| Of course, this album is by now
famous -- or infamous, perhaps -- for its novel and
hilarious introduction to the Irish public during the West
Belfast Arts Festival a few months ago. The day that
Seanchaí were to play live, the local AM radio
station DJ hit what he thought was the "off" button just as
the track "Fenians" was finishing -- then he left the
station. Unwittingly (so the story goes), he had hit "replay
track" instead. The result was that for eight solid hours,
listeners were repeatedly treated to the joys of that
particular song, with its moving chorus, "Unrepentant Fenian
Bastard / Unrepentant Fenian Bastard / Unrepentant Fenian
Bastard / Respect to all who refuse to be
mastered."
To put it mildly,
Seanchaí got pretty far up the noses of the powers
that be in a major way, but became a huge hit with attendees
of the West Belfast bash. As the lads came onstage later
that day, they were astonished to hear that each and every
last one of the audience sang along with "Fenians" word for
word, and made sure to pump their fists rigorously at the
appropriate moments.
Otherwise, this album
would probably have been a hit anyway in West Belfast, since
it is highly political in content, and deals with everything
from the destruction of Irish native culture by the cultural
imperialism of Britain and the United states, to call for
the admission of guilt an an apology from the British
government for the Bloody Sunday massacre.
The former theme opens
the album. "There Will Be Another Day" is a brisk,
tongue-in-cheek anthem that warns about "Beware of Greeks
bearin' gifts and Yankees bearing dollars / Before you cut a
deal think of J.R. from Dallas / I see Golden arches cut
across Newgrange . . . / how about White Cashel?"
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| The latter theme is dealt
with in "Bloody Sunday." In fact, the nature of the album
overall is illustrated by its opening sentence: "Right from
the start this here's a rebel song . . ." it begins. The
last verse goes on to ask: "How long must we sing this song
/ 'till the government finally admits that they were wrong /
and finally show some decency / reparation to each
family?"
Thus , be warned. If you
are squeamish about this subject, the album won't be for
you. However, musically, "There Will Be Another Day" is on
its own terms well worth a listen. The album is a blend of
rousing rap beats and traditional tunes, which are
splendidly handled by Seanchaí, which comprises Chris
Byrne and Andrew Goodsight (also of Black '47) enhanced by
the clear, attractive vocals of Rachel Fitzgerald. Fiddler
Eileen Ivers also contributes.
This blend is a pleasing
one, with its combination of programmed synth sounds and
whistles, uileann pipes, bodhrans, mandolins and more. There
is even a son on the theme of this kind of fusion,
"Spancillusion," a wake up call to those locked like pit
bulls into the conservative school of Irish tradional music.
It is quite funny and upbeat.
Perhaps the only real dud
on the CD is a mighty strange cover of Woody Gutheries's
"This Land," which sounds like it has a popcorn machine
going in the background.
Finally, you don't have
to listen to Seanchaí's "There Will Be Another Day"
for eight hours straigt to appreciate it. It works just as
well to take your time. Unless, of course, you live in West
Belfast.
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