Customer Reviews

Castle Dangerous

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I've been a fan of the lovely Browne sisters and Gorgeous George since I first saw them perform at the Glendale Peforming Arts theatre nearly 15 years ago! Their first album has been out of print forever, but this second album still has a lot of that early rough charm.

Like the first album, CASTLE DANGEROUS is still very traditional in choice of material and overall feel. There are a couple of original works, but the refreshing thing about this CD is the inspired choice of traditional songs -- and the unique arrangements. For me this has always been a strength of this talented group, although they've moved on to electric guitars and more contemporary songs. Songs of haunting beauty like Kirkconnell Lee or Lament For Mary Queen of Scots are just never performed by the reigning women of Celtic music, and I hate to think that we won't see more.

On the plus side, these ladies will try anything! I have no idea what Gaelic songs like "The Jealous Woman" or "A Thousand Curses on Love" mean, but there's so much passion and intensity in the performance that they grip my heart every time.

And we can't leave out Cousin George. As much as I love the ladies, I would buy George's solo album in a heartbeat. That easy, mellow voice and fluid guitar sum up everything that makes the California Celtic sound so distinct.

I had the unexpected opportunity to hear these excellent musicians play live at the Campbell Highland Fair in the Bay Area years ago, where I immediately picked up their CD. I have never regretted my purchase. I enjoy many different kinds and interpretations of folk-music, but this cd has the Browne sister's distinct harmonies in every piece. My favorites are 'Gypsies in the Wood', 'The Irish Boy' 'Smugglers' and 'Mile Marbhaigh Air Ghaol' (A thousand curses on love). A storng point of this cd is that the songs are not what you usually hear from folk groups; I am not sure if they are all traditional or new, but all of them are excellent. Even 'Black is the Colour' is a beautiful rendition, although celtic folk-music buffs will have heard the tune before. I liked their second cd as well, but Castle Dangerous rarely leaves my car's cd mixer, and I can aways listen to it again with enjoyment, and a certain sense of peace from the purity of the melodies, and the often mellow, tradtional instrumentation.

"Castle Dangerous" does not start out like your typical Browne Sisters CD. After all, the first thing you hear is the instrumental title track complete with bagpipes. Rest assured however, that the next several tracks will meet the expectations of any Celtic music lover. This traditional CD delves into the Celtic mythology of gypsies with the song "Gypsies in the woods." There are also the typical love ballads like "Black is the Color" and one of my favorites "the Irish Boy." If you like the softer side of Celtic music then this is the CD for you.