by Brad Balfour
Though it seems like Christmas season just ended, we’ve gone through several major life changing events from New Year’s day to the Super Bowl to the Oscars. And now Valentine’s Day is upon us as well. That then begs an idiosyncratic set of gifts to give, loved ones, pets children and any random lover of life.
So in order to further confound and perplex, I’ve come up with a random set of things, consumables and experiences to suggest with this day in mind. I had to cover some touch points. A gift for lovers, for music fans, something about consumables. Here gathered together and some cool music, books and more.
So you want to learn Gaelic. Why not turn to the publisher John Murray (JML) with a raft of language learning materials and under the Michel Thomas label, The Foundation Irish course takes a user through the experience of learning a fairly rare and endangered language. Learning Irish allows one to connect to the people and beautiful landscape of Ireland and to deepen an understanding of its rich and ancient culture.
As for background music to inspire such lessons… Try a listen to CAS, the latest album from traditionalists Lunasa —a great roots combo who rock a mean reel or two. Named after Lughnasadh — an ancient harvest festival — they tour and perform internationally, and have recorded many albums of both traditional and contemporary Irish instrumental music.
From master vocalist Van Morrison comes the recently released Three Chords & the Truth. — his 41st studio album. This legendary Northern Irish singer-songwriter is still kicking it in form with his immediately recognizable blue-eyed soul. Morrison produced and wrote all tracks on the album, except “If We Wait for Mountains”, which he co-wrote with Don Black. Released in October 2019 by Exile Productions and Caroline Records, the record is as full of great songs as anything he’s done since the days of “Moondance.”
Veering away from strictly Irish oriented gift suggestions, there’s some luxury French lingerie from acclaimed designer Nicolas Busnel — available at Maison Close in SoHo. Think exquisite lace, soft mesh, and fluttering feathers, this lingerie label has been photographed on the likes of Rihanna, Gisele Bündchen, and Rita Ora and graced magazine covers. From strappy balconette bras and mesh bodysuits to high-waisted harnesses, thigh-highs, and masks, there’s something beautiful and bewitching, with each intimate, as bold as the women who flaunt them. Built from the ground up, his work skyrocketed the brand into the spotlight and established its status as a source of masterfully made lingerie.
The Peter Ulrich Collaboration is a band helmed by Ulrich, former percussionist for the iconic Dead Can Dance, a band that made world music with “constructed soundscapes of mesmerizing grandeur and solemn beauty. Ulrich met Brendan Perry and Lisa Gerrard, the founders of Dead Can Dance, in London in 1982 and joined on drums and percussion. After leaving DCD, he released several acclaimed releases as a solo artist but now has The Peter Ulrich Collaboration. Following their second effort, Tempus Fugitives, he established the trilogy called The Painted Caravan. The Peter Ulrich Collaboration now brings out Final Reflections as a worthy and compelling companion piece. With the Painted Caravan Trilogy now complete, Ulrich brings his colorful Caravan to its conclusion with this release.
The Infatuation is a source for those who want to dabble in the world of wine, and is now releasing a book, How to Drink Wine (Clarkson Potter; $16.99). Unlike many wine books, this one tells you “How To Drink Wine” but is not going to make you an expert. It does, however, help you understand the fundamentals and give you enough knowledge to begin to incorporate wine into your life. This book is designed to give a baseline from which to build.