Although this album is not necessarily Celtic , Mary Fahl possess a voice that crosses genres.She has a distinctive atmospheric vocals that can bring to mind images of medieval castles and haunted monasteries. Mary Fahl has the ‘it’.I am not a Pink Floyd fan and I would never even spend a buck on their album Dark Side of the Moon but upon hearing Mary Fahl’s involvement on the track by track take on each of the songs in this highly acclaimed old album ,you bet I could not keep my self from whooping. Forget the fact that this project doesn’t really stay true to the original(hell,Pink Floyd doesn’t really kick my ass ) or that some critics may find most of the track spacey or even ethereal or operatic, I don’t care. All I want to hear was her vocals. I was never disappointed upon hearing songs like ‘Money” and “Brain Damage’. It just proves that Mary Fahl can hack sounding soulful one moment and angelic the next.She has a very versatile voice. In a place where Lisa Gerrard, doesn’t allow her voice to go falsetto, Mary hacked her way into Sarah Brightman’s realm even if she is a pure contralto with a big cinematic voice. It seems that V2 records folded up even before this record was able to receive a mainstream release but it is OK. As long as there are bloggers out there who are like me. As long as Mary doesn’t give up recording then she can bet her five cents that I wont stop writing about her.
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Celtic meets Gothic
Black Tape For Blue Girl andFaith And The Muse are two bands I am keeping my ears to these days. They’re not new. They’ve been around since the eighties but it is now that cyberspace has given them ‘accessibility.Truth to tell , I’ve heard about them since the mid-90s from a Goth friend but records are hard to find . So you are at the mercy of whoever would lend you his or her tape. The common thing that they both share is the reference to Celticism, not only in lyrics but also on arrangements.
BTFBG boasts the talent of frontman Sam Rosenthal (also manager for Projek records) on programing and keyboards, Lisa Feuer on flute and vocals, Elysabeth Grant (also of Rachael’s.Surrender) on vocals and violin, Brett Helm (of Audra) on vocals, and Michael Laird (of Unto Ashes) on acoustic guitar and vocals. The most notable former member is the long-time vocalist Oscar Herrera.The band also explores themes like loss,vulnerability, isolation and a lot more.
FATM on the other hand is composed of Monica Richards and William Faith. So now I get it, Faith would have to be William while the Muse is Monica Richards. Makes sense? The band is also very eclectic in their approach to arrangement do it would be unfair to put them in a single category.
These days as depression sets in like the Autumn of the soul, it is not surprising to find both darkwave and Celtic on my playlist. It’s like a combination of velvet and green curtains, bellowing as the dusk wind chills the bones. There is really comfort in knowing that a style or artistry in music has the capacity to tell you ” it’s OK, I am here.You can turn to me in times of pain. I know you and I would never leave you”.
Bridin Brennan
Bridin Brennan is the youngest of the Brennan clan(the same musical family that gave you Enya and Moya Brennan) from Donegal,Ireland.I love the fact that she has gone a long long way from being an aspiring hair stylist into a singer/composer making an album in the adult pop/chillout category.You can’t expect good old Clannad on her tracks off “Eyes of Innocence” but you can hear the unmistakable legacy in her voice.To get more info, visit www.myspace.com/bridinbrennan and also her website http://www.bridinbrennan.com/ Now I’ve gotta go get some nice siomai .It’s a Sunday and I have all day to kiss the sky.
Bridin Brennan
Discovering Planxty
I wish I was born in the fifties .By the seventies I would have been financially independent that I could buy whatever records available. I heard Planxty a couple of times in the Internet radio and I have been impressed by their brand of traditional Irish music.I’m talking about this one track called “Raggle Taggle Gypsy“.Amazing vocals and the emphasis on vowel and consonant sound that is close to the Scottish musical tradition known as Mouth Music.That’s the same band where Christy Moore came from.I like my male singers to posess deep strong voice-manly , as opposed to adolescent boys.
Welcome Celtic Music Lovers!
This Celtic music fanatic has found a new home in Word Press. As for my writings I will be dealing with music and culture . I also want to share some tips and maybe gossips but my main concern would be about music.I like to read a lot and I will be visiting blogs.I am here for the layout since I have other blogs.But if I like this whole thing so much then I might totally switch residence.
Celtic Music Fan 