THE GYPSY NOMADS: Eternal Summer

The Gypsy Nomads

Eternal Summer

© 2008 Atmospheric Audio/Scott Helland (796873024969)

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French female vocals w/gypsified folk rock arrangements driven by guitar and percussion.

notes

The brand new 2008 release is the collection of The Gypsy Nomads' all original French tunes. Entitled Eternal Summer, the english translation of song #7, the CD spans the various sounds of Samantha's French Heritage. From Le Train with its upbeat Parisian cafe feel, the punky Subterranean Girl, the 60s French pop of Ete Eternal (Eternal Summer) the sultry La Sorciere, and the raw emotion of Cyclone, the CD carries on the duo's committment to creative and eclectic songwriting. Samantha's warm, sultry, vocals weave through upbeat gypsified folk rock arrangements driven by Scott's acoustic guitar and accented with various percussion.

The Gypsy Nomads are known for their highly energetic performances. From dynamic guitar anthems, to pounding drum jams to original French ballads delivered with a gypsy flair, their show is a whirlwind of guitars, tambourines, toms and tape loops. Collaborating since 2000, The Gypsy Nomads delivers an awe inspiring blend of Gypsy, Celtic, Medieval and Rock styles. The past few years have seen this national touring duo performing to captivated audiences from coast to coast. The Gypsy Nomads features songwriter, artist and veteran of the punk scene Scott Helland on guitar, drums, programmed and live loops and French artist/dancer Samantha Stephenson on Vocals, percussion and drums. Their show is an inventive and unique mix of the modern and medieval creating a visually evoking sonic landscape in their unmistakable Gypsy-Nomads-style complete with Scott's hand drawn backdrops reminiscent of Edward Gorey. Check out the feature music article on this bewitching duo in the winter 2008 issue of New Witch Magazine.


*Check out these other CDs on CD Baby by The Gypsy Nomads/Scott Helland
Thread & Stone 2007
Catapult 2006
Brocade 2004
Earthbound 2002
Space Age Tranceology 2000

reviews

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  • Tres chouette!
    author: Renee Guillory

    My favorite of The Gypsy Nomads' works: high energy, quirky, and a unique blend of punk and French traditional styles. Definitely not your mother's "Alouette."

  • Eternal Summer is a combination of folk styles and moods, but with the artists’
    author: Sharon Nichols

    If you’re already a devotee of Scott Helland and the Gypsy Nomads, their latest 11-track CD might come as a bit of a shocker. But what a pleasant shocker it is. Hardcore punk bassist turned medieval rocker Helland still pounds out tempestuous rhythms on his acoustic guitar for the pagan, Celtic, renaissance, and gypsy music fans out there, but now we’ve finally got his sidekick and percussionist, Samantha Stephenson, in the mix and she’s crooning sultry, original French pop tunes in a classy cabaret fashion. Admittedly, I can’t mutter a lick of French unless I’m ordering a cheese omelet at a Parisian cafe, so I have no idea what Stephenson is singing about. But neither do I care, because to me her emotive, aphrodisiacal voice is just another instrument. The entire recording and its combination of folkish styles and moods smacks of individuality, and we certainly need more of that in an industry that is content to crank out pappy crap. I understand their live shows are captivating, and the Nomads are all over the map on tour this summer. www.myspace.com/thegypsynomads

  • Ripe with surprise!
    author: Kate Goldsmith (Weekend/Taconic Press)

    "Eternal Summer" is quite a departure from Scott Helland's body of solo work, and even from The Gypsy Nomads' first CD, "Catapult," released two years ago (although they were called The Traveling Band of Gypsy Nomads at that point). That said, the new work seems to follow a natural progression and reflects the fruitful influence of collaboration. Helland is well known for creating layers of sound on guitar pieces that inspire the imagination. I don't recall ever hearing a vocal on any of his previous recordings. In contrast, each of the 11 tracks on "Eternal Summer" has a vocal by Gypsy Nomad percussionist (and, apparently, vocalist!) Samantha Stephenson. It didn't take long for Stephenson's enchanting lyrics, sung in french, to melt away any preconceptions and expectations. She's an evocative songstress, an amalgamation of late-night cabaret singer and mystical troubadour. And her phrasing works very well against Helland's guitar lines. I would have liked to hear at least one of Helland's trademark instrumental pieces. He can tell as good a story with six strings as others can with their voice. His guitars and percussion are still in the mix, but downplayed. No one can deny Helland's expertise, and it's comforting to think that a guitarist of his caliber doesn't feel the need to shout from the mountaintops. My guess is that he had traveled one creative road to it's end, and needed to embark on another. This latest collaboration with Stephenson has blazed a new trail through a familiar soundscape, an in its path has left long-lasting blooms.

  • If you haven't seen them perform, you really should...
    author: Mariam George (Faerie Magazine)

    Scott Helland and Samantha Stephenson have been making the rounds, touring diligently and sharing their live-performance energy with their ever increasing fan-base, and if you haven't seen them perform, you really should. Their mood is high-octane and exciting and their music perfectly complements that energy. I was therefore quite looking forward to their new album. I like music I can move around to and from Helland's past albums I have learned that something with a beat is a particular forte of his. I no sooner played the first track of Eternal Summer before I wanted to play it again. I don't jest when I write that there is an addictive quality to some of these tunes, and that I have listened to this album again and again. This is the first album of The Gypsy Nomads to have a complete vocal track - Helland's signature guitar work is still here, but now fully accompanied by Samantha Stephenson's dry, sensual voice, put to its best advantage in this mostly-French album. At times breathy and lush and at other times airy and smooth, her vocals are both playful and intense. There's something about the minimalist instrumentation that so suits the French language here, and it is further set off by Stephenson's voice. How I would love to hear Stephenson and Helland perform "Le Tourbillon," ala Jeanne Moureau and Boris Bassiak. "Alouette" is the first track on Eternal Summer, and it is a bright bouncing tune; if you aren't bouncing along by the end of it, seek medical attention. "Subterranean Girl" is a solid track, at times reminiscent of the early punk scene; it is edgy and highly listenable. "Le Train" is a stand out because it is so visual in its sound - the guitar picking is unmistakably accomplished and the vocals are firm and strong. It's evocative of youth in all its recklessness and its fun. "L'Ete Eternel" is one of my favorites; there is such a perfect melding of the vocals and instruments, it's a lovely song. It begins as a gently lulling lullaby, before turning itself into a french pop-song, then back again. It's really quite cool. Just like this album.

  • Celtic, Gallic, Medieval...
    author: Peter Aaron

    "In one of his past lives, Scott Helland played bass for `80's hardcore outfits Deep Wound and the Outpatients. These days find him ditching the speed and volume of those seminal Western Massachusetts acts-without sacrificing the intensity-to co-lead the New Paltz, NY based acoustic Celtic/Gallic/medieval-inspired Gypsy Nomads. Graced by the Siouxsie-esque French-language vocals of percussionist Samantha Stephenson!

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