EP review: CULANN – Songs of Saints & Reivers

Bandcamp [Release date 15.09.23]

Ayrshire based Culann have been around since 2008, releasing their self-titled debut album in 2012, followed by their second album, ‘The Great Ecumene‘, in 2019. Now Cullan – who consist of PJ Kelly (Vocals, Guitar), Sean Kelly (Drums), Greg Irish (Guitar), Ross McCluskie (Keys) and Calum Davis (Bass) – release their first new music since that album.

First question after listening to this album is why aren’t they better known? Hard to categorise, however, they have the melodic intensity of Those Damn Crows coupled with a love of Celtic rhythms and folklore similar to Skerryvore. If that wasn’t enough to entice a listen, Culann have a distinct progressive air to their musical arrangements (although they keep it short & sweet with this four song EP clocking in at just under twenty minutes).

‘Rovers’ and ‘City Eternal’ fair fly out of the speakers, with the former having a tasty guitar driven intro. ’Rivers’ is based on the story of a Viking ship that raided the coastal towns of Ayrshire, when one night the younger crew member hears a siren coming from the coastline, a mermaids voice that eventually leads them to their doom as the ship crashes on the shore. ‘City Eternal’ has a banging chorus, to use a bit of modern parlance ;-)

‘Saint Andrew’ is another song based on Scottish folklore as an early Scottish King, who faced overwhelming odds before a battle, prayed to Saint Andrew & strengthened by this divine intervention they overcame the outnumbering force & won the battle. This is the song that has hints of Those Damn Crows in it.

‘Heart of the Sea’ is a lovely piece of folk, allowing PJ to show his gentler side of his singing. After the frantic pace of the previous three songs, this provides a calming end to the EP.

These boys are good! What are you waiting for? Off to Bandcamp with you… ****

Review by Jason Ritchie

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 20 October 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 22 October 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
RIOGHAN Hands (Inverse Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)