World > Irish World

The Voyage - a beautiful thought-provoking album by Christy Moore

Advantages: Good mix of musical moods, suberb vocals and musicianship.
Disadvantages: None that I can see

...lyrics and melody. The Voyage is a good album for the Christy novice listener as it is not as political, perhaps, as some of his other albums.....or at least the songs contained on this album can be interpreted on different levels.There is also a fair mixture of light and shade, of lively and contemplative songs on this album. The title song has a haunting melody and lyrics which compare a long-term relationship with a sea voyage. The song is quite ...
...a popular choice to be played at weddings. The Mad Lady and Me has a wonderful narrative and it is up to the listener to conclude if the lyrics are a straight-forward piece of storytelling of are representational of something more profound. By the same songwriter (Jimmy MacCarthy) is the sublime song Bright Blue Rose which leaves the listener wishing to hear its' complex and (at times) unfathomable lyric over and over again in order to connect ...

Moongazinghare 23.04.2009 · Read full review

Review of Voyage - Christy Moore

My own personal folk heaven.

Advantages: Inspirational playing, clever arrangements, and a purity of purpose.
Disadvantages: Probably not for everyone.

Nic Jones has always been in the background of my life. From my earliest days we had a cassette tape of this fine album on our trips to the Lake District, and Nic's sonorous tones make that landscape come alive. Regarded by many folkies as Nic's best album, this was recorded at the zenith of his career, just two years before his tragic car accident. Unable to play since then, subsequent releases have been taken from live recordings at gigs and festivals, ...
...and arrangements at their peak. On Nic's playing, I have to say something that may sound over-enthusiastic. His ability to play rhythm and melody simultaneously is hard to match, even today. The depth of sound his guitar style creates is simply spell-binding, especially on his Canadee-I-O. Much of this album is related to the sea in one shape or another, and creates highly evocative images of the hardships of cold (The Little Pot Stove) and the ...

RowanBirtwater 27.10.2008 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Penguin Eggs - Nic Jones

'JOANNA...A Hymn of Devotion

Advantages: incredibly underrated music very well produced and presented
Disadvantages: none

...Devotion’ James Young's Joanna was made on the battered upright piano in his house - an instrument most pianists would reject without a moment's hesitation. Bad pianos - in pubs, bars, clubs, cafes and the parental home - are the bane of musicians and music teachers: the sustain pedal doesn't work; the felts are worn; mezzopiano is indistinguishable from fortissimo. And that's before you get on to the problem of keeping it in tune. Players develop ...
...wisdom on its head. Joanna is a hymn of devotion that both dignifies and delights in his old piano's imperfections. As Billy Jenkins wrote in Notes on Crap Pianos: "Years of warp and deterioration have ripened each mechanical artefact into its own unique sound. Do not attempt music scored for a good piano." Young describes his piano as "a ready-made that needed to be celebrated for its intrinsic peculiarities". There are antecedents: Virginia Astley's ...

JLWguardian 28.10.2009 · Read full review

Review of Joanna - James Young

"Remembering The Day", thought provoking and uplifting music!

Advantages: Beautiful, thought provoking and uplifting music
Disadvantages: none

"Remembering The Day" is such an evocative, beautiful, touching and sensual album, composed / performed by the multiple award winning violinist / composer Catya Maré. I´d like to recommend it to everybody who likes world / ambient / new age music! It is highly original. A mixture of ambient / electronica / classical / new age and world elements. And, in my opinion, it really touches your soul, leaves you refreshed after listening. Catya´s violin ...
...special. In some of her songs she combines her mesmerizing violin sound with a choir, that adds an ethereal quality to the song. I love it! If you like Deep Forest, Enigma, Delirium or classical crossover artists like Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli you might love this one. Worth the money... Cheapest buy at: http://www.soundloud.com/catyamare.aspx Also check out her websites..... www.catyamare.com or www.myspace.com/catyamar ...

Harry112222 27.10.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Remembering The Day - Catya Mare

LIGHT LONGING....sensual, gorgeous instrumental songs

Advantages: Original, uplifting, worth the money
Disadvantages: none

Light Longing is such a beautiful, touching and sensual album, composed / performed by the multiple award winning violinist / composer Catya Maré. I´d like to recommend it to everybody who needs some positive energy...it is highly original music. A mixture of ambient / electronica / classical and world elements. And, in my opinion, it really touches your soul, leaves you refreshed after listening. Catya´s violin sounds more like a female voice than ...

Harry112222 27.10.2009 · Read full review

Review of Light Longing - Catya Mare