Customer Reviews

The Hour Before Dawn

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

 

 

I echo the sentiments of the fan from Chagrin Falls and Scott Humphreys. I believe that this new release will culminate in yet another Indie award for the band (each of their previous three releases won best new independent album of the year). I have been a fan since their first album. Yes, the personnel have changed with the departures of John Williams, Karan Casey, and now John Doyle. However, each one of those talented musicians has been replaced with top notch artists. Mick McCauley (accordian, concertina, low whistle and vocals) truly steps out of the shadows and flourishes on this CD. Dierdre Scanlon (from County Tipperary) has now been with the band for a little more than a year and her voice is pure and lovely. I particularly love her on the lamenting "The Last of the Great Whales" on this new CD. Newest member, Donal Clancy, was a fine choice to replace the remarkable John Doyle (who does, in fact, leave his last mark with the band on the "The Hour Before Dawn," as correctly pointed out by the fan from Chagrin Falls). Donal Clancy is the son of one of the famous singing Clancy Brothers, and most recently was playing with Eileen Ivers. Although Mr. Clancy does not appear on this CD, I have seen Solas twice in the past few weeks and I can testify that the band loses nothing with Donal's impressive playing. Original members Win Horan (fiddle) and Seamus Egan (everything) continue to amaze, both in their individual virtuosity and in their ability to attract bandmates who are clearly at the top of their games. The lovely Ms. Horan is simply unbelievable in her lightning playing of jigs and reels. However, I find myself especially partial to her playing of slow airs, such as "A Little Child" on the new CD, which just seems to tug at the heart. As for Seamus, "he is the man!" He seems to reach down and pick up a different instrument on every tune, whether it be his trademark flute, banjo, tin whistle, low whistle, guitar or whatever. As remarkable as he is, it is refreshing to see him make certain that everyone in the band gets a chance to shine. Perhaps most fun of all, however, is when all the band are playing together. I know it is cliche to call a band tight, but quite frankly, no band does it better than these folks. If you have been a fan of SOLAS, don't let the lineup changes keep you from buying this CD. If you are new to the band, this would be an excellent starter CD. I can't wait for their next recording!

Solas' previous CD "Words That Remain" is a classic in Irish traditional music and the loss of Karan Casey certainly affects their sound on this album. However, instrumentally they are incredibly strong and as inventive as ever and Deirdre Scanlon is a gifted singer with a wide range of styles. I don't think the choice of tracks is quite so strong but it is a powerful performance of a very high order of music. The instrumental playing at times leaves you breathless and the energy levels are very high. There are some lovely songs - i like "Bonnie Mae" and "Miner's Life" in particular and "I Will Remember You" is an original gem. I am disappointed to hear critics complain of the lack of "traditional" music on the CD and about the use of "rock" instruments. Based on those criteria the only instruments tolerated would be harp, uillean pipes, wooden flute and fiddle (tin whistle (flageolet), guitar, mandolin, bouzouki, accordion and banjo being modern, foreign invaders)and what a pity! What defines traditional - is it pre-Planxty? Can no more traditional songs be written? Seamus Egan and Co have done their apprenticeship in the rigorous disciplines from the book of traditional music (rhythm and melody) and have enriched it with a new chapter. In general i agree that bass and percussion is often unnecessary but in this case the augmentations are tasteful and generally effective. I would also highly revcommend Liz Carroll's "Lost in the Loop" although if you're a purist it has the Solas rhythm section playing on it and features many of Liz's "brand new" traditional tunes (brilliant).

While I remain a steadfast and loyal fan of Solas' first self-titled album, which, in my opinion, just had an irrepresable amount of vigor and passion that it soudned barely contained, their fourth effort, The Hour Before Dawn, hardly disappoints...

The recording debut of their new singer, Deirdre Scanlon, leaves us sad to see Karan Casey go, but just as glad to see the new blood arrive. Whereas Casey's voice was high and lilting, Scanlon's contributions have more warmth to them. Both lovely in their own way. The songs picked for this new effort are superb, a few in gaelic the rest in english - one of the latter being sung by recently departed guitarist John Doyle. Doyles "The Miner's Life" is easily one of the best tracks of the album, which fantastic harmonies by the rest of the band - the only disappointment being the un-likelyhood that we'll ever hear it live now.

The music tracks show another step in the path away from strict irish trad that Solas has slowly been creeping away on since their initial release. There's still some blistering tracks of reels and jigs that are amazing in both the technical and melodic realms, but added to the mix are a few slower pieces arranged beautifully to feature the strongest talents of each group member.

Also new to the mix are bass player and percussionist Chico Huff and Michael Aharon, who'll be touring with the group. They prove to be an addition to the group that really adds another level of depth to the sound that is Solas.

This album is a superb contribution to Irish music - and music in general, sure to satisfy a number of different demographics. The only thing I find myself wishing for is perhaps a little less of the arranging, musically superb though it may be, and a little bit of that fire from the original album, that seems to still be there, but perhaps a bit more reigned in then I'd liek to see. But regardless, I'm at working humming the album quite happily :)

Interesting to hear you say you didn't like the new guitarist on the recording, since it's still John Doyle. John just left the band officially a few weeks ago. The albums been completed for months. The new guitarist, Donal Clancy, is fabulous, and debuted with the band live last month. Did you not read your liner notes?

This album does indeed mark a change in Solas's sound, but it's nothing unusual in Irish music - patrick street, cherish the ladies, the cheiftains, green fields of america - just a few examples of the plethora of groups who seem to have had a revolving door when it came to retaining and acquiring personnel. Solas is no different - no better or worse for their changes, just different...

After seeing Karan Casey live a couple weeks prior to seeing Solas with it's new members I'm still impressed as ever with all the members, past and present. All continue to do the best at their trade. Winifred Horan is absolutely lovely and an amazing fiddler! I've listened to D. Scanlan for a few years and was happy to see her become a member of Solas. I think the new members have added a nice new dynamic to the group without changing the bands intended direction of superb traditional Irish music! Pick up any Solas CD and you'll not be disappointed.

From rousing sets of traditional dances to wistful laments and jazzed-up folk songs, Solas offers pleasant listening all around on this album. There is a light, gentle, intimate quality to their presentation and choice of material, not to mention a subtle intricacy in their arrangements. Traditional Celtic motifs are deftly interwoven with elements of folk, jazz, rock and pop, resulting in delightful little musical twists all throughout the album that are unexpected but somehow seem utterly right. Solas features Winifred Horan on fiddle, Seamus Egan on a plethora of instruments including flutes and guitars, Mick McAuley on accordion, guitarist John Doyle, and the clear, clean, honest lead vocals of Dierdre Scanlan. My favorite track on "The Hour Before Dawn" is the extremely haunting and poignant "Homeless", but the exotic "Boy/Girl Tune" is quite cool too, "A Miner's Life" is well-put and the traditional dance sets on tracks 2 and 6 are lively and fun. The spare, intriguing harmonies on "When My Love and I Parted" and "A Little Child" deserve mention too--not what I'd expected to find on a Celtic album, but very nice all the same and good example of how well this group combines diverse musical elements with seamless elegance. To experience an edgier, more intense side of this band, try their subsequent release, "The Edge of Silence". If you enjoy the musical stylings of Solas, you may also like the American folk group Trapezoid, in such albums as "Moon Run" and "Remembered Ways", or the work of fellow Celtic artists Silly Wizard, embodying the style of a decade or so earlier but with a similarly gentle sense of grace and soulfulness.

I've been a Solas fan for a while now, and was saddened to hear of recent departures. Still, I bought the CD and tried to keep an open mind about the new singer Deirdre Scanlon. How could it be the same without the clear sweet voice of Karen Casey? I need not have worried, an all-ireland vocal champion, Ms Scanlon was an excellent choice. I know this not just from the CD, but because I just saw them in concert a few hours ago at their LA debut! Now, I've seen them live before with Casey, so I have a basis for comparison. Scanlon not only did a fabulous job on the new songs such as "The Last of the Great Whales", she passed a huge litmus test for me: she performed "I am a Maid that Sleeps in Love". My husband closed his eyes and said he could hardly tell it wasn't Casey, while my impression was that her voice had all the sweetness of Casey's, with a little power to spare, which gives her room for some very powerful inflection. During the encore she did an a cappela number which silenced the house (and this in the Conga Room, full of high-power LA cell-phone types, and barstool chatties) And lastly, don't fret about "A Miner's Life". They did it live, and Mick McAuley sang it very well. So, have no fear, buy the CD and your foot will be tapping just like it always has! Solas is alive and at the top of their game.

This fourth album celebrates Solas' ability to push the edge of Celtic music into jazz, bluegrass, even Norweigan hymns! While other reviewers have commented on various members comings and goings, rest assured that Solas' ability to deliver creative, brilliantly arranged music and performances shines on. Seamus Egan and Mick McAuley are rock solid, and Diedre Scanlan adds her hauntingly perfect vocals. I saw the band perform live with Donal Clancy, who is a superb compliment to John Doyle's excellent guitar work. This troop of super players combines and recombines to deliver taught, exciting, perfect performances at the acme of the art.

If this is your first time listening to Solas or if like me, you are a seasoned listener, you will love this album. Since 1996, Solas have been maturing as a band with each album and this is the culmination of both their tiredless efforts towards perfection and their coming of age. The firepower has not died but has become more and more intricate and complex. John Doyle continues to be a major driving force behind the music with his note perfect rhythms and unique style of playing. He is without doubt possibly the best traditional guitarist the world of trad music has ever seen. He lifts every tune to amazing peaks without once crossing the boundary into being over bearing.

Along with the firepower, you also have the delicate touch only Solas can add to the haunting slow airs and traditional songs. Where can Solas go from here? It really is hard to say but they certainly will remain in the annals of history long after their time for being the fore runners in merging the new with the old traditional styles without ever once losing respect for the core of the Tradition of the music. Bravo!! if this is the hour before dawn for solas, I can't wait to see what the dawn itself will be like!!

Although it was inevitable, I knew that eventually Solas would sell out to growing number of people in the so-called "pan-Celtic" music crowd. It is now obvious that Solas has decided to forget about all aspects of traditional Irish music just to appeal to a larger audience; but they continue to categorize themselves as a traditional Irish group. With all of the bass, percussion (a disgrace in itself), and guitar on this album, I'm surprised it's still in the Irish/folk section of any music store. Not only does this heavy use of rock arrangements and instruments alienate traditional music supporters like me, it is reinforcing the idea that this is what Irish music is all about, and I can tell you that it definitely isn't. In this sense, each album has been progressively worse, with more incorporation of exotic percussion and a variety of collaborations with non-Irish musicians. Thus, there isn't much room left for Irish music on this album or a similar album, nor is there a chance to showcase the band's exceptional playing of traditional music. Although I have great respect for the individual musicians' abilities, I feel that their talent is being wasted as the band stops focusing on traditional music, and more on accompaniment and arrangements. So if you are a fan of world and especially rock music, you will probably like this album. Nevertheless, fans of real Irish music should stay away.