Delirium [Original recording reissued]

Capercaillie | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 2, 2002)
• Original Release Date: 1996
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued
• Label: Valley
• ASIN: B000068R2W
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #140,009 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Capercaillie CD I've heard so far, October 31, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Delirium (Audio CD)

I'm new to Celtic/Scottish music. I started out with Capercaillie's _Beautiful Wasteland_, loved it so much I ordered _Delirium_ here on Amazon and thought it was BETTER than _Beautiful Wasteland_. Favourite tracks include: (1) Rann Na Mona, (2) Waiting For The Wheel To Turn, (4) Cape Breton Song, (8) Coisich, A Ruin, and (11) Breisleach. Listen to the samples here and hear for yourself! The difficult part now is to choose my next Capercaillie CD...

BTW, I also ordered Karen Matheson's solo CD, _The Dreaming Sea_. Same beautiful voice, soothing songs...

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, July 19, 2002

By 

Monica Chavez (Garland, Texas USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Delirium (Audio CD)

I was first introduced to this band by way of the Putumayo Women of the World: Celtic CD (also excellent), and Capercaillie's work stood above the rest. As you may have read, Karen Matheson has a gorgeous voice that can be both ethereal and earthly. I had heard Delirium was their best album yet, and I knew several songs on it, so I got it. The first track, "Rann Na Móna" has wonderful energy and is a great start to the album. "Cape Breton Song" has a very mystical quality about it, and "Heart of the Highland" is warm and inviting. The instrumental pieces were good and even if you don't usually like instrumental pieces I think you will like these, especially "Islay Ranter's Reels". It is quick-paced and addictive and of course the fiddle and other instruments are played wonderfully. Of the slower songs, in my opinion "Dean Sàor An Spiórad" is best. It is a pleasant mix of Gaelic and English lyrics, as is the entire album. Perhaps the only song that disappointed me was "Waiting for the Wheel to Turn", as it seemed a bit slow, but that's probably because I first heard a live version of it which was much more energetic and inspiring. Anyway, I'd recommend this to anyone who likes Celtic music and even to those who don't, because it's among the best there is.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delicious Celtic-fusion, May 17, 2003

By 

Samhot (Star Land) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Delirium (Audio CD)

What an hugely excellent find for me. I just discovered this jewel (and the band for that matter) a little over a month ago, and this has become one of the biggest addictions in my music collection.

The band (on this album anyway) happens to make a humble amalgamation of Celtic, latin, folk and contemporary pop which is so addictive and irresistable due to it's high-melodic content, catchiness and the sweet, pure and virginal voice of lead singer Karen Matheson. The amalgamation is a nicely impressive and inexcessive blend, since it doesn't seem too extreme in either direction, but rather each form gently deflects off the other in quite a breezy and balanced way. To further enhance my point, it's quite impressive how ethereal, exotic and wispy the music is, but also how grounded, earthy and organic it is at the exact same time. The lyrics are sometimes sung in Gaelic, and others in English.

Overall, the musicianship is highly impressive, and there is literally not one bad track on this album. Also, out of all 48 minutes, there isn't a single one of them that doesn't feature an ear-pleasing melody. The album opens with "Rann Na Móna," which starts out with some breezy synthesizers, which are then fronted by Karen's wispy and soaring vocal. It then kicks into a tasty Celtic-pop fest, featuring one of the most addictive chorus' I've ever heard in music. "Waiting For The Wheel To Turn" is another addictive and melodic number. "Aodann Srath Bhain" is such a romantic beauty to listen to. A slow, mellow and airy song, it's one you can listen to over and over while you're looking out the window on a lonely, foggy morning - assuming your mood is close to that. Let Karen Matheson's voice soothe your soul.

Elsewhere, "You Will Rise Again" is a fine, melodic pop song which is great to sing along to, as it's inspirational as well, while "Kenny MacDonald's Jigs" is an addictive 'jig' with some kicking basslines and some nice accordion and fiddle. "Coisich, a Ruin" features some tasty and addictive Latin rhythms and percussion, fronted by some chantesque vocal harmonies, which give the track a spiritual aura. Excellent stuff. "Heart of The Highland" possibly plays out in a slow, peaceful 6/8 rhythm, while Karen Matheson sings nicely on the verses. The chorus' featuring those airy vocal harmonies, which mostly emulate major triads are so heavenly. One of the strongest tracks on the album. "Breisleach" is an all synthesizer and vocal track. Matheson shows off a bit of her vocal range on this track. Reminds me slightly of Enya. "Islay Ranter's Reels" is just simply a fun and addictive instrumental track, and "Servant To The Slave" is a beautiful contemporary pop song to close out the album. Once again, Karen's vocals on here are blissful.

This is excellent music of the highest order. Now, I have to look into getting more albums from this band. Please, don't pass this up if you like ethereal, organic, melodic and ear-pleasing music. It's quite criminal that this isn't too popular (here anyway.)