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Fidler on fire in eclectic second release By Mark Vaughan-Jackson
Sea, Shore & Studio - Recordings from Atlantic Canada By Steve Winick
Gypsy - Jim Fidler - Independent By Chris Rumbolt
Fidler's latest project best album of 1995 By Mark Vaughan-Jackson
Jim Fidler "Gypsy" By John O'Regan
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...The Telegram, December 15, 2000... Fidler on fire in eclectic second release By Mark Vaughan-JacksonReview of Friendly Fire Jim Fidler has done it again. With the release of his CD Gypsy five years ago, Fidler introduced me to an almost entirely new genre of music. Then his music was drawing on musical influences from around the globe and blending them seamlessly into something new and enticing. That blending continues in Friendly Fire, but on a larger scale. The musical textures of half a dozen different cultures are all here to one degree or another. From the plaint of a Celtic whistle to the drubbing of Middle Eastern drums, the driving pulse of a reggae beat to the wail of the bagpipe. To these and other ingredients Fidler has added his own flair, blending in ethereal keyboard lines and effects, layering the percussion, and plying his voice in a variety of styles. The songs range from the heartbreaking to the whimsical. The title track, Friendly Fire, speaks to a history of Newfoundland where the victors were the authors of the history books - a tale of loss at what might have been had not certain decisions been made in 1949. Balancing the somber note of a song like that comes a tune like Number 1 (Hospitality’s Pavilion), a charming drinking ditty in praise of the best spot in which to “lubricate your throat”. This back and forth continues throughout the album, light notes to more serious ones. And throughout it all, Fidler is there performing on his usual multitude of instruments and welcoming guest musicians to add Gaelic words, Arabic chants, smooth sax lines, skirling pipes and more. This is a more eclectic recording than Gypsy, which had a tad more of the acoustic traditional sound in its pedigree. With Friendly Fire we have a broader electronic soundscape, club-style drum effects and the judicious application of distortion effects to add a few pleasantly jagged edges. This is a rich, diverse recording that deserves considerable attention. The musical styles, the moods it inspires and the sheer compelling nature of the recording can - if you let it - possess you utterly and leave you pleasantly wrung out, exhausted and exhilarated all at once. |
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...DIRTY LINEN Magazine U.S.A.,June/July 1996... Sea, Shore & Studio - Recordings from Atlantic Canada
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...The Evening Telegram (January 1996) - Gypsy... Fidler's latest project best album of 1995 By Mark Vaughan-JacksonRecorded at Fidler's own studio, the Roots Cellar, the album Gypsy features music written, arranged, performed, recorded, and produced by Jim Fidler, and a few of his friends. On the 13 tracks, Fidler performs lead and back up vocals, and plays guitar, mandolin, fiddle, keyboards, bodhran, Appalachian Indian frame drum, bass, drums, tambourine, accordion, whistle and tenor banjo with a few guest appearances by other members of the local music community. All of this introduction basically leads me up to one definitive statement about this album: Without wishing to detract from the numerous excellent albums released by Newfoundland artists this year, I have to say that Fidler's Gypsy is the best Newfoundland album of the year, bar none. In fact, it knocks most albums into a cocked hat. The music defies description except to say that the listener is beckoned to sit awhile inside Fidler’s head to bask in the glow of his soundscapes. There is no musical genre or label that fits this album. There are influences from Newfoundland, Jamaica, North Africa, Portugal and Spain, Ireland, the Gypsy tradition, folk and others. But they are not just Fidler's versions of these musical styles - he has taken them, interpreted them and then used some of their influences to flavour music that seemingly comes straight from his soul. At the risk of sounding politically incorrect, I wonder if a part of this album's power comes from the fact that Fidler is Blind. I obviously know nothing of what life is like for a blind person and can only guess that it is largely based on sound. If this is indeed true perhaps that explains the wonderful tones, depths, textures and vivid pictures that Fidler's music paint for the listener. Listening to songs like Song of the Gypsy, In through the Narrows, Bound for St. Pierre and The Blooming of the Flower, one can see the narrows, see the coast of St. Pierre looming. Fidler has created an entirely new genre of music with this album, one that to an extent simply cannot be compared to other forms. It is unique, it is wonderful; it is Fidler to the core. Mark Vaughn-Jackson
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...Broadcaster - Freelance Journalist... Folk Roots/ Rock 'N' Reel / The Living Tradition / Magazines
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Reviews of Jim Fidler's Albums |
Fidler on fire in eclectic second release By Mark Vaughan-Jackson
Sea, Shore & Studio - Recordings from Atlantic Canada By Steve Winick
Gypsy - Jim Fidler - Independent By Chris Rumbolt
Fidler's latest project best album of 1995 By Mark Vaughan-Jackson
Jim Fidler "Gypsy" By John O'Regan
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...The Telegram, December 15, 2000... Fidler on fire in eclectic second release By Mark Vaughan-JacksonReview of Friendly Fire Jim Fidler has done it again. With the release of his CD Gypsy five years ago, Fidler introduced me to an almost entirely new genre of music. Then his music was drawing on musical influences from around the globe and blending them seamlessly into something new and enticing. That blending continues in Friendly Fire, but on a larger scale. The musical textures of half a dozen different cultures are all here to one degree or another. From the plaint of a Celtic whistle to the drubbing of Middle Eastern drums, the driving pulse of a reggae beat to the wail of the bagpipe. To these and other ingredients Fidler has added his own flair, blending in ethereal keyboard lines and effects, layering the percussion, and plying his voice in a variety of styles. The songs range from the heartbreaking to the whimsical. The title track, Friendly Fire, speaks to a history of Newfoundland where the victors were the authors of the history books - a tale of loss at what might have been had not certain decisions been made in 1949. Balancing the somber note of a song like that comes a tune like Number 1 (Hospitality’s Pavilion), a charming drinking ditty in praise of the best spot in which to “lubricate your throat”. This back and forth continues throughout the album, light notes to more serious ones. And throughout it all, Fidler is there performing on his usual multitude of instruments and welcoming guest musicians to add Gaelic words, Arabic chants, smooth sax lines, skirling pipes and more. This is a more eclectic recording than Gypsy, which had a tad more of the acoustic traditional sound in its pedigree. With Friendly Fire we have a broader electronic soundscape, club-style drum effects and the judicious application of distortion effects to add a few pleasantly jagged edges. This is a rich, diverse recording that deserves considerable attention. The musical styles, the moods it inspires and the sheer compelling nature of the recording can - if you let it - possess you utterly and leave you pleasantly wrung out, exhausted and exhilarated all at once. |
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...DIRTY LINEN Magazine U.S.A.,June/July 1996... Sea, Shore & Studio - Recordings from Atlantic Canada
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...The Evening Telegram (January 1996) - Gypsy... Fidler's latest project best album of 1995 By Mark Vaughan-JacksonRecorded at Fidler's own studio, the Roots Cellar, the album Gypsy features music written, arranged, performed, recorded, and produced by Jim Fidler, and a few of his friends. On the 13 tracks, Fidler performs lead and back up vocals, and plays guitar, mandolin, fiddle, keyboards, bodhran, Appalachian Indian frame drum, bass, drums, tambourine, accordion, whistle and tenor banjo with a few guest appearances by other members of the local music community. All of this introduction basically leads me up to one definitive statement about this album: Without wishing to detract from the numerous excellent albums released by Newfoundland artists this year, I have to say that Fidler's Gypsy is the best Newfoundland album of the year, bar none. In fact, it knocks most albums into a cocked hat. The music defies description except to say that the listener is beckoned to sit awhile inside Fidler’s head to bask in the glow of his soundscapes. There is no musical genre or label that fits this album. There are influences from Newfoundland, Jamaica, North Africa, Portugal and Spain, Ireland, the Gypsy tradition, folk and others. But they are not just Fidler's versions of these musical styles - he has taken them, interpreted them and then used some of their influences to flavour music that seemingly comes straight from his soul. At the risk of sounding politically incorrect, I wonder if a part of this album's power comes from the fact that Fidler is Blind. I obviously know nothing of what life is like for a blind person and can only guess that it is largely based on sound. If this is indeed true perhaps that explains the wonderful tones, depths, textures and vivid pictures that Fidler's music paint for the listener. Listening to songs like Song of the Gypsy, In through the Narrows, Bound for St. Pierre and The Blooming of the Flower, one can see the narrows, see the coast of St. Pierre looming. Fidler has created an entirely new genre of music with this album, one that to an extent simply cannot be compared to other forms. It is unique, it is wonderful; it is Fidler to the core. Mark Vaughn-Jackson
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...Broadcaster - Freelance Journalist... Folk Roots/ Rock 'N' Reel / The Living Tradition / Magazines
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