Before I get to today’s review and giveaway, I’d like to announce the winners of our Julie Fowlis contest. I had a good many people enter and I so wish I had enough CDs to give you all, but the winners are Duncan and Laura! And since we had such a great turnout, and it is St. Patrick’s Day after all, I decided to draw a name from the ones left to win a copy of Murphy’s Irish Pub, a lively instrumental album. Our runner up and winner of Murphy’s Irish Pub is Tony! Congrats to everyone! Emails will be sent to you shortly. To those who didn’t win, don’t worry, you can try again with today’s giveaway. Now, on to Altan …

No traditional Irish band in the last twenty years has had a wider impact on audiences and music lovers throughout the world than Altan. In fact, they were the first group (along with Clannad) that I came in contact with when I began to explore the music of my heritage. Since then, they have delighted me immensely.

What’s so special about this album commemorating their twenty-five years together is the mixture of their timeless folk sound with that of the RTÉ Concert Orchestra of Dublin. This is a pairing made in heaven. Most often when folk groups collaborate with classical it’s not at all pretty, but something magical has happened here and I’m left in awe. The orchestra has taken Altan’s classic precision harmonies up a notch and what we get is nothing less than enchanting. Read the rest of this entry »

** Contest located at the end of my review. **

I cannot recall where I first came in contact with Julie’s music, but I believe it was through a friend in Wales who sent me her second album ‘Cuilidh’ back in 2008. Since then, I’ve been following her career and was quite happy to see her new album, ‘Uam’, listed on eMusic one day in January especially since it wasn’t scheduled for release in the states until March 9th. Needless to say, I snatched it up without delay.

‘Uam’ is Julie’s third album as a solo artist, and is probably her best yet. The title of her junior endeavor translates as ’from me’, and that is exactly what we have here—incredibly rich renditions of traditional Gaelic tunes (and even one written by Julie and Éamon for a family wedding), in which Julie’s beguiling voice never fails to enchant. The listener gets the feeling that these songs are ones that mean a lot of Julie and in that sense are from her, a gift held dear and shared with us. Read the rest of this entry »

Celtic Passage by Deirdre Ní Chinnéide. © 2007 Sounds True. Music CD. Celtic/World/New Age. 13 tracks. Total Time: 53:12. [ Purchase ]

Hailing from Inis Mór, the largest of the Árran Islands, Deirdre Ní Chinnéide, a psychotherapist who works in the specialized field of trauma and recovery, uses her passionate voice and lyrics to take us on a journey to healing. Dipping deep into the well of Irish heritage and Celtic Christianity, Deirdre weaves a moving tapestry of past and present, of ancestors and saints. Read the rest of this entry »

Mar a Tha Mo Chridhe by Julie Fowlis. © 2007 Machair Records. Audio/Music CD. Celtic / Folk / Scottish / Traditional. 12 Tracks. Total Time: 41:64. [ Purchase ]

Julie Fowlis’ Mar a Tha Mo Chridhe [“as my heart is”] is a stunning coming together of time-honored Gaelic songs. Performed in the native tongue of Gàidhlig (Scots Gaelic), Mar a Tha Mo Chridhe combines exceptional vocal work as well as extraordinary instrumentals to create a truly exquisite and charming opus of melodious art. Mar a Tha Mo Chridhe transports traditional songs into the modern age, preserving them for many generations to come. For those interested, my personal favorites are ‘Tha Mo Ghaol Air Àird a’ Chuain’ and ‘A Mhaighdeannan ‘s a Mhnathan Òg’. Read the rest of this entry »

Maiden’s Prayer by Lisa Lynne. © 2001 New Earth Records. Audio CD. Celtic/New Age. 11 Tracks. Total Time: 54:19. Original Release Date: October 2, 2001. [ Purchase ]

Maiden’s Prayer is Lisa Lynne’s debut album with New Earth Records and is a stunning work of art. Accompanying Lisa Lynne on Celtic harp is a superb ensemble of Renaissance (Musica Angelica) and Persian (The Lian Ensemble) musicians and players (performing woodwinds, lute, santour, tar, dulcimer, exotic strings and peaceful world percussion), by which creating a tapestry of richness and splendor. Read the rest of this entry »

Celtic Fantasy. David Davidson. © 2000 Green Hill Productions. Celtic. Music CD. 14 tracks. 53:28 minutes. [ Purchase ]

From Back Cover: “The Irish peasants, left to fend for themselves in a world dominated by a corrupted church, oppressive landlords and an absence of local government and medicine, turned to their own imagination to understand the world around them. From haunting ballads to spry dances, this music was inspired by their legends, their lore, and their fantasies.” Read the rest of this entry »