Following are a
few words from Howl-o recounting the recording process for "Disk
O'Peers," as well as praise for the CD from members of
the Ren faire community.
Howl-o's
new "Disk O' Peers"
"Friends are
family you make for yourself." Many rennies I know out
on the circuit have made a brand new family for themselves.
A lot of the songs we were considering for the new disk seemed
to have a running theme of friendship. I had been thinking of
having a few friends guest solo, we've met so many great minstrels
on our travels. We had been working up an arrangement of "Skye
Boat Song" and while wandering around faire one day chanced
to hear our good friend Leghorn the Piper playing it. So we
recorded our tracks at our home studio and arranged to bring
a studio to the Oklahoma Renaissance Faire where we would be
working with Leghorn. Castle Steward Jeff Hiller was kind enough
to suggest we tape Leghorn's solo in the Chapel of the Holy
Grail. The acoustics were *divine*, as was Leghorn's bagpiping,
as always. Viktoria Brown graces two songs with her wonderful
violin. We'd met her at a faire in the Ozarks and she was impressed
that Bella referred to her instrument as a violin rather than
a fiddle! (Ultimately more period sounding!) Patrick Harvey
on Irish Harp was delightful on "Quare Bungle Rye",
and the version of "Mr. Buccaneer" which we taped
just for fun was so fitting, that we just had to include it
as a reprise.
Many of the arrangements
came to us while touring, some evolved in the studio. A few
songs take a kind of Celtic Ozark Mountain music twist. We also
experimented with dubbing many vocal tracks, for example, making
a 30 voice choir on the chorus of "Wild Mountain Thyme".
Bella finally got to record her sultry arrangement of "Johnny
Jump Up", also employing her own inventions of percussion
using various household items. (yet another good reason to have
a pizza pan handy!) On the whole we went with more of a "live"
feel. "Work of the Weavers" is a song near and dear
to our hearts, with some fun lyrics in an old Gaelic dialect,
about the folks who make our clothes. A free spirited tribute
with an "in the pub" sound to it.
Many thanks to all
our friends, peers, patrons, faire directors; for giving us
a place to play, and for your input, support, and encouragement
to make this new disk. "Goodnight, and joy be with you
all." ~Douglys of Howl-o
**********************************************************
"Howl-o's "Disk
o' Peers" compiles many standard renaissance faire numbers
into a unique blend of sounds. The range of musical selections
vary widely...yet every song also shares a new twist of inspiration...this
is a strong collection mastered by a strong duo."
~Fugli
Peer Pleasure: Unabashed
praise of 'Disk O' Peers', from it's very own humble yet honest
guest minstrels!
Viktoria Brown:
"'Disk O' Peers' is the best piece from Howl-o yet! It
has a theme of mystery, menace, and best of all, a ghostly rerecording
of 'Mr Buccaneer' (my personal favorite original song from Howl-o!).
If you like Renn music, there's no possible way you won't enjoy
this CD."
Patrick Harvey:
*blushes* "Friends ! Rennies ! Countrymen ! Lend Howl-o
your ears ! Listening to (and helping with) "The Disk -
O - Peers" was the most fun I've ever had -- in the daytime
!"
Leghorn the Piper:
"You are still taking the same old songs and giving them
a brand new Howl of a Twist."
This
month's prize: Nothing conjures up the revelry and romance
of a Renaissance festival quite like the artistry of faire musicians,
and to celebrate the commencement of the 2006 festival season
