Pure Bagpipe Magic (The Magic Of The Bagpipes In All Their Glory) - Various Artists

Advantages: Beautiful and atmospheric
Disadvantages: Too short and not for everybody

...Before we start, a brief introduction to Celtic music. Originally Irish and Scottish (well, the Ireland and Scotland, as well as parts of England, of Celtic times (think William Wallace aka Braveheart)), Celtic music is, generally, not as popular as most other forms of classical-based music. Although there are many instantly recognisable Celtic songs, as well as artists (such as Enya, Celtus, Maire Brennan), people know very little about this beautiful form of music. Most Celtic songs have pipes, fiddles, powerful drumming, with maybe a bit of piano, guitar or even keyboards (like Celtus), as well as the Irish bagpipes and many strings offering sweet chords in the background. Quite often, there is also singing, either in English or, more traditionally, Celtic/Gailic. For this reason, I like to think Celtic music as a combination... Read review

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Advantages: It's spectacular
Disadvantages: There won't be any more like it

...On a day like today, with All Hallow's Eve just around the corner, when there's magic in the air, it seems kind of fitting for me to write about Queen. Released in 1986, many of the songs on Queen's A Kind of Magic album appeared in the film Highlander. Part of the reason I love this album so much is that I'm rather a fan of Highlander, both the film franchise (although the first and last were the only ones worth watching) and the television series (due mainly to a gorgeous long-haired martial artist bloke). Funnily enough, though, part of the reason I loved Highlander so much is the Queen music, so it's all a bit chicken and egg really! Another reason I love this album is that it is the one Queen were promoting when I was honoured enough to interview Freddie Mercury as a rather green, 21 year old music journalist. From the first... Read review

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Advantages: New (?) wave of music to most of us
Disadvantages: Not to everybodys ears

...I am quite partial to instrumental music rather than vocal music. Most of the time I prefer Classical music to modern popular music There are some types of modern music that I do appreciate, but I feel that I must tell you about this. It is a CD of medi-evil and renaissance music. This is a type of music that I do quite enjoy, There are song tunes, Dance tunes and Devotional tunes, All that our ancestors would have been familiar with. The Popular Music of the time. You may never have heard of the Artists. The York Waits. These waits were formed in 1978 and perform music form the period 1450-1650. They perform music on original Instruments and travel to a number of shows each year. They have also appeared on Radio Three. The original Waits were musicians employed by Towns to perform music on important public occasions. Their history... Read review

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