HeartSounds, Shule Aroon (HeartSounds, 2002)
Pure Blarney, Here's to the Craic (Pure Blarney, 2001)


These two CDs have both similarities and differences. One similarity is that both include a number of well-known songs and tunes. This reviewer wonders, "Why record songs that have already been recorded by many others?" There are two main answers to that. The performer could be trying to add a new dimension to those songs, by treating them in a different way. They may have found that legendary missing verse or maybe they're attempting to bring out new emotions in the songs, to aim at an audience who are new to this kind of music. Many listeners have not heard Five Hand Reel's wonderful recording of "Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore", a song on Here's to the Craic, or the same group playing "My Love Is Like a Red, Red Rose", on Shule Aroon.

I feel clearly that both these groups have the second reason. They are not aiming at me or other listeners who have enjoyed this kind of music for ages. They want people to be able to buy a souvenir on the way home from the gig, and maybe on the way win some new converts. And judging them from that assumption they both do very well.

HeartSounds are an American duo, Mary Kay Mann, flutes, whistles, vocals and piano, and Janet Jackson-Witman, Celtic harp. They have used the studio facilities very cleverly, bringing in friends to help with percussion on some of the faster tracks and quite frequently overdubbing another flute or harp to make up a fuller sound.

As you might expect they produce smooth and gentle music, sometimes lacking the fire you often find in performances of jigs and reels, but always maintaining their dignity. I like them best when they play instrumentals and they do a fine version of "Star of the County Down", performed both as a waltz, a jig and a march. Another instrumental highlight is Jackson-Witman's solo, Carolan's "Sir Festus Burke". And they include a tune of their own as well, Kay Mann´s "Lost Lovers' Waltz", a slow beautiful lament.

There are five songs. My favorites are "The Foggy Dew" about the 1916 Easter Rising in Ireland and the title track. Kay Mann is always in tune and she knows how to sing in a traditional Irish manner, but her voice is not too strong, so I recommend them to dig a little deeper when finding songs for their next CD. She falls short in comparisons with other singers who have recorded the same songs.

From what I hear on their CD I would label Irish group Pure Blarney a good party band, ideal for a noisy Friday night in your local pub. With eight people in the band they produce a very full sound mixing drums, guitars, keyboards and bass with flutes, accordions and pipes. They have a tendency to go for the loud and boisterous, without descending to shouting.

The best thing about Pure Blarney is their ability to group songs and instrumentals into sets. They pair up songs like "Star of the County Down" and "I'll Tell Me Ma," "Muirsheen Duirkin" and "Catch Me If You Can" and into "The Bonnie Ship the Diamond" they throw in bits and pieces of "What Shall We Do With the Drunken Sailor." My favorite songs on this CD are Eric Bogle's "Green Fields of France", especially the haunting flute interludes, and "The Blue Nose", one of the few songs on the album new to me.

Here's to the Craic includes two instrumental sets as well, both built up in the usual pattern. The sets start with the bagpipes (Pure Blarney use the Scottish highland pipes) and then the band joins in after a while. Not bad by any standards, but not really inventive.

My main criticism is the lack of information. OK, so you were formed in 1999, but who wrote the songs? And where can I find more information about the group? No Web site is mentioned, and after searching the Net none could be found.

Both these CDs are well worth investigating if you are a newcomer to the Celtic folk music scene. They will both give you a fair selection of songs and tunes you should be familiar with. And if you like Celtic harps or flutes HeartSounds will give you a pleasant time. But for an old folkie like myself I do not find too many reasons to start bullying your local music provider to dig these CDs out for you. If, on the other hand either of the groups ever pass your way, go out and see them live.

[Lars Nilsson]

 

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