Irish traditional group Réalta will release their new arrangement of Skidoo this Friday 11th August 2023. It is the first instrumental single to be released from their upcoming third album, Thing of the Earth.
Skidoo was originally composed by Australian guitar legend Steve Cooney for the 1980s film Beyond The North Wind, which followed an Irish expedition travelling by Ski-doo across Northern Canada. Réalta were inspired to play this excellent reel after taking a spin on some snowmobiles during their 2020 USA tour.
The single should feel both familiar and fresh to Réalta fans. They have taken their core sound of reeds, wind, strings and drum and developed it, leveraging the broader experiences and influences of the band members, and introducing new instruments and musicians into the mix.
Réalta’s arrangement of Skidoo opens with a groovy beat from Dermot Moynagh on simultaneous bodhrán and tambourine. This riff becomes the heartbeat of the track as the rest of the band weave in and out, up and down, taking the listener on a twisting ride through build-ups and break-downs.
As well as featuring founding members Deirdre Galway on guitar and Conor Lamb on uilleann pipes and whistles, Skidoo brings together a number of new elements for Réalta:
- A new instrument, with Dermot Mulholland playing banjo instead of bass or bouzouki.
- A new band member, Loïc Bléjean from Brittany, whose distinctive style of uilleann piping is given space
to shine. - And a guest musician, Myles McCormack on mandolin, who plays across all tracks on Réalta’s first collaborative album, Thing of the Earth. Myles has performed regularly with the band in recent years and will join them for their upcoming album launches in Brittany and Ireland this autumn.
Formed in Belfast in 2012, dynamic trad group Réalta quickly established themselves as an exciting act on the Irish music scene, earning stellar reviews for their live performances and innovative approach to traditional melodies. They have toured extensively throughout Europe, the UK, Asia and North America, and their energetic approach to the genre has made them firm festival favourites.
Skidoo was recorded by Seán Óg Graham at Bannview Studios in Portglenone, County Antrim. It will be available to stream and download on all major digital platforms on Friday 11th August. An accompanying video will be released on the band’s YouTube account (@realtamusic) later in the month.
