Reflets
Released in December 1970 in France (though not until 1974 as Reflections in the UK), Reflets is the debut professional album of Alan Stivell. Just as there was a folk revival and folk-rock movement in Ireland, the UK and USA, so too in France.
Where UK artists took inspiration largely from Ireland and Scotland, they hadn’t yet, as I remember, taken to referring to things as Celtic (I may be wrong about that); Stivell put Celtic front and centre, but his understanding was filtered through his command of the harp music and the heritage of Brittany. His first album, as an amateur, was recorded in 1964, and already ‘Celtic’ was there (Telenn geltiek : Harpe celtique).
As we’ll likely explore in 1971 if I continue this project (as I now think I will), his second professional album, Renaissance de la harpe celtique is one that I first heard in the early seventies and have owned in one form or another ever since, and play regularly. Reflets contains all the same elements, though not quite in such a developed way.
Closing out the day with Alan Stivell and Glenlivet. I first heard this album in 1973 or 74 and have never been without a copy since. pic.twitter.com/Qob6a5LX5G
— Ian Burdon (@Cosmic_Serf) October 13, 2020
Stivell sings in Breton, French and English, and layers his own harp, Irish flute, Scots bagpipes and Breton bombarde with occasional input from other musicians. The music is Breton, Cornish and Irish, with a version of Cyril Tawney’s Sally Free and Easy included. He adds some ‘rock’ influences as textures, notably on Brocéliande, but they don’t dominate, thankfully.
I like this album a lot. It isn’t without it’s faults — notably, I think it is overproduced with a tad too much unnecessary reverb on the backing instruments. Not a fault, but important given how short the albums are, Suite irlandaise also appears, in a much-expanded form, on Renaissance de la harpe celtique.
The album is not on Spotify and, if you look at Amazon, you’ll find stupid prices being asked for both the vinyl and later cd releases. As ever, Discogs is your friend if you are so inclined. There are a couple of YouTube playlists, though.
Recent Comments