Customer Reviews

Between Worlds

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Anyone who loved the Mysts of Time by Aine Minogue - and who didn't? - will also love Between Worlds. It has that same ethereal feel, the same mystical musical background, and the same lovely, soprano voice floating all over each Celtic aire.

The only real difference between the albums is that this one has a less cohesive theme. Not every piece of music fits cleanly into the category "Celtic", nor does each song fit perfectly into an album "theme". The inclusion of Across the Universe by the Beatles stands out as an example of that.

But the one thing all of these pieces have in common is their beauty and heavenly, angelic style. Like the Mysts of Time, this album fills your home with grace and a holy, crystalline sound.

The song "Rosemary Fair" is a particularly gorgeous surprise on this album. Sung as a duet with a silky-voiced gentleman, this song is the original version of Simon and Garfunkel's Scarborough Fair. The words are different, but that beautiful melody is the same. I think you'll love it.

Probably, you'll love the whole album.

It seems that contemporary Celtic music has been largely polarized into two warring camps (a fine Celtic tradition there!): the traditionalists and the anti-traditionalists, of which there are many varieties, ranging from the folk-rockers to the new agers. Little wonder that Minogue chose Between The Worlds as a title. At first it may come as a surprise that the Beatles and O'Carolan can share a disc, but once you recognize that Minogue's roots literally draw from ancient and modern sources, it all comes clear. (Incidentally, her cover of "Across The Universe" is the best interpretation of the song since Laibach did it on their Let It Be album.) Her harp-playing is superb, and her voice is exquisite. If you have a sense of adventure and are open to enchantment, this disc is a rare find.

I heard a track from this album in a store and inquired about the artist. She has a haunting, breathy, ethereal sound, reminicient of Enya. Her vocals are exceptional and she accompanies herself with the harp. Her rendition of the Beatles classic "Between the Worlds" is outstanding.

Aine Minogue has one of the most enchanting otherworldly voices you'll ever hear and her skillful mastery of the Irish harp is without equal. 'Between The Worlds' is one of those very special albums/CD's that don't come around very often. Simply the best Celtic music I've ever heard and I've heard and own alot!

This CD is now OOP, so purchase it used while it's still available. This really is one you don't want to miss.

Similar in style to Minogue's previous release, "The Mysts of Time," this album features lush, laid-back renditions of Celtic and Celtic-inspired tunes, sung in a light, whispery voice by Minogue or gently plucked out on her Irish harp, with vocal and instrumental backing by a variety of guest artists. Mysterious, delicate, ephemeral, spiritual - all these words are applicable to this music, which attempts to evoke the invisible, the unworldly, that which cannot be seen but which has subtle and unavoidable influence on worldly affairs. A few of the tracks on "Between the Worlds" are livelier than that, such as "Mal Bhan Ni Chuilionain" and the "Jezebel Carol," and provide a nice change of pace. But the predominant mood of this CD is lyrical and dreamy. Joining Minogue are vocalists John Arimond, Alasdair Halliday and Jeramie Hammond; fiddle player Winnie Horan; percussionist Takaaki Masuko; cellist Barry Phillips; guitarist John McGann; Seamus Egan on guitar, whistles and flutes; Lindsey Horner on double bass; Daniel Orlanski on steel cello and didgeridoo; and the ArdenString Quartet. Minogue offers more such music on her subsequent album, "Celtic Meditation Music," but without vocals. For other relaxing, Celtic-inspired music, try also the work of harpist/vocalists Kim Robertson and Loreena McKennitt, and harpist Lisa Lynne.

Though I found the arrangement, Fyvie Castle (track 7) annoying, and the whistling and the tenor in Rosmary Faire (track 8) ill-suited, (it would have been superb with just Aine's voice), this is an album worth owning. Aine has an angelic voice that blends beautifully with accompanying instruments.