Customer Reviews

Dublin to Dakar: Celtic Odyssey

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

 

 

A mixed bag, but overall, well worth listening to. Certain tracks have that infectious, can't-stop-hearing-it hook: Brigid Boden, Cheb Mami, and Rita Eriksen give us a taste of some seriously powerful rhythm & vocal combos. Cheb Mami in particular drives me crazy! Other tracks range from good-but-not-great (depending on your taste) to downright weird (Modena City Ramblers - Irish music, Italian singing!). The overall effect demonstrates just how eclectic the "Celtic" genre can be. If you haven't already heard some of the Celtic/World fusion bands (Kila, for example), this album can give you a good introduction.

This album is sure to open up people's minds about the Celtic culture...I know it did mine. I didn't, until hearing this cd realize that "Celtic" does not only mean Scotland and Ireland, but is far wider. The music on this album helps to show the spread of the Celtic people and culture, with music from Africa, Spain, Norway, England, Italy and others. The 23 page booklet contains a 2 page essay about the Celtic culture and influences worldwide, as well as a page on each artist and their song. This album showcases how music as diverse as reggae, Arabic and African can be blended with traditional celtic instuments and melodies. This album is truly an experience not to be missed.

Sometimes the Putumayo fusion albums can seem strained or bland. This album really works. I actually enjoyed the Italian Celtic mix. It was fabulous with real passion. I recommend this album for long journeys because you will never grew tired of it.

This has been long a favorite of my whole family, children and adults. Whenever we travel and have to limit the number of CDs we can carry this is the first chosen.

I was happy to find my cd in excellent condition, as if new! Thank you!

All Putamayo CDs I've heard have been pretty good, but this one is terrific. I especially like the Awaz (sp?) track.

Fanciful combinations of Celtic and other world music styles from African, Continental, Celtic and Scandinavian artists. The back cover of this album sums it up well: "African, Gypsy, Latin, Arabic, Indian, Scandinavian and Reggae elements are combined with Celtic music to create a unique, cross-cultural musical feast." Some of the more familiar musicians featured are Capercaillie, Kila, Aine Minogue, Alan Stivell, Baka Beyond and Cheb Mami. All of the selections are striking, but I particularly enjoy Monogue's slinky, spooky, tabla-punctuated "O Boro Braindi Braindi", and Mami's track "Azwaw2" which combines rai with the pipes, fiddles and flutes of the Breton group Bagad de Kemper. It is fascinating to listen to works like these and hear how seamlessly the music of different cultures, old and new, can flow together. "All are one", and yet individuality is not only maintained but celebrated. (May life do a better job of imitating art ... !)

this cd has a wonderful mix between celtic and international sounds. it was very stimulating and interesting.

When Putumayo made this compilation,"Lord of the Dance"&"Riverdance" were smash hits.ANYTHING Celtic was in.Strangely,Putumayo's Celtic collections aren't its best.

This album has a few highlights.
Youssou N'Dour&Alan Stivell have a powerful track about uniting the world.
The Modena City Ramblers have a melancholy song about the end of the world.(It goes well with REM's "It's the end of the world as we know it")
Baka Beyond provides a strong track combining Celtic&African music.
Na Lua has a good track.
Cheb Mami's "Azwaw 2" is the BEST.It's a rousing combination of bagpipes&Algerian rai.Very danceable.

The Afro-Celts are still going strong,however.

Putumayo's Odyssey albums,fortunately,have evolved.Their Greek,African&Jewish Odysseys are quite good.