Customer Reviews

Cape Breton Fiddle Music Not Calm

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is Ashley MacIsaac at full speed ahead, without all the bells and whistles. Two fiddles (Ashley and Howie MacDonald), piano, and drums, and you've got it: all the raw energy of "Hi, How Are You Today?" without the studio effects, overlays, bagpipes, and electric guitars.

Ashley live can be astounding. No recording can truly generate or reproduce the live experience; but to the extent Ashley can be captured and digitized, this album is up to the challenge.

Ashley's fans of his electrified albums should not be put off by the more traditional set of instruments here. This album is scorching and well played at full volume. capebretonfiddlemusicNOTCALM is what it really sounds like in the pubs and halls of Atlantic Canada when the beer is flowing, feet are stomping, and the musicians let out all the stops.

The album also holds up under a careful listen for those interested in the artistry of the driven Canadian/Scottish style of fiddle music forged in the kitchens, halls, and pubs of Cape Breton Island. No lover of Celtic fiddle, traditional or cutting edge, should be without this album.

Howie & Ashley's performance on this CD make it an essential CD in your collection if you love the Celtic/East Coast/Fiddle Music. Hearing music recorded in a studio is one thing, but hearing it in a live setting such as this CD is another. Makes you feel like you are right there. A definite CD to have on during a party, especially if you can't be in Cape Breton.

this is a great live cd. the energy is great, the sound quality surprisingly good and the musicians just play and play. if you like traditional cape breton fiddle music it doesn't get any better than this. much more enjoyable than the live disc from natalie macmaster's live album. the first set is especially good. you will play this cd over and over.

just so you know...on track 7 of cape breton fiddle music NOT CALM...it ends very quickly ....without warning...in talking with the producers..they say.... " while out on the road we ran outta tape and it was too good a track to not use....so that's how it ends "...REALITY fiddle music ...LOVE IT !

I heard Ashley MacIsaac on the radio talking about this CD and playing a bit of its music. It sounded great. But the initial press run was quite small and I missed a new copy. And although I've had my order in to buy a used copy for 3 YEARS (!), nothing has ever turned up. In this case "order a used copy" seems to be cynically offering false hope.

A YEAR LATER:
I _finally_ obtained one of few used rare copies. The lesson for musicians seems to be don't tee off the studio if they control the rights to your recordings. When this happens retail/broker "business as usual" can be highly misleading.

can somebody tell me more about whether this CD has electric guitars ala Hi How Are You, or is it more traditional music? Post here, I'll check back. thanks

I really enjoy this CD,not only do I know it was fun to make- I was there,but I think it reads very well,for that which is to say,it sounds like when it was being recorded.Very High energy fidle music.I'd buy two,if my first one broke!HA.