Search - Andy Irvine :: East Wind

Bringing it all back home

James M. Bergstrom | Alameda, CA USA | 10/08/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a very fine recording by some of Ireland's top musicians. The project is the brainchild of Andy Irvine (of Patrick Street) and is a labour of love resulting from his youthful tour of Eastern Europe. Bringing in Bill Whelan as arranger, Irvine assembled a group capable of any task to tackle and reveal the odd meter rhythms and melodies he encountered in his travels. This music soars even as it trips up the ear and dancer unaccustomed to it's beat. Davey Spillane (once of Moving Hearts, and a brilliant composer/performer in his own right) adds uillean pipes to the mix, Marta Sebastien (of Muzsikas) sings original language vocals on the two non-instrumental numbers. Most of the rest of the crew are Spillane's studio familiars and well able to render traditional and contemporary music with vitality and vigor. Check out the Bulgarian slow air "Illyrian Dawn", as beautiful as any known to Ireland, and made all the more so by Spillane's passionate piping. Get out your feet and move to "Chetvorno Horo" or "Pride of Macedonia" - even if you can dance to it you may find yourself stopping just to listen. Fine performances, fine material, fine production, and a wonderful bridge to the music of Eastern Europe for Celtophiles everywhere. The only reason I hold back a star is that Andy Irvine didn't find a song around which to wrap his own sweet voice - but maybe that's harsh - make it 5 stars. And then go out and make these guys and gals rich!"

Took weeks to leave my CD player!

B. E. Taylor | Exeter, New Hampshire United States | 08/14/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Bought this as am Riverdance fanatic. Wasn't even remotely disappointed. Can't say enough good about this. Enchanting, exciting, refreshing, still not tired of it. Never will be. May be other CDs of the gendre as good; absolutely none better."

Best CD Mix of Balkan & Irish Music with C. Euro Vocals

Erika Borsos | Gulf Coast of FL, USA | 04/12/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I love all these regional styles of music and singing *separately* ... therefore I had to have this CD ... where they are combined to experience this new phenomenon. The experiment is not definable but it works! It works superbly ... due to the depth and range of musicians and vocalists who have all achieved notice on the world music stage. Given the rise in status of Celtic music in the past 10 or more years, and since the Bulgarian Female Choirs/Choruses have done world tours -- the 5/16, 7/16, 9/16, and 11/16 rhythms have captivated many listeners wherever they have performed. This mix of music is fresh and exciting, very much alive and dynamic. The fact that Bill Whelan of River Dance fame helped produce it and adds his talent on keyboards and piano is a major plus. Andy Irvine of Planxty fame who is credited with having revived Old Time Irish music plays the bouzouki and hurdy gurdy with great talent and total committment. Davy Spillane provides the uillean pipes and low whistling music to round out the golden Irish touch. Nikola Parov adds more of the Balkan flavors playing the gadulka, kaval, gaida (bagpipes), and bouzouki. It is further spiced up with multiple percussions, saxophone, fiddle music and the accordion. The uniquely different mix of instruments proves highly successful. It creates a most pleasing sound, anyone who loves the original regional music will feel quite at home with this combination. Combine these tempting instruments with the ethereal haunting female vocals of Marta Sebestyen who opened the eyes and ears of the world to traditional Hungarian and Transylvanian songs and tunes ... this CD was destined to be a stellar musical production. It will not disappoint anyone who loves any of the individual styles of music or instruments which are featured in this production. Most highly recommended.

Erika Borsos (erikab93)"