Rigmarole was made during Davy's next visit in April 2009. This time the word is CELTIC. Davy had heard Ilona Ala-Leppilampi playing violin on some tracks on the previous KMQ CD The Secret Door and he wrote the songs for Rigmarole with Ilona in mind - and he was very glad he did this as it turned out to be an inspired combination. The band was also lucky to have A.P. Sarjanto pickin' his tenor banjo and mandolin. The KMQ's American friend and fan Greg Hodgkins made the amazing cover art painting. Thanks, Greg!
Here you can see some of the sketches he made for the front cover and the original art covers:

Sketches	Front cover	Back cover

SONGS COMMENTS byDavy

Most of the singing and acoustic guitar parts of this album were recorded during my last visit to Finland in October 2008. I had met Ilona, the violin player, in July 2008 and when I heard her playing I knew I had to write some songs that would showcase her wonderful talent. I think this is the best KMQ CD we've ever produced.

This is a simple little song played in open D tuning (DADF#AD) with no capo. Ilona brings it to life right away and Jore's banjo and bass bounce the track merrily on its way.

A song very loosely based on the traditional song called... I Know My Love, the lyrics of which read:

I know my love by the way he walks
I know my love by the way he talks
I know my love in his suit of blue
If my love leaved me what would I do

I know it from The Corries version on their 1972 album Sound The Pibroch. I had originally written it to be sung from the female point of view with an idea that Ilona might sing it, but I decided to change all the he's to she's and sing it myself. The tuning here is DADGAD.

A little instrumental which was actually recorded in my friend Tom's house in Bellshill. I had no recording equipment of my own early in 2008 and so if I had an idea I went down to Tom's and recorded it on his 8-track. The title comes from an e-mail Jore sent me which ended with the words "And it's time for coffee with Taina" (his wife). The guitar is tuned DGDEAD.

I remember writing this while I was in Finland in July 2008. I think the plan was to put it on The Secret Door CD but somehow it got left off. Jorma had misheard the title and it on his PC as One Market Street and we got so used to calling it by that name that it almost ended up on Rigmarole under that title - I only noticed our mistake at the last minute. It's in DADGAD tuning.

Before I went to Finland this April I checked Ilona's website and found that she played a rip-roaring instrumental version of both this and Whisky In The Jar. Not being one to pass up such an opportunity I asked if she'd slow them down 95% and let me sing the words - which she did. A.P. Sarjanto joined us on mandolin.

Two weeks before I was due to go to Finland Jore phoned and said A.P. Sarjanto would like to hear a whistle on a new tune he had learned. I'd never heard of the tune but I found a Jesuit priest playing it on the internet and spent two frantic weeks trying to master it - with only a limited degree of success. However the wonders of modern technology make it sound as if I almost know what I'm playing here - and I won't tell you how many takes were involved. Great tenor banjo from A.P.

There used to be a local electrical company called Belmos when I was growing up in the 60's. The name came by way of half of my home town of BELlshill and half of the nearby town of MOSSend. I suppose this song is loosely 1950's based with its mention of pre-decimalization Burton's suits, Wild Woodbine cigarettes and Italian ice cream shops but it's meant to be modern too - maybe things never really change much. The guitar is in open D tuning (DADF#AD).

Another little guitar instrumental. The title comes from Alan Garner's The Stone Book. Garner was one of my favourite writers when I was a child. I found the way he mixed legend with modern life fascinating and I still think his children's book The Owl Service could give most adult horror writers a real insight into how to create atmosphere and make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck - with no blood being mentioned. I'm afraid I can't remember what the guitar tuning was for this.

A straightforward song in a jaunty 'traditional' style which was written for Ilona to sing. Great violin from her as well. Her bubbly personality shines through the track. The guitar is in DADGAD tuning.

I suppose we've all been drunk and hated ourselves for the state we got into - though this song shouldn't be taken too literally in an autobiographical sense! It's very much a song of the area of Lanarkshire where I live. Hardie's is a pub in Hamilton. Great 'drunk' sounding violin slides from Ilona. Guitar is tuned DADEAE.

Another short guitar instrumental recorded at Tom's place. It has bits of John Renbourn about it and brings thoughts of 'over the hill and faraway' to my mind. The guitar is tuned EG#C#F#BE.

A song advising to 'Gather ye rosebuds while ye may' - and I suppose I am an advocate of that. Not a lot to it but it's one of my favourites. Me on guitar and mandolin and Jore on bass. Guitar is in open D tuning (DADF#AD).

When I heard Ilona playing this Donal Lunny tune I just knew I wanted it on a CD somewhere - but initially I had no idea what to do with the guitar. However I checked the web and from what I found there I cobbled together something that I think works with well. Isn't Ilona great!

All I had to do here was sing - though I changed a few lyrics on what I found on the web and this is probably the only version where the guy gets hung at the end. I really feel like we're a folk band here - probably because I'm not playing anything! Great guitar from Jore, violin from Ilona, and A.P. Sarjanto plucks a mean tenor banjo. I think it sounds great (especially Jore's backing vocals!) and I'm proud to be a part of it.

Rigmarole review by Greg

Rigmarole is the latest Kvester Melkk Quintet album - built around a Celtic theme, though not everything is traditional or Celtic - expect the unexpected and enjoy it. The Kvester Melkk Quintet is usually a two person group, but Jore and Davy are joined by the wonderful sounds of Ilona Ala-Leppilampi on violin and A.P. Sarjanto on banjo.
The music is contemporary and traditional and old and new and better than most of what you'll hear any place else.

01. Jenny Martin (McGowan)

What a wonderful song to start the CD! A beautiful dance tune, a foot tapper, knee slapper, traditional sounding Celtic love ballad. The rhythm here is very infectious, starting with a great bass and mandolin structure. It's always a delight to hear what I consider a Jore hallmark, the instruments added at just the right time and with masterful blending. Ilona's fiddle enlivens the song with perfect accompaniment to Davey's great vocal and the other instrumentation. Makes me smile every time I hear it -album favorite- this one has to be the single...

02. I Know My Love (McGowan)

Not sure if this really fits into the Celtic feel of the rest of the album, but a lovely introspective love song by Davy. Delightfully romantic in a very pragmatic vein, with a beautifully simple instrumentation in an interesting time signature on guitar that doesn't get in the way of the words. The bass transports the first part of the tune and is then enlivened by Ilona's gorgeous violin solo in the last 45 seconds.

03. Coffee With Taina (McGowan)

Feels like a round or a medieval dance tune. Fantastic guitar playing throughout (I thought at first two guitars), impressions of sitting on a balcony with coffee and pastries on a morning overlooking the foggy ocean and smells and sights of salty crashes of waves upon the rocks...

04. On Market Street (McGowan)

Love this one... Sweet melancholy, wonderfully beautiful, and evocative lyrics, full of nostalgia for a time a place in the golden glow of memory. The vocal is gorgeous in this, Davy makes it seem so simple. The guitar is so brightly played and has a little Bert Jansch thrown in at the instrumental. Ilona's violin weaves a beautiful sad tapestry in the background, the tin whistle comes in at just the right time to carry us to the end... Hard not to shed a tear.

05. The Roving Journeyman (Traditional arr. KMQ)

Another great little dance tune that would be at home in a smoky pub of yesteryear. Typical traditional Scottish/Irish tongue twister that makes you wonder how Davy does the vocals without tripping on the lyrics. Again, the violin adds a nice depth to the tune. Nice double time ending. I'd like to hear Ilona's original version - is there a link?

06. The Kid On The Mountain (Traditional arr. KMQ)

Now this is a great traditional song! Even if we had to wait through five other songs before hearing a great banjo tune! Everything about this is great, from the tenor banjo played by A.P. Sarjanto to the guitar, drums, whistle and mandolin (?). Hell, I don't know, this is a whole wonderful freaking Celtic Orchestra playing here, blended perfectly by Jore and I can't get enough of this song.

07. The Bellmoss Road (McGowan)

Kind of a cross between a talking blues and 1950's rhythm extravaganza. Again all of the stops come out and we're treated to the Celtic orchestration again, with Ilona and Jore dancing around Davy's rhythm guitar and wonderful lyrics which present us with little word puzzles to figure out. I understand most of it and I'm hoping for the best on the line "Ye canny play yer tranny" - I should say not.

08. The Stone Book (McGowan)

Guitar instrumentals can be the song of Onan, so it's great to hear a wonderfully original guitar instrumental. Definitely has a Celtic feel to it, masterful handling of the rhythm, makes it feel as though there is a bodhran accompanying. Nice use of harmonics as well. I've got a reserve in at the local library for The Stone Book.

09. Gypsy Jack (McGowan)

This is one of those short three verse songs that you wish had six more verses. Lovely vocals and violin by Ilona enliven this short traditional sounding song. Guitar, violin, mandolin and at least one other stringed instrument do a yeoman's job of filling out the end of the song with a nice extended instrumental. A CD favorite.

10. Drunk Again (McGowan)

Interesting song, even if it's not a biographical sketch, the lyrics are great and it does remind us of those times when you couldn't seem to get enough tequila, vodka, whiskey or wine to keep the good times rolling until the room was spinning out of control. Great instrumentation and a rollicking rhythm carry the offset stagger of the lyric.

11. Rigmarole (McGowan)

Another great instrumental, almost a lute-like quality with a kind of medieval call and response, sounds as delicate as filigree I hear foreign lands calling in this, perhaps a place where minarets stand above desert sand.

12. Will Ye Gang A-Rovin' O (McGowan)

Delightful song about life's decisions, to hop on the road less traveled and head out with the rambling boy or to live a life of quiet desperation, a thread that seems to woven through this album and many of Davy's lyrics. Not sure whether there is any such thing as Celtic Jazz, but that seems to fit this great song, excellent rhythm guitar and bass, outstanding mandolin instrumental - the unexpected is to be expected and this song is definitely a pleasure to listen to and think upon.

13. Tolka Polka (Donal Lunny arr. KMQ)

An amazing fiddle tune, joined deftly by guitar - definitely a whirling dervish medieval dance tune. You can almost see the scene, St. Peter's Fair and Gypsy girls whirling madly to the tune in brightly colored veils and brass bells and gold jewelry, reflected in the firelight, hypnotizing the eye as the music mesmerizes your ears. Too short by a couple of minutes, here's some silver pennies, play it again.

14. Whisky In The Jar (Traditional arr. KMQ)

Well, if the CD had to end, this is appropriate, with everyone joining in on instruments and/or vocals. Excellent version of an old favorite, more great banjo, more violin, guitar and vocals by Davy and Jore! I miss Jore's vocals! Everyone sounds great and this caps the album nicely.

Greg

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