Search - Beyond the Pale :: Strange Turns

A CD That Every Celt (and Wannabe) Should Own

Frank Grainger | Longview, Texas, USA | 04/25/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Beyond the Pale in general and Strange Turns in particular are the embodiment of the "living" nature of folk music or, at least, what it should be. As the CD's title implies, the group's music covers a wide variety of tunes and styles, but never veers off the folk road. The tracks glide with an alacrity born of consummate musicians from the country/folk standard "Jolene" to powerful a capella paeans to working class dignity, "Old and Strong" and "Honest Work" (both outstanding in their starkness) to wonderfully lively instrumentals such as the set of traditional Breton dances collectively named "The Hoochie Dance" by Christy McLeod and "Traveling North America" (a sort of Whitman's Sampler of American folk styles across the continent).



The CD title actually derives from a line in Gordon McLeod's original song, "The Red-Haired Boys". Ironically, when Beyond the Pale taps into the ancient Celtic mythic/folkloric vein, it is most evident when the group is doing Gordon McLeod's original songs. Besides the aforementioned "Red-Haired Boys" (which is paired with the traditional "Garrett Barry's Jig"), the CD also includes Gordon's "The Fate of the Children of Lir", with haunting lyrics beautifully sung by his wife, Christy. And don't let the title of bandmember/piper Richard Kean's instrumental throw you; "Sputnik's Lullaby" is a reference to his cat.



Luckily for me, the CD also includes one of my personal favorites at Beyond the Pale concerts, "With Her Head Tucked Underneath Her Arm", a 1930s-era lighthearted poke at King Henry VIII's ill-fated Anne Boleyn. This song never fails to inspire pleny of audience participation. However, if you're unfortunate enough never to have seen/heard Beyond the Pale live, do yourself a favor. Owning and hearing the CD Strange Turns is the next best thing. It's an absolute treat."