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Something new from Cara Dillon

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On the recent Celtic Connections, Cara Dillon rendered a new song from her new album Hill of Thieves. The song is called The Verdant Braes of Skreen. She explains that the song is all about unrequited love. Oh I just love her sense of humor. During the first stanza I can’t help but shiver at the beautiful pain which the song is all about. I am posting the lyrics here in case you want to know what it’s all about:

New Album

New Album

You can also watch her performance on Youtube here:The Verdant Braes of Skreen I will be keeping my eye on Celtic Connections on my upcoming posts. Cara is one of the artists I discovered via Myspace.My niece and I fell in love with her catchy melodies and light voice right away.She’s one of those artists who are into traditional music without sounding too formulaic.I doubt if she’s going to make waves on Asian radio but what the heck, she’s the best that Northern Ireland put out there. I just wish that she just continue to shower us with beautiful melodies and wondrous albums in years and years to come.

Here’s a little bit of Celtic music for you

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Celtic1Happy Sunday.Your music Druid has been busy sorting his life but what can I say? Life is blessed and life is beautiful.I have enjoyed some Hayley Westenra music and of course this one from Clannad. Check it out.Clannad – Coinleach Glas an Fhómhair

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  The first time I heard that song I fell inlove with it right away. It has a poignant simplicity with only Moya Brennan’s voice gliding through accompanied by acoustic guitar and bass.I have played that song almost everywhere in my travels but the best venue I got was on a mountain, early morning after the rain.

  What I  love about Celtic music is the atmosphere.You can’t help but be transported somewhere, to a better place than this.It carries you like a bird on wings.

Sinead O’Connor after the controversies

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  Bsinead1een listening to my Sinead O’Connor retrospective which lists all her albums from The Lion and the Cobra up to her las known release.Enya appeared on her first album reading a passage in Psalms in Irish Gaelic.The song is called “Never Get Old” Years and years later, she blasted her with this words from her official site

Singing sensation Sinéad O’Connor is back to her old self again, follicley speaking, after failing to get recognised.
Sinéad let her hair grow back over the past few years from her trademark skinhead, but the controversial singer has gone back to her roots, literally.
After the shock of being mistaken for another Irish singer, Enya last week in Lillies Bordello, the singer shaved her head first thing Monday morning.
Speaking to ShowBizIreland.com this week Sinead explained why she did it. “I’ve been trying to let it grow but last week someone came up to me in Lillies and asked me was I Enya. I was so shocked by this that the minute I got up on Monday I shaved all my hair off and now look exactly like I did when I came into the pop business first.
“She went on, “Which is kind of ironic as I have just finished my latest traditional style album which is called “SEA NOS NUA”. It is also cool as I have just recorded a song with Moby, who is a fellow skinhead.”

29. may 2002 by ShowBiz Ireland news

Like Enya it takes time for her to record in an average of 3 year album stretch. Unlike Enya who devotes her time on her craft, polishing and re-recording tracks that don’t work, Sinead does nothing but court controversies.It is also tragic to note that she is well remembered more on her notorious TV antics and bad mouth than her music. Her music is wonderful and no one comes close to the power of her voice. She is probably Ireland’s reluctant poster girl with her good looks and nice figure.Again, sad to say she is more memorable politically rather than musically.I recently read an article where she blasted Kylie Minogue‘s performance.Here’s the link for those who wan to knowhttp://www.whosdatedwho.com/news/story_view.asp?ID=2923 Fine I am not really attracted Kylie’s voice and music but to  say I’d rather be shot dead than listen to it?Those are poisonous comments she said there. Is she bitter because her career is going down and  she hates someone who still kicks ass way after 40 years of existence? No one is safe from her vicious mouth.Hell not even Kris Kristofferson who supposedly defended her one time after audience booed her out.She holds nothing, and no one sacred. Isn’t it no surprising that no one holds her on the same esteem? Sinead will always be one of my favorite singers but she has so very few albums out.And I doubt she’ll ever change or clean her act.

Loreena McKennitt’s New Compilation CD

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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

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.