Customer Reviews

Celtic Soul

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Noirin Ni Riain's gorgeous soprano brings this well-chosen collection of Celtic songs to unforgettable life. It is a musical banquet of some of the loveliest traditional and modern tunes, and her crystalline voice is a never-failing delight.Her version of the ancient "Down By the Salley Gardens" is the voice of Ireland itself. A must for the many fans of Celtic music, and especially this very talented singer.

I love this alblum! It is a very eclectic mix of Indian and Irish moods--sung by an artist whose voice soars with the angels.I am especially empassioned by Ms. Ni Riain's rendering of "Down by the Sally Gardens"--W.B. Yeats. I got to tell you-- being an amatuer poet--that this one song alone has put my soul into many a writing mood. Tremendous CD throughout!

This lady has the most beautiful voice I have ever heard. I sit and listen and get mesmerized. She is definitely five star.

Having spent last year in Ireland, upon my return I searched the music stores of America, trying to recapture the musical essence of the land I'd fallen in love with (but then, doesn't everyone?). The island is filled to the brim with excellent amateur musicians, so getting to be a top professional amongst all that competition is a serious challenge. The top female vocalists in the traditional Celtic genre have an additional requirement for exquisite pitch and vocal control, rivalled only by professional opera singers. But when you find a great one, her voice can move the soul of the most weary critic. Not until I stumbled upon this album did a tear come to my eye. Noirin Ni Riain's clearly Celtic heritage shines through on this album and takes me right back to Galway. Her vocal range is outstanding and her control among the best. The twelve tracks are well-chosen to showcase her ability and that of her outstanding accompanyists.If you love traditional Gaelic melodies and unique harmony, look no further. This should be the FIRST album in your collection.

This recording is a treasure. I love the more spiritual types of Celtic Music and this one is a gem. However, I have the cassette version and noticed there are tracks that are on it which are not listed on the CD version on this website listing. My favorite song is missing! It is "Ode to Bridget". Is this just an error or did the CD actually not include this song? In any case, I have been dancing to this song for several years now, and the Gaelic lyrics continue to haunt me every time I set body in motion to the rhythm of this ode. And although none of the other songs "grab me" in the same way, I enjoy them all and find listening to this recording a wonderful way to either start or end a day. It really creates a sacred space. I have heard from other more "serious" collectors of Celtic Music that this recording was a bit of a "sell-out" and that her earlier recordings were more geniune in style. Her collaboration with Paul Winter certainly adds a unique touch which is probably not part of the traditional way of presenting these songs. I was not bothered by his contributions however, but would like to hear some of her earllier stuff just the same to see if there is anything to the complaint. .... .... In any case, this recording is wonderful and I hope more become available before my cassette gets too worn! It is a regular resident in the cassette player in my home.

I first learned of Norin Ni Riain through a song called "Port Nu Bpucai" on a CD called Elevation about ten years ago and loved it the first time I heard it. I eventually got the album it came on "Celtic Soul" and I was absolutely mesmerized by the entire album. Containing lots of traditional Celtic folk sounds throughout, this album also utilises some Western polish on some tracks and even incorporates jazz on the luminating track "The Cuckoo" which has a beautiful ambient atmosphere and sunny afternoon melody. Other tracks are also wonderful as well. Highly recommended.

What I expected to hear when I received this CD was something like an Enya recording: fun at first hearing but soon to wear out its welcome. Instead, what I heard was a rich, deep, and rewarding recording both musically and sonically. Singer Nóirín Ní Riain is accompanied on many of the cuts by the Paul Winter Consort, the result being a complex blend of instruments with a warm overall sonority that is undergirded in places by bass frequencies that really plumb the depths. The songs are an interesting mix of Celtic and Oriental, with texts and notes provided. In all, listening to this CD is a fascinating experience, and I recommend it quite highly.

I have bought three more of Noirin's cd's since buying this one. I absolutely love her pure clear voice. She adds such feeling to her songs. I say "move over, Enya" you have been topped.

Listen to her and you will agree that no one can match the range of feelings she puts out with her music. I watch for every album that she puts out, and snatch it up.

Celtic Soul
Celtic Soul
Amazon has two entries for this CD.

I discovered this album looking for music by Paul Winter, and it is a very welcome addition to my collection, although the instrumental contribution stays in the background and supports Noirin Ni Riain's wonderful, pure singing. Not speaking Gaelic, the lyrics go by me, but the melodies are infused with a clear emotion that travels straight to the heart. If you like traditional Celtic music, or Celtic-derived fusion, check this album out.

I am an artist and recently I was inspired to do an oil painting of the many exhausted faces of the 9/11 tragedy. The one tune "Song of the Pooka" made me see these grand souls that saved so many with their ultimate sacrifices in a very special light. Norin's voice gave my soul uplifting determination to give solomn expressions these great men and women deserve and to this particular tune and voice I am indebted! Listen to it and you will see what I mean!