Featuring here Bohinta an Irish band with modern day mystic .

The first time I heard Bohinta was back in 1996 when their self titles album was launched at Queens University during November of that year . The driving force behind the sound is undoubtedly Martin and Aine Furey who have a cery famous Father by the name of Finbar .
Martin is determined to make a name for himself but he says it is hard when you have a such a famous Dad in the business . Often when people first hear whoMartin and Aines Dad is they expect top hear songs like When You Were Sweet Sixteen or The Lonesome Boatman but in fact what they do hear is as brand new sensation from this generation of the Furey family . Bordering between mainstream folk and celtic rock the well crafted songs and lyrics are original and powerful . Within the music you find a deep emotional well that you can draw upon to water the very corners of your soul . Inside you a sense of the mystic envelopes you with a youthful vision of where we are today .
Martin Furey who is the main songwriter played in Boston in 1989 and although he loves the acoustic guitar he is highly skilled on the Elbow Pipes and also with the Irish Whistle . Martin also likes to keep himself in shape with strict fitness programs . A good set of lungs is always a great asset when you are pushing furious wind through the reeds of chanters and drones . Martin's playing on uillean-pipes and whistles, featured recently in the BBC TV production "Rennoch The Red Deer" and also on a production of "Macbeth" which won the silver-screen award for the best sound-track. Martin Furey, a fine piper in his own right is carrying on the family tradition as a multi instrumentalist. With his sister Aine as vocalist they often play with their father on tour . After two solo albums Finbar proudly returns for the release of his new album "Chasing Moonlight". Accompanied by Martin his son and daughter Aine, they have an accomplished sound together as a family .
Bohinta as a band continue this bond with Aine Furey who provides most of the vocals and her depth of feeling is translated through each song Bohinta play . When you hear Martin and Aine singing together you realise that there is a special blood bond in the mix . The brother and sister relationship reflects a healthy quality that makes the listening both harmonious and happy . Bohinta and their music have a new direction that resonates of a modern day mystic asking questions of what used to be known as Celtic Spirituality .
For a number of years Aine Furey attended Cork University during which time she did Celtic studies . It was there that Aine found a fulfilment and joyful experience. What proceeded after was a rare Celtic product that she could translate into Bohintas sound .
The name Bohinta is taken from Celtic Mythology . In the Irish language the word Badhbh Chaointe, is the name of a supernatural Celtic Mother Goddess who inspired Poets to write . She also transformed herself into a crow that hunted the battlefields where she would create wailing cried for the banshee to lament for those who had been killed in battle . Bohinta is as close in pronunciation in English to the name Badhbh Chaointe .
When Bohinta were forming as a band they frequently went through changes within the line up . Martin first linked up with Robin Hurt in 1990 and then Greig Stewart and Dave McCleod . Then in 1992 Roy Marchbank joined in . In 1994 when Martin and Aine met Padhrig O’Faraichtain, Gill Hunter Nigel Walker and Carlene Anglim Bohinta began to gain strength in their direction. Travelling together through England Scotland and Wales brought inspirations for the songs that appeared on their first album . With tracks like Bonnie Winds and the Fort Song one senses Martins determination to make Bohinta a band that will make its mark on the world . He pushes through this clearly within the melodic structure and the movement of Aine vocals in songs like Home and Heaven project Martins lyrical strength . Both brother and sister are as one with Bohinta and no more is this evident than in the track entitled Gypsy . This songs is if you like a hallmark that reflects some of the passion behind the Furey family . Nora who was Martins Grandmother was a full blooded Romanian Gypsy . The Furey Family have always been proud of their gypsy heritage .
Bohinta have the ability to fuse together both traditional and contemporary styles making this unique mystical sound .The whispers of another world come echoing through and that in essence is the creative juice that flows in the blood of all the members of Bohinta . There is an energy which is progressing in the band and with touring and doing their live gigs a tightness within the band has now developed . So there have been many years of hard work put behind the sound and by no means are they an overnight success . The band have toured worldwide sharing their stories and songs daring to explore and brave enough to experiment with musical boundaries .
Aine has also been on another musical journey with the release of her first solo album entitled Sweetest Summer Rain . On the album she recorded one of her Dads songs entitled Life Is Just That Way . Aine has also been included on various tracks within a Celtic Compilation that was released on the Putamayo World label . The Celtic Women series were very popular and Aine was able to launch two of her songs “Hand in Hand” and “13 Wishes “ into a large market place .
Bohinta now have several albums and each one is a work of art in its own right .
With Bohinta you sense somehow that there has been a lot of soul searching and personal suffering behind their projects . I believe that is why their product will stand the test of time . Like gold has to go through a furnace before it is pure . Like the testing of steel to make it strong . It is true that only through suffering can we appreciate something that will survive the test of time .
Discover Bohinta and you will find like I did pure Irish gold .
By Paul McCann