[FM] review of Gaelic Storm's CD "Tree"

[celtic-folk@surfnetusa.com]

Below is my review of Gaelic Storm's CD "Tree".

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                             A Review of the CD
                                   "Tree"
                              by Gaelic Storm

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"Tree"
by Gaelic Storm

copyright 2001
Higher Octave Music
23858 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite 2C
Malibu, CA 90265
http://www.gaelicstorm.com
http://www.higheroctave.com

This review is written by Kevin McCarthy, 11/01
mailto:celtic-folk@surfnetusa.com
"Kevin's Celtic & Folk Music CD Reviews"
http://www.surfnetusa.com/celtic-folk/index.html

Harmonically converging in Los Angeles from such disparate geographic
points as London, Coventry, Cork City, Chicago and New York, the liveliness
of this band of musicians would even get your austere Aunt Bridie out on
the dance floor. Although in her case, she might justify her tripping the
light fantastic under the camouflage of a "mass of celebration."

Blending guitar, mandolin, fiddle, whistle, accordion, and bouzouki, with a
variety of both vocals and percussion instruments, Gaelic Storm offers a
pleasing mix of traditional songs and others composed mainly by band
members. Blended in are primarily fast-paced traditional instrumentals,
some with a slight twist to their arrangement.

Opening the release is "The Beggarman," performed at warp speed in an
almost Celtic hip-hop vein. The entertaining "Johnny Tarr" has a most
unusual twist as the protagonist inexplicably expires in a pub from a most
unusual cause.

"Swimmin' In The Sea" depicts the delight of childhood seaside vacations in
the Cornwall area of England. The venerable "Black Is The Colour" is given
a haunting guitar lead-in, amply aided by percussion and whistle. A
sizeable age difference proves a major impediment to any possibilities of
love developing in "Go Home, Girl!"

The Janis Ian-penned "Mary's Eyes" is an exquisitely touching inclusion. A
sampling:

     "Mary's eyes are startling blue
     And her hair's Newcastle gold
     And she walks the thin white line between the body and the soul
     She's as faithful to her history
     As a novice to his fast
     For she's standing on the bones of Ireland's past...

     Mary's wise as she is foolish
     She's as constant as the tide
     For it's a women's heart that beats beneath that stubborn Irish
     pride
     We are saints and we are sinners
     We are heroes we are thieves
     We are all of us beginners on the road to Gaililee..."

"The Plouescat Races" are fiddle and percussion-driven reels, separated by
a bit of mouth music and concluded with a whistle session. "Thirsty Work"
is also a set of reels carried by whistle and percussion.

Why listen to this band? The infectious energy of the music for starters.
The invigorating use of percussion appears to be a Gaelic Storm trademark,
playing an enjoyably prominent role in both their songs and instrumentals.
The quality of the musicianship is excellent and they toss in just enough
humor and melancholy to engage the scales of human emotion.

Making up the band are Patrick Murphy on vocals, piano accordion, spoons
and harmonica; Steve Twigger on vocals, bouzouki, guitar and mandolin;
Steve Wehmeyer on vocals, bodhran, didgeridoo and snare bodhran; Kathleen
Keane on vocals, fiddle, whistle and button accordion; and Shep Lonsdale on
djembe, doumbek, and surdo. Mike Porcaro plays bass as a guest artist.

Track List:

   * Beggarman (3:44)
   * Before The Night Is Over (4:52)
   * Johnny Tarr (3:30)
   * Swimmin' In The Sea (4:20)
   * The Plouescat Races (4:27)
   * Black Is The Colour (5:30)
   * Mary's Eyes (4:17)
   * New York Girls (4:23)
   * An Poc Ar Buile (3:58)
   * Thirsty Work (3:33)
   * I Thought I Knew You (3:28)
   * Go Home, Girl! (3:26)
   * Midnight Kiss (6:00)
   * Walk Through My Door (3:54)

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Send inquiries to: celtic-folk@surfnetusa.com.





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Kevin McCarthy
mailto:celtic-folk@surfnetusa.com
Celtic & Folk Music CD Reviews
http://www.surfnetusa.com/celtic-folk/index.html