I have just uploaded 7 new tracks from the soundtrack of one of the best SF films in the past many years. Namely, Joss Whedon’s Serenity. (check it out, and don’t say “I don’t like science fiction!”, that’s not a good enough response).

 The soundtrack by David Newman, is not a great one as far as soundtracks go, but it has its moments. And works very well for the film although die-hard Whedon fans would still have prefered Gregg Edmondson’s lyrical music from the TV show that the movie is based upon.

In the meantime, rent Serenity, pop some popcorn and see what Star Wars could have been. Then of course you’ll have to rent DVDs of the short-lived TV series the movie is based on, and when you’ve finished the 12 episode you’ll curse Fox, fist shaking in the air, for cancelling one of the best things on TV, years before its time. 

 These new tracks now bring the total trackcount to my main playlist up to 1561, or over 101 hours of music.

I have just uploaded 7 (seven!) new tracks to CM from the CD Scottish Fantasies for Violin and Orchestra.

This is a little more highbrow than most of the CM tracks, being all
classical and all. But it is Scottish and has some fantasies, so it can’t be all bad. It also has the fetching Rachel Barton as violin solist, and Scottish Chamber Orchestra as the chamber orchestra soloist.

 Enjoy!

I don’t know how many former iTunes/CM listeners are here, but I hope some made the transition when we were delisted from Apple’s radio selection. Celticmelt had been listed since early on along with several dozen other Live365 stations. Unfortunately Live365 was forced to remove the non-commercial stations from iTunes for various sound business reasons. At it’s peak, CM was snaring about 300 simultaneous listeners, but is now down to about 60 max for an 80% decrease in listenership. Had I enough presence of mind, I would have whipped together a  quick promo to warn the iTuners of that fact, but alas, neglected to do so. So I hope that some of you were able to make the transition on your own.

I am always looking for recommendations of bands I have overlooked. Many of the pieces you hear are from listener suggestions.

And of course, if you have your own Celtic band and want me to feature your material, I am definately open to bribary, usually in the form of flattery. I just added three tracks from a New York band called Repercussion, simply by seeing their entry on my Frapper map!

I am also looking for simple promotional ideas as well. If you have a band, make an announcment at your concerts, and I could probably supply some simple handouts.

Well, finally I’ve been able to figure out how to put a blog on this thing. CM friends and fans alike can now chat with the DJ (me!) or other fans of the broadcast. Don’t be afraid to let me know what you like and don’t like and to recommend artists for inclusion into the Celticmelt playlist.

You have no doubt heard the many (too many!!! shouts my Kermit the Frog pez dispenser) PSAs regarding the recent-ahem-”discussions” in Foggy Bottom about the increase in royalty rates. Things are moving along that front, or to quote from one of the worse Sci-Fi movies made “Wonderful Things”.  (quick, where’s that from?) Well, maybe not “wonderful” in the classic sense of the term, but in effect, things are not nearly as bleak as they once were. And of course we know that that means it is more along the line of the –Frodo really doesn’t have to slog his way to Mordor to throw the ring into Mt. Doom after all– kind of “not bleak”.

 However, if the aformentioned bleakness should descend up this fair and enchanted land, I will make sure to have a special live show before The Bad Man comes to pull the plug. Already got my last 3 tracks decided upon. Even if that’s not needed, I might just do a live show to thank you, my loyal listeners. (that means you Jean, in Dayton, and Robert in Seattle).