Customer Reviews

Between Earth & Sky

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Last spring I attended a Tom Paxton concert where Robin Bullock was the only accompanist. I had never seen or heard of Robin before, and was amazed by his talent and versatility. At one point in the concert, Tom stepped back to let Robin do a solo on the mandolin, and the audience was in awe. On the way out of the concert, we bought this CD and now we listen to it all the time. It is not only Robin's talent I appreciate, but also the vitality and beaty of the pieces he performs. My husband takes it to work...his comments on it are "great" and "fantastic" The Music of "Between Earth and Sky" is both calming and uplifting at the same time. The intricacy of the finger picking takes the listener up hills and down into valleys on an unforgettable musical journey.

Every now and then a CD comes along that gives a jaded reviewer's ears an aural massage. This is one of those CDs. Coming from American multi-instrumentalist Robin Bullock, it is an all instrumental album of traditional and contemporary tunes played on cittern and guitar. And it is a dream.

With help on flute and whistle from Joanie Madden, and accordion from John Whelan, Robin Bullock provides moments of real Irish fire in the tune sets. There are also quieter moments that bring the music of 18th century Irish composer O'Carolan lovingly into the present. But for me the most exquisite tune is one of Bullock's own - "Stefan and Liz's Waltz". This beautiful slow waltz, somewhat reminiscent of "Ashokan Farewell" (the "Civil War" television theme), has all the depth and clarity of a mountain lake.

There are a couple of small complaints. Occasional passages rely too heavily on multi-tracking. While Mr Bullock plays all instruments frighteningly well, these passages fail to display the kind of synergy he achieves with "real" co-players. And although I found the djembe (percussion) on "Brew House Reel" clever, it is intrusively busy for this style of music. Still this is a CD that rarely disappoints, demonstrating that subtle and beautiful Celtic music can be produced on the American side of the Atlantic too.

Here I sit in my office in the middle of the night, grading tests, while Robin Bullock is my company. The music is intoxicating. The more i listen to it, the more beautiful it becomes. It is gentle and lilting at times, vivacious at others. There is not a track i don't like. Just exquisite.

Bullock is a talented musician who gives the listener a great taste of celtic music. It is truly amazing what he is able to do.

I had not heard of Robin Bullock until about a month ago, listening to [...]. Every time a song from this album was played, I was instinctively stop working and switch over to Pandora to give that song a "thumbs up." The music moved me unlike any of the other music of its kind that was playing. I gave in and purchased this album, and I am not disappointed. Every track is masterfully performed and recorded. His guests artists are all world-class musicians as well, and there is a singular synergy that can only come from years of playing with friends. I shall be looking into purchasing more of Mr. Bullock's albums.

Speaking as a budding classical guitarist my self, I hope I will get to meet Robin Bullock someday, perhaps when I return home to the DC area. I also hope to learn how to play the titular track.