The Secret Door was recorded in 2008 in two different sessions - one in June and one in October And the boys were back on the trail with some Celtic traditional songs, some cover versions, many by Davy and some by Jore. There were also a couple of surprises in store, as after over 120 songs with Jore's music and Davy's lyrics we have here for the first (and probably last) time a track with music by Davy and (English) lyrics by Jore - called Understood. The second surprise is that they managed to have a professional musician, Ilona Ala-Leppilampi, playing her violin on a few tracks. Davy was so impressed by Ilona's playing that he went back to Scotland to start writing more songs and based the whole next KMQ album Rigmarole around her violin.

SONGS COMMENTS byDavy

Lucy said it reminded her of Edgar Allan Poe and Greg says it's spooky too - so I suppose it must be! Guitar is tuned CACGAE and capoed at the 4th fret.

Isn't Ilona great! What a find! This is a simple little 'folk' song in open G tuning. I've no idea if there is a fair in Bantry - but it seems to me that there should be. Jore layered all the other instruments on apart from the wonderful violin.

This is Jore's first ever complete English song - and he's really proud of it - quite rightly too. He made it really difficult for himself to sing it - but he finally got there.

My version is very much based on Dick Gaughan's version which I think is on the Handful Of Earth album. Guitar is tuned DADGAD and capoed at the 4th fret. I've always loved this song - it's so poetic and romantic... unlike real life of course.

Simple little song in DGDEAD capoed at the 2nd. Nothing to get over excited about but I quite like it just the same.

My guitar is almost note for note the John Martyn original but we added a few other instruments to make it sound a little different. Another song I've always liked.

This was another first - Jore wrote the words and I put a tune to them! It's debatable if he knows what 'matriarchal' means - but who cares. I threw him by singing 'Ymmarran' - at the end. That means 'I understand' in Finnish. It was a fun time in the studio that day!

Sometimes as a writer I feel I've been given something from somewhere special. There are 3 songs on this CD when I felt that - which is a vast amount as it's usually oly once every 5 years it happens! It's almost as if the writing has nothing to do with me - it's coming from behind 'The Secret Door' if you like. It's a humbling experience. But maybe I'm just talking crap! Guitar is tuned DF#BEAD and is played without a capo. I've no idea what they lyrics mean - but I 'feel' they mean something and it's almost like a little film I see when I listen to this. Ilona's violin is magical.

Our friend Colleen e-mailed a while back to say her knickers were showing when she swirled around on stage doing her dancing - and I was looking for a title for this little instrumental I had just come up with... so there you have it. Kind of Chet Atkins sounding - just in standard tuning.

The second of those 'special' songs for me on this CD. Guitar is tuned DGDEGD and capoed at the 5th fret. I was amazed the way this just came together as if it was meant to be - and so simple to play. When I was halfway through writing the lyric I suddenly realized it was about my mother. I take no credit for the deliciously innocent melody - it was given to me.

Another one I remember from a Dick Gaughin album in the 70's. Couldn't resist the chance to do it with a real fiddle player!

Another one like The Smile In Your Voice - simple and pretty straightforward yet with some sort of longing that seems to permeate a lot of my songs. I don't see myself as nostalgic - but we do seem to lose more and more of an intangible 'something' as the years go by. Guitar is DGDEAD capoed at the 2nd fret.

This is a poem of mine that Jore put a tune to. I think he played everything on this and it was already finished before I got to Finland.

Another If I Could Have Dreamed type song - same words apply to it I guess. Can a woman save a man? Maybe 2 would be better!

Another of my poems set to Jore's music. I love the way he sings - this was such a silly poem but his melody and voice have imbued it with such a feeling of melancholy sadness that it almost makes me cry!

A song for Obama as you say. Let's hope we can look forward to better times next year. Burns wrote some great songs and wrote some wonderful poems - and he was a drinker and fornicator besides - what more can we ask of our heroes?

A silly little poem that Jore put a tune to and sang. He keeps finding things I sent him 3 years ago and I'm always amazed to find I wrote them as I've forgotten all about them! This makes me smile - and that'll do for me!

I always like to throw a couple of Donovan 'asides' into all the stuff we do, so the title here is one of them. Guitar is tuned DGDEGD with no capo. I thought it was too high to sing but Jore was happy enough with my vocal so I just let it go. I threw in a JJ Cale reference with 'the same old blues' line - as that's the title of one of his songs.

This is the 3rd of those 'special' songs I normally barely get a glimpse of. It really is like a peek behind a secret door when these special moments come. Sometimes I get it writing a poem too. - the feeling that there really IS something beyond us - that there really IS magic in the world that laughs at our feeble attempts at living. The guitar is tuned CACGAE with no capo. Bits of what sounds like the Moonlight Sonata to me in here - but I doubt if Beethoven will sue me. Once again Ilona makes the song what it is.

Hmm - not too sure about this - but Jore liked it so we did it, shaky harmonies and all. I'm sure Burns wrote a poem with the line 'Till a' the seas run dry my love' - not sure about the mountains line though - I think that's a creation of my own - but that's the folk process for me - steal half of something and write the rest yourself.

The Secret Door review by Greg

I was listening to this the other morning as I walked my dog, in a grassy meadow just after sun rise with a low lying fog floating six inches above the grass while a few sea gulls flew over head, very far inland from their normal grounds. I felt like I had walked in through a secret door of my own and the setting seemed perfect to listen to this latest Kvester Melkk Quintet CD that deals with fantasy and fancy and Celtic dreams. Davy and Jore are joined this time by wonderful violinist Ilona Ala Leppilampi, who livens up a few tunes and adds a wonderful orchestral feel to other songs.

01. Candlelight (McGowan)

Delightfully spooky song, that feels like the poet is singing to a ghostly girl. The acoordion gives it just the right kind of ethereal sound, balanced nicely with the finger pattern on the guitar.

02. Bantry Fair (McGowan)

Wonderful McGowan penned lyric that sounds like a traditional Irish folk tune. Ilona's violin enhances the song wonderfully as does Jore's masterful hand on bass and in mxing the instruments, adding each as they are needed. Inspired use of walking away accapella vocals at the end.

03. Five Men On The Floor (Heikkilä)

Great song by Jore, where his whimsical nature is so evident in the lyric and performance. Great vocals and instrumentation. Perfect vehicle for Jore, we've been looking forward to hearing more of Jore for awhile now.

04. Now Westlin Winds (Burns)

From a poem by Robert Burns. This is an amazing presentation, a lyric that speaks to me of the beauty of Scotland and a romantic heart, gorgeously picked guitar and damn near perfect vocals, my mouth fell open in awe.

05. The Smile On Your Voice (McGowan)

Sweet little love song, nicely played and sung. Lyrics are finely wrought.

06. May You Never (Martyn)

Only familiar with the Clapton version, I found this excellent. The percussion adds a cool, almost Brazilian sound. Strong vocals and typically amazing guitar.

07. Understood (McGowan/Heikkilä)

Love this one! The lyrics are just short of genius, the presentation is fun and engaging, nice guitar and a wonderful instrumental by a bozouki (??) This gets better every listen, especially with the back up vocals.

08. Solace (McGowan)

Beautifully sad, mysterious song. The lyrics are so intriguing ("Under the bridge another lost soul waits for winter") they knock me out. And again, Ilona's violin adds a stunning dimension to the music. What does it all mean, Davy?

09. A Flash Of Colleen (McGowan)

Great delta blues sounding instrumental. Very smooth and silky and would definitely be danceable. Terrific guitar (sounds simple, but it ain't) and peppy percussion keeps yer feet tappin'.

10. Now I See (McGowan)

A wonderful song, with beautiful lyrics, and a powerful message. Well done. Do I know her or someone very like her?

11. Rattlin' Roarin Willie (Traditional)

Either traditional or by Robert Burns, this Scottish fiddle tune is carried of amazingly well by Davy, Jore and especially Ilona. If you aren't dancing by the end of this ye must be half dead. Excellent! Love the vocal.

12. If I Could Have Dreamed (McGowan)

Lovely love song, romantic to the core, engaging lyrics and wonderfully interesting instrumentation.

13. Feast Of Stephen (Heikkilä/McGowan)

A really delightful and wistful look back at food preparation before microwaves and X-Rays. Jore's vocals are perfect on this. One of the best on this CD.

14. In My Sleep (McGowan)

A short, reflective love song, beautifully presented, not sappy, not arch or sly, just straight forward romantically beautiful.

15. Sweethearts (Heikkilä/McGowan)

Slightly haunting, slightly funny, somewhat sad song. Great vocals by Jore. The echoey whistle in the back gives it a foggy dell in Ireland feel, while the stringed instrument up front has a great, unusual sound.

16. A Man's A Man (Burns)

More Burns! Great music set to a wonderful poem. It's a stirring, rousing, almost martial sound, and full of pride for what good has been done and what good can further be done. Obama could have used an anthem like this! Excellent.

17. What I'm Not (Heikkilä/McGowan)

Excellent, with funny, charming, lyrics. Vocals by Jore make you smile, the tenor banjo (?) swings the beat along nicely and the whistling keeps the air light. I laugh every time I hear this.

18. Sailing Homeward (McGowan)

Great song, really nice vocals. This sounds like it might be an outake from SHE'S A MYSTERY. Has a nice movie like sound.

19. The Secret Door (McGowan)

Hauntingly beautiful, half sung, half spoken lyric. Brilliant instrumentation envelopes you in ethereal beauty that enhances the wonderful lyrics.

20. Song For You (McGowan)

Wonderful love song, Ilona's violin again enhances the simple guitar and takes the song a new level. Vocals and back up vocals are damn near perfect. Stirring romanticism is great way to end this CD that is full of romantic lyrics, flights of fantasy and great Celtic sounds. Thank you boys (and Ilona) for one of the best Kvester Melkk Quintet CD's ever!

Greg

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