Customer Reviews

Infinite Blue

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Just when I was thinking of tightening up my reviewing standards and not handing out as many five star reviews--along came "Infinite Blue" by the Poozies as a Christmas gift. How can I not give this one five stars?

There are four songs here that I would categorize as great: "Come All Ye Lonely Lovers," "Ma Plaid," "Sorrows Away," and "The Maid of Llanwellyn." These ladies did an excellent job of selecting, writing, arranging, playing, (and especially) singing this material.

I am in awe of them.

Kate Rusby in particular is outstanding. Her voice makes what would otherwise be a run of the mill song (Neptune) into a true thing of beauty. Likewise, I cannot get "The Maid of Llanwellyn" out of my head. She has a voice that will haunt you for days after hearing it.

I give "Infinite Blue" my highest recommendation.

The addition of Kate Rusby to their lineup has proven invaluable for The Poozies. Ex-member Sally Barker (who left to raise a family), as heard on previous album Chantoozies, was a competent instrumentalist, but lacking the spark to ignite the potentially docile harps and accordions of Mary Macmaster, Karen Tweed and Patsy Seddon.

Rusby proved to be the catalyst, not only setting the Poozies vocal ensemble afire with the passion of her voice (listen to her achingly sweet backup vocals to the lovely, Seddon-sung "Ma Plaid"), but enhancing the joy and affection that had characterized The Poozies up to this point. And with this vital fourth member the others achieve their best -- listen to Mary Macmaster's absolutely gorgeous composition "Freya Dances", the excellent a cappella "Sorrows Away", the moody "Neptune" (Rusby's voice, as bright as it is, can often convey a devastatingly dark emotion), and the giddy swirl that is "Crooked Road to Dublin".

As much as I love Loreena McKennitt's shiny, slickly produced Celtic whirl, The Poozies have a warmth and a spontaneity that none can match. Defying categorization (one record store in New York actually put Infinite Blue into its Rock section), intimate and inviting, this is a band to be cherished.

This is simply one of the best cds I've heard in a decade. Sandy Denny and Nick Drake may be dead and gone but Kate Rusby and the Poozies crew are alive and the sky is showering them with kisses. Great cd. Do yourself a favor and check this one out.

I bought this album with some trepidation: I knew the work of vocalist Kate Rusby and accordionist Karen Tweed but how would their music gel with two harps? Well, to my surprise and immense delight, it not only works -- it rocks!

Here Mary MacMaster and Patsy Seddon play both nylon strung and metal strung traditional Scottish and Irish harps. Their technique and sound are incredible: no ethereal, shimmering, New Agey stuff here! When accompanying songs, they contribute intricate, syncopated, melodic passages over a thumping bass-line back beat, reminiscent of the way that West African griots play their koras (21 string harp-lutes) to accompany their own singing. On the instrumental tunes these ladies really go to town! Their harps fill the bill equally well as lead and accompanying instruments with their expert use of traditional melodic ornamentation, such as "rolls" and "cuts," and totally rockin' bass lines.

When it comes to the piano-accordion in British Isles trad music, very few folks play it better than Karen Tweed. Like most trad music devotees, I prefer the rowdy bounce of the button accordion to the staid "Stomach Steinway." However, Karen plays her instrument with the punch and drive of a "button box:" not surprising, considering that in her youth she took lessons from Irish button accordion master, John Whelan.

Last but not least, awarding-winning Kate Rusby leads the Poozies in some of the finest vocal arrangments I've ever heard of any musical genre. Check out their acappella "Sorrows Away" -- it'll warm your heart and send shivers down your spine!

I've already given away several copies of "Infinite Blue" as "Mother's Day" gifts. The recipients are unanimous in their ecstatic "k'veling" (Yiddish for gushing "cheek-pinching" praise).

Pop this one in your Shopping Cart right now!

I've been listening to a lot of ambient music lately, but I noticed that I've been suffering from TMS (Too Many Synthesizers). The perfect antidote is a Celtic gem like "Infinite Blue". Like the classic Coltrane Quartet or Blind Faith, "Infinite Blue" culls from the Cream of the crop; the wonderful Scottish harp duo Sileas, the accordianist Karen Tweed, and most significantly the singer Kate Rusby. For reference, you can ponder a comparison to June Tabor, Linda Thompson, or Sandy Denny, but Kate is sui generis (one of a kind). Hers is a voice that comes along maybe once or twice a generation.

Listen to her plea for environmental consciousness on the brooding "Neptune", or her lead acapella voice on "Sorrows Away". The CD opens on a high note, with "Come All Ye Lonely Lovers" sung by Mary McMaster of Sileas, and the CD continues through the aformentioned tunes, and a beautiful "Ma Plaid", with Kate's ghostly background vocals.

Along with Planxty's "The Well Below The Valley", the Silly Sisters CDs with Maddy Prior/June Tabor, "Sir John A Lot" by John Renbourn, Pentangle's "Cruel Sister", and anything by Luka Bloom, "Infinite Blue" stands front and center amongst the finest Celtic music to be found.

Modern folk music just doesn't get any more delicious than the hearty stew served up by these four Scottish and English lasses calling themselves The Poozies. If you can listen to the warm,infectious vocal harmonies on a traditional song like "Si Morag," or hear how rising star Kate Rusby sings the word "love" on the heartbreaking "Neptune," and not feel glad to be alive, or not feel yourself getting gooseflesh or its spiritual equivalent upon hearing the millenial force of "Ma Plaid," you'd best check into having your bloodstream infused with antifreeze - this is music as warm and intimate, and by turns as delicate and robust as modern folk music has ever gotten. And for Heaven's sake, spare yourself the trendy, hip, media-hyped, angst-ridden, male-bashing, navel-gazing, politically correct acoustic-pop claptrap that is so often in this country ludicrously labelled "folk." The Poozies are the real thing, and understand more than a thing or two about tradition. Their music, and their listeners, are far better for it. As for the "sensitive," pierced-flesh crowd, they can stay with the likes of such "artists" as Alanis Morrissette, Ani DiFranco, the Indigo Girls, and all the other whiny chicks no self-respecting dude would ever DREAM of taking home to Mom & Dad. I'll say it again - POOZIES RULE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have Infinite Blue(IB) and Raise Your Head(RYH)and RYH finds my cd player more. Any cd with Kate Rusby singing on it can't be bad, and these are no exception. You really need both of these anyway because IB has Neptune on it, which is a great song.
Ma Plaid/Freya's Dances is also great, and is also on RYH. Another one I like is Come All Ye Lonely Lovers. If your reading this and don't know who Kate Rusby is get Hourglass asap, it is awesome. My pecking order would be: Hourglass (K Rusby), then Raise Your Head, then Infinite Blue, Sleepless and Lights. 10 by Kate Rusby is not out yet and is something of a compilation with a few live tunes.

Yes, I'd give this a shameless 5 stars. One thing becomes obvious in listening to this album: they love their craft and it *is* catching. Alternately joyful and somber, moody and unremittingly cheerful, you are taken on a wonderful ride well worth the journey. This has quickly become my favorite CD out of 300 or so.

"The Poozies" are a Celtic Supergroup comprised Mary MacMaster and Patsy Seddon on harps, Karen Tweed on accordion, guitar and fiddle from either Sally Barker or Kate Rusby. This, the only initial American release, is a fantastic record.

From the opening song, "Come All Ye Lonely Lovers" until the closing "The Maid of Llanwellyn/Emma and Jamie's Wedding," the Poozies blend charming harmonies, superb musicianship, and wonderful singing. The presence of Kate Rusby definitely adds to the proceedings. An outstanding talent in her own right, she helps to bring a sweet voice and additional talent that rounds the group out well.

"Infinite Blue" is a must for British folk music lovers.

As a previous reviewer said, "Sorrows Away" will send shivers down your spine-- literally. It is the most beautiful and best executed a cappella song I've ever heard anywhere. The rest of the CD is fine, but this one song is worth all the money by itself.