Customer Reviews

Celtic Collections: Hedge School

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

 

 

Ordered the CD after listening to the samples. While not necessarily Irish Music in the traditional mode. It is still great incorporating a hard riving rock sound to the traditional favorites. I in most cases preferred the upbeat sound with the utilization of the various instruments.

My two teenage daughters appreciated the music also, not bad when were talking music differences of a few decades!

Dave

Many groups abound today purporting to perform "Celtic Rock" or "Folk-Rock", which usually means that they perform traditional folk songs utilizing traditional folk instruments like mandolin, violin, Ulleian pipes, bagpipes, whistles, etc. combined with the rock instruments of electric guitar, electric bass, keyboards (possibly)and drums to modernize the folk style and create a rock-folk hybrid. This has been done with varying degrees of success. What makes Hedge School unique in this vast genre is that they perform traditional folk music SOLELY on the rock instruments of electric guitar, electric bass, and drums with NO traditional folk instruments employed whatsoever other than a very infrequent whistle or piano. The result is rock music that in no way resembles the folk-rock sound of Hedge School's contemporaries; in fact, the folk element is completely missing except for the folk melody which is usually played on electric guitar. This effort could best be described as mixed. The combination of churning metal chords and the weak, thin voice of the vocalist would become a complete, mediocre-bar-band-sounding bore were it not for the great, melodic guitar solos which kick in and rescue the songs just when you are about to start yawning. When the guitar solos come in, this album ROCKS and it becomes a pure joy to listen to. Some of the solos are so reminiscent of Ronnie-James-Dio-Era-Rainbow that I had to check the credits to make sure Ritchie Blackmore wasn't playing on this album! (Unfortunately, there are no credits). This is definitely for those who prefer the "rock" end of the spectrum of folk-rock. Bur be forwarned - it takes several listenings to get past the weak, at times slightly off-key vocals and the dull, churning power chords which, sometimes tend to bog down parts of some of the songs. And sign up the guitar player to a major contract, please, once we find out who he is!

Many groups abound today purporting to perform "Celtic Rock" or "Folk-Rock", which usually means that they perform traditional folk songs utilizing traditional folk instruments like mandolin, violin, Ulleian pipes, bagpipes, whistles, etc. combined with the rock instruments of electric guitar, electric bass, keyboards (possibly)and drums to modernize the folk style and create a rock-folk hybrid. This has been done with varying degrees of success. What makes Hedge School unique in this vast genre is that they perform traditional folk music SOLELY on the rock instruments of electric guitar, electric bass, and drums with NO traditional folk instruments employed whatsoever other than a very infrequent whistle or piano. The result is rock music that in no way resembles the folk-rock sound of Hedge School's contemporaries; in fact, the folk element is completely missing except for the folk melody which is usually played on electric guitar. This effort could best be described as mixed. The combination of churning metal chords and the weak, thin voice of the vocalist would become a complete, mediocre-bar-band-sounding bore were it not for the great, melodic guitar solos which kick in and rescue the songs just when you are about to start yawning. When the guitar solos come in, this album ROCKS and it becomes a pure joy to listen to. Some of the solos are so reminiscent of Ronnie-James-Dio-Era-Rainbow that I had to check the credits to make sure Ritchie Blackmore wasn't playing on this album! (Unfortunately, there are no credits). This is definitely for those who prefer the "rock" end of the spectrum of folk-rock. Bur be forwarned - it takes several listenings to get past the weak, at times slightly off-key vocals and the dull, churning power chords which, sometimes tend to bog down parts of some of the songs. And sign up the guitar player to a major contract, please, once we find out who he is!

Not really note-worthy. If you want hard celtic rock I would recommend Wolfstone instead---much more talent than these boys.

If you like Thin Lizzy / Big Country / Horslips then you are in for a treat . I came across this purely by accident but it seems it is easy enough to get hold of and if you can get hold of it you won't want to let go.It rocks like a trailer trash caravan on a Friday night ..do yourself a favour and take a chance . Go back to the Hedge School and learn what Irish Rock is meant to be about this is the type of band where it all started..Brilliant. Cheers Peter

There is awesome power and energy in this music. There are powerful political statements, and there's just plain fun. Hedge School can really play, and knows why it is playing.