Irish Music Magazine, Vol 7 No.3 Oct 2001

Céide - Like A Wild Thing


The debut release from this Mayo based band is an interesting mix of traditional tunes and contemporary songs.
Declan Askin is responsible for those songs and they represent his own influences and personal taste for the work of Lyle Lovett (‘If I had a Boat’) and John Martyn (‘John the Baptist’).

The title for the album ‘Like a Wild Thing’ is taken from a song written by Tony Reidy a singer songwriter from the village of Aghagower near Westport. It’s an apt song for this Mayo based group, representative of the Céide area in North West Mayo where infrastructure is nil and the lot of the small farmer is very harsh as depicted in this song.

Brian Lennon’s low whistle permeates throughout and Kevin Doherty’s bass is allowed to be heard very naturally. Tom Doherty on melodeon and accordion and John Mc Hugh on fiddle complete the Céide line-up.
The perky Mrs. Kenny’s Barndance again has the lovely dropping bass and the Pierre Bensusan tune ‘Le Voyage’ is beautiful, the ‘Flowers of the Forest’ sweet and ‘John the Baptist’ funky and a little Gospel.

While this group achieves the full-blooded swing of the tunes sets they also have plenty of insight into music from farther afield than Co. Mayo.

Very thoughtfully arranged and great reading in the sleeve notes.

Ita Kelly

Pay The Reckoning Web Site Review

Céide - Like A Wild Thing

Mayo-based 5-piece, Céide, are one outfit who won't have any difficulty in staking their claim on airtime on Pay The Reckoning's CD carousel.
The band came together in sessions at Matt Molloy's pub in Westport and what sparks must have flown between them when they realised they were on the same musical wavelength! Intelligent with a sense of fun; able to hold their enthusiasm in check during the first repeat of a tune yet ready to drop all inhibitions and barnstorm their way to the finish line.
Céide combine traditional tunes with contemporary songs. In this regard they are the latest torchbearers in a musical institution that already has an illustrious history. (Stockton's Wing and Four Men and a Dog, to name but two groups, have walked a very similar path and to very similar effect.) Céide’s choice of contemporary material is exemplary. They interpret John Martyn's "John The Baptist" beautifully; allowing Kevin Doherty an opportunity to strut his funky stuff on double bass while Declan Askin showcases his guitar and vocals. Lyle Lovett's "If I Had A Boat" also gets a well-deserved, sensitive treatment. However to our ears the standout song on the album is local singer/songwriter Tony Reidy's song "Like A Wild Thing". The song catches a former farmer, forced into office work as a result of not being able to make a living out of his farm, reflecting bitterly on his current lot. The soul-destroying bereftness, which lies at the heart of this song, is communicated perfectly in Céide’s arrangement and the words linger afterwards, nagging away at the listener. "Farewell to the land where I grappled with stone/Farewell to the hills where I was soaked to the bone".
And what of the tunes? Well ... there are some beltin' sets here. We've already mentioned Kevin Doherty's double bass playing. It's remarkable how much it contributes to the tune sets. On the first set of reels, for example, Cís Ni Liatháin/The Bucks of Oranmore, the bass is in evidence throughout the first reel, lending the tune a degree of "bottom" rarely encountered in traditional Irish music. At the change, Doherty holds back, allowing Brian Lennon on flute and Declan Askin on guitar to carry the first round of The Bucks Of Oranmore. At the repeat, Doherty rejoins, immediately anchoring the sound once again.
These lads know their stuff. Tom Doherty (boxes and snare drum) and John McHugh on fiddle haven't yet been mentioned by name, but their contribution is equally vital. There are a couple of slowish tracks (the Finnish waltz "The Flowers of the Forest" and the air composed by Pierre Bensusan "Le Voyage Pour L'Irlande") which spotlight the band's ability to maintain the rigid discipline necessary to put such tunes across.
Which is not, of course, to deny that discipline is also necessary in successfully playing jigs and reels and so forth. Céide prove on this album that they are masters at constructing and playing exhilarating tune sets. Here you'll come across old standards and tunes you might not be familiar with as well as tunes which take you completely by surprise. In the final category is the inclusion of "The Night Before Larry Was Stretched" played as a slip jig in a set in which it is sandwiched between The Pullet That Wants The Cock and The Islay Rant, and benefiting greatly from the eeriness which it borrows from Doherty bowing, rather than plucking, his bass. All the sets are outstanding and are therefore all worthy of a mention. As well as those which already get a name check above, then you'll be excited by "The Dunmore Lasses/Mother's Reel", "The Woods Of Old Limerick/Nora Rooney's Favourite/Farewell To The Tarpeys Of Arderry", "Within A Mile Of Dublin/Ballinasloe Fair/Mickey Finn's Favourite", "Gan Ainm/Cuir Barr Air/My Love Is In America" and "Mrs. Kenny's/Adam And Eve/Babes In The Wood".
All things considered, a superb debut by a bundle of accomplished musicians, about whom we expect to hear very big things in the near future. It's no exaggeration to say that in the space of a few days, this has become one of Pay The Reckoning's favourite recordings ... we'll be singing its praises at every opportunity! Pay The Reckoning

Folk Roundabout Review

Like a Wild Thing
Céide (COPPCD 004)

This is the first release from a new Mayo-based five-piece, and comes Highly recommended by Matt Molloy at sessions at whose pub in Westport he first encountered their distinctive collective approach and individual talents.
Matt sure has a finely tuned ear, for this album's appealing blend of traditional tunes and contemporary songs makes for a good listen.
The opening set defines the mood and pace, with spirited front-line accordion (Tom Doherty) offset by gently rhythmic guitar (Declan Askin) and smooth bowed double-bass (Kevin Doherty), before fiddle (John McHugh) and whistle (Brian Lennon) join the front line for the repeat and the rhythms take off, though maintaining a level of restraint that's attractively managed.
The band's general method of attack remains thoughtful rather than full-tilt, and their ensemble tightness conceals a considerable degree of internal fire, and there's some very expert shading in the playing that repays many further listens. With an innate and well-considered sense of poise, Céide have a healthy attitude to repertoire too, unafraid to essay a Finnish waltz (and bring in a handbell-choir to boot!) alongside reels and jigs (those on track 5 feature Charlie Lennon's wonderfully gentle guest piano playing as a bonus). There's also a hidden track, where a wailing blues harmonica drives the whole train off on holiday!
The choice of songs (just three out of the twelve tracks) is clearly tailored to suit the winning combination of softness and strength in Declan's blues-inflected vocal style - Lyle Lovett's If I Had A Boat, John Martyn's John The Baptist and the hitherto unfamiliar title track, a fine composition by local Mayo resident Tony Reidy that rather belies the image evoked by that title.
I liked this album a lot, and look forward to hearing more of Céide. David Kidman

‘Trad Mag’ No. 81 Janvier/Février 2002
‘Le Peuple Breton’ Février 2002

Céide - Like A Wild Thing

It was often said that there were more bands in Ireland than days in a year. Situated in County Mayo (North Conamara), here’s Céide the Xth traditional music band, named after a prehistoric settlement found in Mayo ‘The Céide Fields’.

When I tell you that this group was born two years ago during sessions in Matt Molloys pub and were blessed by him, please take a moment to read this chronicle.

Three of the musicians come from Foxford, the Doherty brothers and John Mc Hugh the fiddle player. The guitar player and singer Declan Askin was born in County Donegal and Brian Lennon, the flute player, is a member of a famous musical family from County Leitrim.

These five produce a very pleasant music, a sound so unique, combining strong arrangements on old and more recent tunes, as well as original songs shown to advantage by the talented D.Askin. I am referring to ‘Like a Wild Thing’, which gives its name to the album. About the adaptations lets note a very romantic Finnish waltz and a piece from the French guitar player Pierre Bensusan. And at the end, a hidden track.

Still quite young band but very talented, Céide have a brilliant future ahead of them.

Philippe Cousin

Céide
Like A Wild Thing
(COPPCD 004)

If none other than Matt Molloy recommends a band, you can rest assured you should be on pretty safe ground. I'm pleased to report that this CD met all expectations and then some.

The line-up of flute, accordion, fiddle, guitar and double bass will undoubtedly bring comparisons to Lunasa etc but I personally think these lads have it if only for the fact they have included some vocals.
Reading from the sleeve notes gives a fair indication of what to look forward to and first impressions are that here the musicians have put a lot of thought into the construction of the set pieces by concentrating not only on the rhythms but the keys they are performed in as well.

Years ago De Dannan sussed that if you played tunes in unusual keys such as Eb that the listener's ear isn't used to this and therefore makes your performance sound 'different' from the crowd.
Céide utilise this to good effect and, take for instance 'The Bucks Of Oranmore' in the key of A major this technique gives the tune more character.

Offsetting the tradition with contemporary songs including John Martyn's 'John The Baptist' definitely sets the band in a field of its own. I look forward to further outings.

Pete Fyffe

Talpas Feb/March Review
The Welsh Folk Magazine


Like a Wild Thing
Céide (COPPCD 004)

Mayo based Ceide get the seal of approval from Matt Molloy, at whose pub they play.

Flute player Brian Lennon and fiddler John McHugh featured on Real World’s Music at Matt Molloy’s and Brian is Ben Lennon’s son and played on Gael Linn’s Lennon Family CD.
Add to them accordionist Tom Doherty and they deliver some driving "straight ahead" tune sets. With backing from Kevin Doherty (double bass) and Declan Askin (guitar), their sound sits somewhere between Lunasa and Dervish.

The songs, including covers of John and Beverley Martin’s John the Baptist and Lyle Lovett’s If I Had a Boat, sit somewhat uneasily alongside the tune sets;
but I liked the title song by Westport songwriter Tony Reidy.

Overall, an impressive debut from a band who deserve a wider audience.

Nick Passmore