Chinese/Celtic/rap and traditional Irish folk ballad - grows on you!
author: Rod Cordner
“The great China Bike Ride”, what a cracker title, what a cracker idea! The main track, “Ballad of Beijing”, I can best describe as a fusion of Chinese/Celtic/rap - really different. Two versions of it also on the album, the 8 minute one just a bit long for my taste, but still a great idea. “Smoke goes Up”, a song I’ve heard Raymond sing many a time, is perhaps my favourite - a song about Ireland in the Irish folk ballad tradition and, of course, dealing with our little problems here in the North. The collection finishes with a nice little instrumental, "Ar tir seo aguinne", translated, "Our Land" - a piece of music that grows on you. Well done Raymond!
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Sound approach to oriental bike ride for charity
author: Robert McMillen - Irish News, Belfast
It's easy to see how the beautiful landscapes of China could awaken the creative spirit in you, but singer/songwriter Raymond McCullough did it the hard way. In October 1999, Raymond went on the Mencap China Bike Ride - despite not having been on a bike for 29 years!
"I thought I'd never do it," he said, "The journey was 444 kilometres long over four-and-a-half days. On the first day we did 40 miles, instead of 40 km, which was tough, but the following morning, we woke up in this beautiful hotel with the sun shining down on the pomegranate trees, and I had a shower, put the shorts on and thought, 'I can do this'. By the third day I had caught up on the lead riders," says Raymond with obvious pride.
The scenery was breathtaking, he recalled, but going up 18 hairpin bends to get the views wasn't all fun!
Even on the flight to Beijing, though, there was a song brewing in Ray's imagination.
" Making our way over the Mongolian mountains, about six in the morning, I got this wee tune, three chords, in my head, and that became the chorus of 'Ballad of Beijing'.
In the second week, whever I went I heard this particular tune played by three percussionists and I incorporated that into the song as well."
The 'Ballad of Beijing' can be found on 'The great China Bike Ride', a mini-album with five other songs from Ray's vast repertoire.
'Smoke goes up' is a lovely song about Ireland's smell of turf, which Ray wrote on a journey home from Cork through Ireland's towns and villages. "The smoke goes up, the rain comes down," is an image many will find familiar!
'1989' is about the fall of the Berlin Wall and there is a lovely instrumental called, 'Ar tir seo aguinne (Our Land)'.
(Robert McMillen)
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Celtic folk/rock/ballad - his own very individual style! - catchy too!
author: Sam Rea
Raymond has obviously improved as the years have passed. This album at long last introduces his talent to the world at large.
'Ballad of Beijing' is a musical saga of a charity cycle ride across China - 11 verses in the full mix! - with a traditional north Chinese rhythm featured in the chorus. 'Shen zhu fu ni, Bei Jing' apparently means, 'God bless you, Beijing!'
'Smoke goes up' is a very Irish tune, commenting on the beauty of the land, 'but I see there's something wrong ... your fear is tearing you apart.' He also writes, 'And the future, it is plain ... we'll be a nation once again, only when we're on our knees!'
'1989' is another social commentary - this time referring to the liberation of eastern Europe; 'And now it is November, and walls are coming down, and goverments are falling all around ... the bells of freedom ringing out again.'
'Wake up, you sleeper' is a more soulful and personal song, encouraging the hearer, 'If you are thirsty, why don't you take a drink?' and to 'open up your eyes and see the writing on the wall.'
The album finishes with 'Ar tir seo aguinne', meaning 'Our Land' - an instrumental mix that is reminiscent of Horslips in places. The helicopter sound at the start leaves no doubt as to which land he is referring to!
Raymond is an eclectic performer and this album cannot hope to encompass his wide range of material, but it does whet the appetite for more. When is the next album coming, eh?
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