Clarinda's Reply - Kevin Walsh > Reviews > An impressive debut album

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
Value for Money	Excellent

Advantages:	Beautiful Celtic Music
Disadvantages:	None at all

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Being a recent convert to Celtic music Im still working out what I like and dislike but this album - I LOVE!

It's the first album by Kevin Walsh & is quite a mix of Celtic Music, from his own versions of traditional songs, to haunting instrumentals, to new & quite beautiful songs & a real uplifting Scottish 'Anthem'

The title track, Clarindas Reply is a Burns themed song, a reply to Ae Fond Kiss, which Kevin also covers on the album. There are 2 versions of this song and both sound quite different. Kevin does his own version as the first track & the album ends, rather cleverly with Kevin singing Ae Fond Kiss, and a reprise of Clarindas Reply sung by Maggie Findlay. The whole mood & tempo of the reprise version is very different to the opening track.

There are a couple of instrumental tracks, & one quite unusual - 'My Lovers Silken Hair' its done very in a beautiful style, sort of between a song & the spoken word, but works very very well.

One of my favourite tracks is All Through The Night, a version of an old traditional song which suits Kevins singing voice beautifully. The touches in it, the start sounding like an old scratchy record, moving onto the clear modern sound we expect.are again quite clever & help this album stand out.

Ive got this CD on in my car almost constantly just now with extra volume being given to the Pipes version of 'The Lion & the Cross' (it really does have to be played at a loud volume!!) The vocal version again by Maggie Findlay really is a real foot stamping uplifting potential national anthem for Scotland.

This album really has a wonderful mix of songs in tempo & styles, although all with a very definite Celtic flavour and almost all of them original. Even if youre not a Celtic fan, this album would be a great introduction, the eclectic mix really does have something for everyone. It's a fantastic debut album from Kevin Walsh, the first of very many I hope.

Clarindas reply can be purchased in download form or as a CD.
www.clarindasreply.co.uk

 

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Kevin Walsh