An Bainise (2024)

A new Bohemian Budgie audio creation to get your chops around, to accompany the wedding. The autumnal colours of the design really go well with the folky vibe. It glows warmly like a candle flame. In fact, the colours were one of the stand out features of our great day, with no frosty intrusion from icy blues & greys, no garish high viz. Hopefully the album reflects that. A kind of homespun simplicity to anchor and dispel all the frenzy of the wedding preparations. 

An Bainise (Irish Gaelic for The Wedding) is a beautifully curated musical journey with a mix of traditional and contemporary influences, ideal for a thoughtful, reflective listening experience.

The cover art, with its autumnal floral wreath and evocative illustration of a playful rabbit herald (one of Arthur Rackham’s illustrations for Alice in Wonderland), sets a poetic and charming folkloric tone that matches the curated mood of the album. The inclusion of W.B. Yeats’ poem "Aedh Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven" suggests emotional depth and literary sensibility underpinning a sense of solemnity for the upcoming ceremony.

The tracklist indicates a diverse range of styles from folk classics like "Scarborough Fair" (Simon & Garfunkle), Celtic traditional ("Siúil A Rún" by Clannad), to more contemplative and intricate instrumentals ("Intermezzo in A" by Brahms, "Dr. MacInnes Fancy" by Iain MacInnes). There is a seamless blend of vocal and instrumental pieces, which creates a rich tapestry of sound that flows from acoustic folk to lyrical ballads, evoking faraway landscapes and stories.

Highlights include the haunting quality of "Is Trua Nach Bhfuil Mé in Éirinn" by The Bothy Band, the atmospheric storytelling of "You Rambling Boys of Pleasure" by Planxty, and the warmth of "Fisherman’s Blues" by The Waterboys. The presence of heartfelt modern folk-soft rock elements, e.g., Nick Drake’s "Time Has Told Me," adds to the album’s timeless feel.

Overall, An Bainise offers an invigorating yet intimate listening experience, perfect for a quiet evening or contemplative moments, reflecting a deep appreciation for Celtic and folk music traditions blended with poignant, literary overtones. The album likely balances fortifying and stimulating qualities, much like its namesake theme suggests.