NEBRASKA A thoughtful, dreamy Americana style cover of Bruce Springsteen's song Nebraska, played on two acoustic guitars. The original song is sung from the point of a man reflecting on the wrong choices he has made in his life and we've tried to capture some of that mood. We've tried to pay homage to the original tune whilst putting our own stamp on it.
Written for a friend with terminal cancer who asked us to write a tune for everyone living with her situation. Read more here: https://whalebone-music.com/blog/blog/hoping-for-a-miracle
Dedicated to two ancient Oak Trees Some background for the tune: https://whalebone-music.com/blog/blog/ghosts-of-trees-whalebone-new-release
A traditional tune, our arrangement is based upon the Simon and Garfunkel version
Our version of this beautiful traditional tune about lovers parted.
'Holt' is another word for an otter’s den, coming from old words for "wood," "woods," and "wooded hill" (Icelandic "holt" and German "holz" both mean wood).
We perform the tune on an Irish Bouzouki and Acoustic Guitar with the swirling arpeggios and beautiful melody line evoking the sinuous fluid movements of an otter in the water.
'One of the best albums I have heard in many, many a long year.' Gary Hazlehurst's Folk Show. 'Mirabilia' is defined as 'items of inexplicable origin or form’, reflecting the diverse inspirations and genres that are evident in the music.
This album traces the seasons from Spring through to Winter. Originally recorded as four separate EPs, we wrote & recorded each set of tunes in each season, which we think adds to the authenticity of the music travelling through the months.
Runes features both Celtic tinged original and traditional tunes alongside some unexpected cover versions. The range of musical styles demonstrates a band which frequently trespasses across both musical styles and borders. Instrumental music with a soul.
Whalebone introduced several new instruments to the Runes sessions including a Taylor 8-string baritone guitar, mandolin, cello and a range of percussion instruments that brought a new dimension to the music. Written and recorded in the Shropshire countryside, Runes features both Celtic tinged original and traditional tunes alongside some unexpected cover versions.
The range of musical styles – from the almost-classical ‘Christchurch Cathedral’ to the summery feelgood riffs of ‘Severn Sins’ and from the plaintive urgency of a version of Derek and The Dominos’ ‘Layla’ to the interweaved lines of ‘Entangled’ demonstrates a band which frequently trespasses across both musical styles and borders. 'The Birds Are Still Singing' deals with the loss of loved ones and a realisation that life continues and ‘Justify’ features the mystical sound of the 8-string baritone guitar – a tune that justifies the instrument.
The logo on the front of the album is based on a floor tile in an ancient Welsh Church, St. Aelahaiarn's in Guilsfield, Powys. The tile showed 3 interconnecting points in the centre of a circle, reminiscent of a Celtic knot and symbolises the band – 3 musicians weaving and intertwining musical lines to create Whalebone’s sound.
Acoustic music, classic rock & original tunes. FATEA Runner up Instrumental album of the year. CKUA Top 10 folk album of the year. R2 Magazine ****