Customer Reviews

The Duhks

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Hot, young musicians are embracing acoustic music in unprecedented numbers. Mandolinists Andy Leftwich and Chris Thiele, flatpicker Cody Kilby, fingerpicker Kaki King, and banjoist Noam Pikelny are among the brilliant players in their 20s who are pushing the boundaries of the traditional repertoire while paying homage to the greats who preceded them. Hailing from Winnipeg, Canada, the Duhks are the latest members of this acoustic new wave to mix the ancient and the modern in startling and vibrant ways.

The quintet (drummer Scott Senior, banjoist Leonard Podolak, guitarist Jordan McConnell, fiddle player Tania Elizabeth, and lead singer Jessica Havey) weave Appalachian fiddle tunes, Celtic riffs, and French folk music with strands of honky tonk, salsa, reggae, swing, and gospel to create an original, grooving sound. The vocal interplay in the lively "Du Temps Que J'etais Jeune" is delicate and soulful, and the instrumentals "Gene's Machine," "The Dregs of Birch," and "The Magnolia Set" reveal the band's fearsome chops. Havey's voice adds a spunky, sultry magic to the ensemble's inspiring debut.

Hot new bands around the world are going to have a lot of catching up to do to get into the running with the Duhks. This Bela Fleck produced debut cd is loaded, and except for the oddly misplaced Leonard Cohen cover of "Everybody Knows," which may be a tribute to a fellow Canadian, it doesn't let up. The disc starts with an attention-getter that lets you know you'll be listening to a talented group, but it's with the instrumentals that you hear just how talented, and "Monster Talent," would be an apt phrase. The Duhks compress a lot of music and a lot of life between the traditional "Death Came a-Knockin'" and the brand new "Love is the Seventh Wave," and I hope they're just getting started. A highly recommended debut that should transcend any category the record-people try to put them into. Catch the disc, catch them live, then catch 'em if you can.

The Duhks are amazing live. I caught them several times, most memorably at a late-night performance at High Sierra Music festival (in CA)and they churned an exhausted audience into a jigging frenzy. They pour energy into their performances, with the interplay between Leonard (Banjo) and the audience being my favorite part to watch- it's a contest to see who can grin larger and dance/play faster.
I was happy to purchase the CD and find a well-produced set of songs. So often a live band puts out a terrible studio album or vice-versa.
My only complaint is that the enhancement of the CD makes it impossible to rip the music to Mp3. I have a legitimate right to put my legally purchased music onto my Mp3 player, and Sugar Hill records has ignored that. The supposed extras on the CD have also not worked on my computer.

I don't know anything much about folk music, but I really love this. I saw their video on a late-night cable country music channel, loved the song, and looked them up at one of the online music download stores. I was going to buy just that song (Mists of Down Below), but they had more than three that I liked, so I ordered this CD. I'm pleased to say that I love all of it, even the instrumental pieces. The more I listen to it, the more I like it. I love Jessica Havey's voice and the fast, intricate instrumentation. If this folk-ignoramous likes it this much, it has real cross-over appeal.

Playing Time - 61:45 -- The Duhks' music is best described as highly-arranged folk and Americana that draws inspiration from various genres. The quintet hails from Winnipeg, and it is complemented by many well-known guest artists (Paul Brady, Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer, Abigail Washburn, Victor Wooten). Their self-titled CD gives us a tightly crafted, innovative mix of songs with haunting vocals and striking guitar, banjo, bass, fiddle and percussion. Even some low whistle and Uilleann pipes find their way into the musical caldron.

Four of the five Duhks provide vocals, both lead and harmonies. Two guest vocalists (Furleen Maines, Captain Lavender) also appear on one track apiece. A number of their songs illustrate how The Duhks blend tradition with their own individuality. The opening song, "Death Came A Knockin'," was one heard done by Ruthie Foster at the Edmonton Folk Festival. "The Wagoner's Lad" is a traditional piece they heard done by Doc Watson. "Gene's Machine" is a fiesty instrumental medley (Mary McMahon's, Pretty Little Indian, Sligo Creek, Dublin Reel). The juxtaposition of traditional and contemporary is most emphasized by their inclination to also cover songs writtten by the likes of Jez Lowe, Leonard Cohen, Paul Brady and Sting.

Creative artistry is built around an ability to free one's own muse. The Duhks' approach allows for personal expression without belittling the very traditions that they're stretching. This successful and impressive debut effort was done right and with abundant rewards. Before reinventing tradition, The Duhks have obviously lived and breathed the tradition itself by knowing, respecting, and appreciating the natural graces and flowing rhythms of Celtic and folk music. It's an amazing feat for these twenty-somethings. With this strong foundation, The Duhks then incorporate their own life experience to arrange and create a signature sound. The musicians' sensory journey takes us along with joy, sorrow, inspiration, and even occasional humor.

The Duhks' proficient acousticians are Scott Senior (percussion), Jessica Havey (vocals), Leonard Podolak (banjo, fiddle), Tania Elizabeth (fiddle, mandolin), and Jordan McConnell (guitar, whistle, pipes). Whether serving up a beautiful, spiritual ballad or a rousing medley of reels, they manage to make each a part of greater "Duhkville."
With impressionistic and memorable material, this album is a perfect showcase for The Duhks' earthier side. Their music conveys a understanding of the bond between land and soul. Their compelling performance is one wrought with the emotional impact and virtuosity of soulful vocals, slapped skins, wailing fiddle, flowing guitar, and bouyant banjo. With a band vision to redefine both folk and pop music, The Duhks are well on their way to doing it with their acoustic tools of the trade. I, for one, greatly appreciate their conscious decision to not rely on any electric instruments, synthesizers or drum machines. (Joe Ross, Roseburg, OR.)

Duhks explode on their self titled CD with delightfully infectious "Death Came A Knockin'" with Scott Senior's percussion making the track pop & crack as Jessica Havey's lead vocals send this track through the roof. "Four Blue Walls" written by the Mammals' Ruth Ungar is a powerful soulful bluesy acoustic track about family secrets with Havey's vocals snarl with passion, "He told her she was looking for trouble & she said, "That's right." "True Religion" is another traditional track that the Duhks polish to a wonderful luster. Duhks take Leonard Cohen's "Everybody Knows" and supply great musicianship with Leonard Podolak taking a turn on lead vocals making this a classic interpretation of this great songwriter's work. The French track "Du Temps Que J'Etais Jeune/Gabriella's Jig" transports us to Quebec. Sting's "Love Is the 7th Wave" is sung in medley. Duhks has great energy and showmanship that makes this a great recording. Bravo!

I was flipping channels one day and came across the Duhks video for "Mists of Down Below" on a country music channel and became completely blown away. I had to hear more. I logged on to Amazon to hear samples of the rest of the songs and instantly fell in love. I knew I had to have that cd the same day. I have not felt that connect with a group and song since I ran out and bought Tracy Chapman's debut album after hearing "Fast Car". I should have bought 2 copies because I usually can't wait to leave work so that I can hear it in my car. Love every bit of it!

These young people restore my faith -- their awesome musicianship, abject devotion to traditional tunes and utter dedication to exploring the edges of the folk/bluegrass/Celtic genres -- you just gotta give it a listen. Jessica Havey has an incredible voice, but I saw a Duhks show once when she was sick and the show rocked anyway. (Never pass up a chance to see these guys live!) Bela Fleck has given them the label debut they deserve with this CD. You won't be disappointed!

The Duhks is a group of young twenty-something musicians all with amazing talent. They are in a genre of their own, mixing bluegrass, gospel and blues together to make a sound that has never been heard before. Jessee Havey, lead vocals, sings gospel like no one I've ever heard. Her voice makes you want to cry, it's full with so much emotion and strength. Tania Elizabeth, fiddle, is classicly trained and her talent is over the top amazing. Tania's voice also blends beautifuly with Jessee's. If you have ever seen The Duhks live, you know that the banjo player Leonard Podolak is quite a character. His wonderful personality comes through his playing especially on the instrumentals. Leonard sings lead on "Everybody Knows," which is one of my favorites and Leonard is probably the reason for that. Jordan McConnell, guitar, makes his own instruments and you can really tell. He knows how to play that guitar like it was made for him. The music he makes is honest and beautiful. Last but not even close to least is Scott "Senor" Senior, drums and percussion. Scott plays drums that he makes. they are wooden boxes that provide a full, earthy sound that compliments the other musicains perfectly.
Other than all of the musicians being incredibly talented, they also work perfectly together. The problem with many young bands these days is the competition between members. You never sense that with The Duhks and if you see them live you know there is no competition at all. They often face eachother and play off eachother. What they do together is truelly magical.

This CD is one of my favorites in my collection. When I got this album two summers ago, it was on repeat for all of the season. I have been fortunate enough to have seen them live twice. They are five of the sweetest people. Their shows are intimate and lively. Afterwards they mingle with the audience and surprise everyone with their down to earth attitude.

Another wonderful thing about The Duhks sound is it can reach all age groups. I'm a young adult and I adore them just as much as my parents who are the ones who introduced me to them. At the concerts I've gone to, there have been people of all ages, from five years old to seventy years old and they all have the best time of their lives.

Buy this CD, you will not regret it!

It's tempting to try and put the Duhks in a little hole. Hey, they have a banjo and they do old Doc Watson tunes, so they must be bluegrass, right? But the harmony on the fiddle and the guitar sounds more like Irish and Cape Breton music, so they're a Celtic group. And the main vocalist seems to be channeling Janis Joplin and Mother Maybelle in turns while the percussionist plays congas. How about we stop trying to force them to be a genre and we just call them the Duhks?

This group combines a number of folk styles from around the world to create a sound that's all their own. Whether they're twanging out on Sting's "Love is the Seventh Wave" or putting an Afro-Carribean beat to the Canadian folk classic "Dance Hall Girls" or busting a bluegrass tongue-twister in French on "Du Temps Que J'Etais Jeune," they're always bringing something new to the table that another group would not have conceived. Playing at the nexus of world folk, this group is destined to be a future benchmark of acoustic music.

The group members themselves are a kick. From the fairly conventional banjo picker Leonard Podolak to the baby-faced and vigorous fiddler Tania Elizabeth to Jessica Havey, the outrageously styled vocalist and frontwoman, this group presents an ensemble you would never think could play such gorgeous folk in such total unity. But they never flinch. Fleshed out with guest stars like Bela Fleck, Abigail Washburn, and Paul Brady, they are not five members playing music together. They are one great artistic mind with five pairs of hands playing in exquisite unity.

There is not one weak tune on this hour-plus disc. Some are instrumental sets, like "Gene's Machine" and "The Dregs of Birch," though they're mostly songs. The members don't much write their own songs, but they are master interpreters of other people's work. Some might balk at "Mists of Down Below" or the Leonard Cohen classic "Everybody Knows," which do seem to exist almost in a parallel universe from the rest of the CD, but on repeat listenings, it's hard to imagine the album without them. They are strong contributors to the whole.

The CD contains some computer-based multimedia content. Band history, member bios, previews of other Sugar Hill Records albums, and video of the band at Magnoliafest are interesting, but not really necessary. You'll probably look at this material once or twice and forget about it afterward.

The Duhks are standard-bearers for a new and vibrant form of multi-national folk music, one that leaves a savor in the ears and invites substantial repeat listening. This CD is a treasure for music listeners of multiple stripes. Put it on your changer, it will camp there for a long time to come and bring you hours of pleasure without ceasing.