3 AM, I was looking for a superb harp sound and discovered Gráinne Hambly. So yeah, it is the Witching Hour, as they say, and 3 AM is such a great time to listen to harp music. Jigs, reels, and all types of Traditional Irish music can be found in her Golden Lights and Green Shadows album. This album was released back in 2003. When I look back at that period, I was just a young man looking for work in a strange and crazy place. How I wished I had discovered her music or the opportunity to do so back then. That might have minimized my life’s level of pain and disaster. My point is when you are in a crazy and unknown situation; you need music like this to find your anchor. This album is incredible in that it is just a harp playing this wild and wondrous music in a lively way that seems to give you that golden lights and green shadows-pun intended.

There are times when recordings can be overblown and overproduced. I have nothing against that. There is also a time and space for this recording that can inspire and relax you—the harp is an evocative instrument that stirs your imagination. You might have come across her if you have been following another harpist William Jackson. People used to call this style New Age. Now I call it Traditional Irish with an ambient feel. It is an excellent album for friends who might be in pain or longing for that hour of tranquility. I hope that she can release more albums in the future. This is truly addictive.