', but there is a masterful blend here that demands attention.
I've never been a big fan of yodelling, largely because of 1960s UK TV personalities trying and failing in the art, but Schwab uses the yodel as just another instrument in the mix, and it creates a compelling and original sound, never better exemplified than in "Jodiphase". None of these songs takes a predictable direction, and each has several sections. These would be considered pieces in their own right, but therein lies the secret to this album: it's all about the blend.
"Under Water" starts with a menacing single note with which the fiddle then wraps itself around with a Moorish/Eastern vibe before layers of vocal and accordion drift effortlessly into the mix. It is absolutely gorgeous and is my personal pick from an album of standout tracks. The album was put together largely during the lockdown periods of the Coronavirus pandemic, with later contributions from local characters talking in "Stop The Clocks" about the enforced hiatus from the pub craich, and that natural state of community that so characterises much of Irish society. The conversation considers loneliness, the loss of community, and a return to it.
Guest musicians include Jos Kelly on keys and Matija Solce on Accordion, both on the title track , and Michael McGoldrick on both flute and whisltle on "Jodiphase".
The full track listing for "Went To Walk" is as follows:
1. What If
2. Shravanabelagola
3. Went To Walk
4. Jodiphase
5. Under Water
6. Stray Birds
7. Stop The Clocks
8. Ois Z'V?
9. Ek Ong Kar
10. How Long
In a world where bland seems to dominate commercial music, it is indeed refreshing to find an independent artist pushing and stretching boundaries to their limits. Yet this album never feels forced or contrived. After just one listen I was bowled over by its originality, its vocal and instrumental blending, and its structure. "Went To Walk" bears many repeat listens, and I hope this will encourage you to listen, and then be just as captivated. This is a really classy and important work
John Reed
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Went To Walk
Fatea Showcase Sessions
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Pirate is the current session and features 16 fantastic artists check out the website to find out more about them and download your copy
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