Korong

Korong

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Kornog are the band that introduced the music of Brittany, the Celtic region in the northwest of France, to the world at large in the early '80s. They split up in 1987 to pursue solo projects, but over the years the band members stayed in touch and in the spring of 2000 they reunited to record Korong. As on their previous four records, Kornog blend the dance music of Brittany with the ballad tradition of Scotland. Singer-bouzouki player Jamie McMenemy has a genial stage presence that comes across well on CD, and he sings old songs like "Child Noyrce" and "The Braes o' Killiecrankie" in an emotional style laced with a sly wit and a subtle sense of humor. But as good as the songs are, the dance tunes are Kornog's reason for being. Fiddler Christian Lemaitre; guitarist Nicolas Quemener, the band's newest member; and flautist Jean-Michel Veillon have mastered the various dance rhythms of Brittany, which they sometimes slow down to better display the beauty of the melodies. Korong is a welcome return from some of the pioneers of the Breton folk music revival. --Michael Simmons

From Rhythm Magazine
For nearly twenty years, this band has done its part to preserve the musical traditions of its native Brittany. Breton music, at least Kornog's interpretation of it, has a unique sound vis-`-vis other Celtic styles. The tunes here, both traditional and original, contain indigenous time signatures, obviously dance-oriented. At times, the unusual melodies and rhythms sound Middle Eastern. This exotic flavor is reinforced by the bombarde, a native oboe-like instrument, often coupled with bagpipe. There's also the fiddle, played by Christian LeMaitre, an outstanding musician who has also recorded with the Celtic Fiddle Festival. Guitar accompaniment helps push the tunes right along-creating the characteristically Breton fluctuating measures. Flute player Jean-Michel Veillon slows things down with a nice air among the mostly fast-paced pieces. To make the mix more interesting, Jamie McNemeny, a transplanted Scot living in Brittany, sings traditional Scottish ballads. As if the Breton, Scottish, and Middle Eastern influences weren't enough, Kornog also includes a Greek-inspired and Yugoslavian tune. -Allison M. Brock

Amazon.com

Kornog are the band that introduced the music of Brittany, the Celtic region in the northwest of France, to the world at large in the early '80s. They split up in 1987 to pursue solo projects, but over the years the band members stayed in touch and in the spring of 2000 they reunited to record Korong. As on their previous four records, Kornog blend the dance music of Brittany with the ballad tradition of Scotland. Singer-bouzouki player Jamie McMenemy has a genial stage presence that comes across well on CD, and he sings old songs like "Child Noyrce" and "The Braes o' Killiecrankie" in an emotional style laced with a sly wit and a subtle sense of humor. But as good as the songs are, the dance tunes are Kornog's reason for being. Fiddler Christian Lemaitre; guitarist Nicolas Quemener, the band's newest member; and flautist Jean-Michel Veillon have mastered the various dance rhythms of Brittany, which they sometimes slow down to better display the beauty of the melodies. Korong is a welcome return from some of the pioneers of the Breton folk music revival. --Michael Simmons

Customer Reviews:

OOOOOOOOOH.......2002-08-12

I bought this CD because I listen to a lot of other music Green Linnet puts out, like Lunasa and The Bothy Band. I actually hadn't even heard one song of this CD when I bought it.. just hoping. When I listened to the first track of the CD I knew I'd love it.. but as the tracks progressed I nearly fainted in euphoria. It's wonderful, easily one of my top 3 CD's of all time. I am a big fan of Celtic music, and I listen to a lot of it.. so I get disapointed when I order a CD that sounds exactly like every other CD I own, or that has tracks that have endless bagpipe solos that seem to melt my brain away. This is most definintely not one of those CDs. Its Celtic, but not Generic. Smooth, with just enough vocals, not too much. The guitar has to be the best sound on this CD though. It's magical and takes you off to another place. Absolutely recommended.

Awesome.......2001-06-05

This is an awesome cd. My dad has it and convinced me to listen to it. I thought it would just be some old music but now I am adicted to celtic. This is a really up beat, happy track. so far I haven't found anything like it! If you are looking for celtic, you found it.

Kornog's Korong: The Evolution of Brilliance.......2001-01-10

Kornog's albums were some of my favorites back in the 1980s and I have to admit that I was not initially impressed by "Korong" when I first heard it. I didn't hear the youthful exuberance I remembered from those days. However, by 3rd or 4th hearing, I'd realized that this is actually a much BETTER band today for the very reason that I missed the old energy. The band members have evolved musically to such a degree that each could easily be claimed to be the best at their respective instruments in Breton music. But it is much more than the sum of the parts; they truly have produced something brilliant TOGETHER. How sad so many "reunion" albums are (especially in the realm of rock). But this was actually a re-flowering of a group that was so well liked 15 years ago. Basically, Kornog has grown up. As for a "spark," well, no, they are not as high energy as they were back in the 1980s; they were younger then and relied more on that kind of energy in their shows. Today they rely simply on musical brilliance.

Korong perhaps presents a more "relaxed" form of music, but don't let that fool you. The precision and intelligence they've put into it more than makes up for any lack of energy some may have missed from their recordings from the 1980s. If one takes time to listen to (and to compare) the new work, one realizes an incredible new "spark" that comes from experience, evolution and intrepidness. The first cut, "Baleadenn," is a prime example. This musical "journey" from the far southeastern part of Brittany into the heart of Gavotte country is nothing short of brilliant. It may seem disjointed at first, switching rhythms at every turn (something never done in Breton dance music), but eventually one comes to understand the brilliance of these four minds that have come to grasp the essence of Breton music like no others.

And if you're interested in the new guitarist, Nicolas Kemener, listen to his work with Skeduz. He was great in Arcady, but underutilized. He is also a wonderful singer and flute player. Nicolas is VERY percice and very understanding of what other musicians are doing around him. Kornog could have had any guitarist in Brittany and they chose him; that should tell you something.

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