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Loreena McKennitt’s New Compilation CD

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 15 Comments

amdti-large-pack  I am glad to hear that Canadian recording artist Loreena McKennitt has released ‘A Mummer’s Dance Through Ireland’. The record is a compilation of her Irish themed music which I think is very appropriate since she did find inspiration in Ireland when she was still starting up in the 80s. It’s the serenity and melancholy of the Irish landscapes that lend themselves in tunes like Stolen Child (Elemental), Bonny Portmore (The Visit) and Mummer’s Dance (Book of Secret). Loreena is what J.K.Rowling is to fantasy enthusiasts. She has created a distinctive genre singing in that strong and unique voice of hers that one critic likened her to a Homer’s Siren in The Odyssey.

  My interest of things Loreena McKennitt started when I read a review about her in Newsweek magazine somewhere in the mid-90s. It was a brief account of her evocative voice and her references to St.John of the Cross and William Shakespeare. I also got my first taste of her recording when a friend lent me the tape of Mask and the Mirror. I fell in love with the whole haunting atmosphere she introduce on each of her recordings.  For me atmosphere is very important. That is something lacking in Rock, Jazz and pop music and you can’t blame me if I really like artists who are into re-verb and stuff. Congratulations to Ms McKennitt for being back after a ten-year absence from the music scene.

More infos are available here: http://www.quinlanroad.com/shopping/mummers.asp

Sissel Kyrkjebø and Howard Shore

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 7 Comments

Been listening to a lot of Sissel Kyrkjebø‘s stuff lately and to be honest I really like the quality of her voice. I also read that she toured with The Chieftains so it’s no wonder that she has been embraced profusely by the Celtic world.She also toured with Howard Shore on his Fellowship of the Ring tour.To be honest I have never forgiven Mr Shore for his poor reception of Enya on the soundtrack recording.

I have read most of the interviews and I could say it is easy to read between the lines.It’s obvious  that he was not please being on the same project as her.It is OK not to like Enya. I mean all of us have our preferences. But to treat your fellow artist like that is just pure insult, not to mention bad taste .Mr Shore is not a gentleman.Though he worked with  many film directors, it’s still a fact that he’s  an A-hole.

Maybe it’s difficult to have an artist on the same project that eclipses even your popularity. Consider this: Enya has sold more than 75 million records and she is not some puppet singer you can just write tunes to and expect she’ll wail for it. No no no, she is a composer at par with  the greatest composers who ever lived.So it must have been a blow to his wimpy male ego to take all these things. Poor Howard. You might be talented but you are no better than the a-holes out there.

New stuff in Celtic world

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 Sorry to be away for a long time fairy brothers and sisters.As luck would have it ,I have been seduced by vinyl records and have been thriving in analog music.I am just glad to aquire the following CDs.

Tapestry by Moya Brennan.

I love this deeper and warmer sister of Enya. She has such an acoustic presence in Celtic music and her projects never fail to disappoint. My personal pick is Gone are the Days which has a soulful quality.But I tell you, the rest are must haves and best to listen to when the days is stressful. It sort of takes the blues away.

Celtic Voices Various Artists

Mary McLaughlin,Connie Dover,Maireid Sullivan and Emma Christian.These four women of magical voices, all make  music that is evocative of Ireland,Scotland and the rest of the British Isle.All tracks sound as if they were made from gold. Timeless,crisp,lush and totally heavenly.

The Otherworldly Music of Sleepthief

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I’ve never heard of Justin Elswick until recently when I listened to Sleepthief at MySpace. I love what I heard…a soundscape of electronic music laced with lush orchestrations and angelic voices.Vocalists like Nicola Hitchcock who worked with Mandalay as well as Kristy Harkshaw are featured.The strength of Justin’s composition is his use of strong melodies and interesting chord progressions that call in mind the works of Delerium and Enya.This kind of music will go to unmeasurable heights if given the right exposure like maybe being featured in films like Narnia, LOTR or even X-Files! Justin is a member of the LDS missionaries before being a practicing lawyer in Utah. He got his B. A . Philosophy at Trinity college , Dublin Ireland. At this time he also concentrated in music which years later spawned Sleepthief. To listen to the music, just visit this site :http://www.myspace.com/sleepthief

Ailein Duinn(Dark Allan) by Capercaillie

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 2 Comments
Category: Music
Genre: Other
Artist: Capercaillie

Capercaillie is a Scottish Celtic band composed of
Karen Matheson -Vocals
David Chimp Robertson — Percussion
Donald Shaw — Keyboards, accordion
Charlie McKerron — Fiddle
Michael McGoldrick — Flute, whistle, Uilleann pipes
Manus Lunny — Bouzouki, guitar
Ewen Vernal — Bass
Che Beresford — Drums
David Chimp Robertson — Percussion

The group attracted international attention in the 80’s due to its brand of music,that is adding energetic arrangements to traditional airs.The popularity was further fueled after being featured in the movie Rob Roy.

Karen Matheson‘s voice is the force behind the band.She has been labelled by music critics as having the throat ‘kissed by God’.If you have seen the movie Rob Roy starring Liam Neeson, then you would have seen her performance as she sings this tune is one of the most haunting part of the film.

There are a number of existing versions of the song by the band. The movie version is embelished with strings as well as traditional instruments. The single version has been remixed to reflect a trip hop feel.It’s a sad and haunting music showcasing the emotion behind it.

Like an ocean wave,Karen’s voice rises from barely a whispher into a cry,making us think of an angel who has lost her wings.Swirls of traditional instruments like the uillean pipes , the the Irish cousin of the bag pipe(it has been known to have a ‘sweeter’ and gentler timber),enhances this century old Celtic piece .

Ailein duinn is taken from their 1995 album “To The Moon”

Ailein duinn (“Dark-haired Alan”) has a history that goes all the way to 1788.It’s actually a lament written by Annag Chaimbeul (“Annie Campbell”)about her fiancée Ailean Moireasdan (“Alan Morrison) who died tragically.This is an excerpt from wikipedia:

In 1788, Ailean, a sailor, set off with his ship to Scalpay, Harris, where he and Annag would be married. In a tragic twist, the ship sailed into a storm and all on board were lost. Annag was devastated and lost her will to live, dying several months later. Her body was later discovered on the beach, not far from where Ailean’s body was found. Before she died, Annag composed this lament for her lost love.

Ailein Duinn(Dark Allan)

Language:Gàidhlig (Scottish Gaelic)

Traditional; arranged by Capercaillie

Ailein Duinn, o ho hi, shiubhlainn leat,
(Ailean Donn, o ho hi, I’d go with thee)

Hi ri ri, ri u o, hi o hug hoireann o, Hi ri ri, etc.

Ailein Duinn, o ho hi, shuibhlainn leat.
(Brown-haired Allan, o ho hi, I’d go with thee)

‘S bochd an nochd na bheil air m’aire,
(Tonight sad thoughts my mind are filling,)

Miad na sine, fuachd na gaillinn
(The strength of the storm, the cold of th’ tempest)

Miad na sine, fuachd na gaillinn
(The strength of th’ storm, the cold of th’ tempest)

Dh’fhuadaicheadh na fir o’n charraig,
(That drove the men from the shore’s shelter,)

Dh’fhuadaicheadh na fir o’n charraig,
(That drove the men from the shore’s shelter,)

Chuireadh iad a’ bhoid dha’n aindeoin
(Sent them on a voyage unwilling)

Far an trom an laigh a’ ghailleann,
(Where the gale blows so heavy;)

Cha b’e siod leam ar diol caladh,
(‘Twas not, I think, your choice of harbour,)

Ach Caolas Diadhair anns na Hearadh,
(Rather Diadhair Sound in Harris,)

Far am bi na feidh air bhearradh,
(Where the deer are on the hilltops,)

Dobhran donn is laogh breac ballach.
(Otter brown and fawn all spotted.)