Search - Connemara :: Siren Song

An Enchanting Dream-like Audio Voyage of Celtic Sea Songs

DRSTONE@prodigy.net | Downey, Southern California | 09/15/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Once again the team of Vocalist/Guitarist Grace Griffith and Fiddler/Arranger Cathy Palmer, who call their group "Connemara" has produced an awe inspiring recording with their latest (1995) recording "Siren Song." Grace and Cathy are once again joined by Zan Mcleod, and also Harpists Sue Richards, Julia Lane, Carol Thompson and Mary Fitzgerald. Other musicians of note here are box player Billy McComiskey and hammered dulcimer player Jody Marshall, and more. Together these fine musicians have produced a rare pearl (Pun intened!) of an album. At once it transports you to the foggy mists and seascapes of the Brittish Isles. You will vision Sea spray, and foam and feel the gentle rocking of the boat when your feet are not moving to the lively jigs and reels. There have been many Celtic based recordings made with the theme of "The Celtic Sea", but not many as effective and beautiful as this recording. The album opens with the gourgeous instumental "The Song of the Seals/The Song of the Water Kelpie", the first piece an ancient Scottish air and the second being one of the most beautiful examples of tradtional Manx folk music. All of the instrumentals on this album evoke a calming and healing "Sea Mood", and will transport you to another time and place, if you allow it. Other instrumentals to note are "Sea Moods/Rowing from Isla to Uist", which makes you feel as if you were on a fishing boat, Peter Jungs' "Far Away/Sea and Sky", and Harpist Sylvia Woods' "Dialogue with a Brook." Cathy Palmers' arrangements here hit the mark, and her shining moment comes at the end of the album with her piece "The Storm Tossed Sea." Grace Griffith's lush, mystic and simply outstanding vocals on the songs are the glue along with the great instumentals that make "Siren Song" the gem that it is. Vocal highlights include "Dublin Lady", "Sea Fever" with the beautiful instumental introduction "Silent Star", by Executive Producer Susan Maule, "Sailing/Ships are Sailing", "Ripples in the Rockpools/Kiss of the Fiddle", "Siren Song", co-written by Grace & Zan, and "The Mermaid's Tale/The Mermaid's Song" inspired by the Tannahill Weavers. To sum this album up--you quite simply cannot find a finer balance of songs and instruments about the sea anywhere. Each album by "Connemara" gets better and better, and one only hopes for something new from them soon, as previously mentioned in my review of "Beyond the Horizon", they are among the best of the fairly unknown Celtic groups in America today.--do not hesitate to pick up this album up if you are a lover of Celtic, World, New Age or just heartfelt music-this certainly fits that billing."

Gem. Classic. Spectacular.

Cathryn Bauer | Danville, California | 11/27/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Thanks to Connemara for bringing these beautiful songs to life in such a distinctive setting. Gem. Classic. Spectacular. Don't miss it."