Customer Reviews

Insh'Allah, The Music of "Lion's Blood"

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I do not own the book "Lion's Blood," and perhaps should to understand completely what the story is about. But the CD inset explains a lot of it.

And I truly do think the music can stand on its own.

The first two songs, "Fire on the Sea" and "Laddie, Are Ya Working?", as well as "New Northwest," are my favorites. For one, they make good writing music. "Fire On The Sea" moves frantically fast and includes good sound effects, such as clanging bells. "Laddie, Are Ya Working?" includes drums and excellent, evocative lyrics.

"New Northwest" is harder to describe. The opening few notes set an impression of ecstatic joy, and that may be the thing I like best about it. There comes the sense of a turning point, that something has truly happened. This makes it excellent music for story high points.

Of the other songs, "The Mushroom Song" is interesting for its use of repeated rounds of verses, though the words themselves are very simple. "Gruagach!" has lyrics that are actually frightening at times, describing in graphic detail what the gruagach does to its victims. The hisses on the chorus here and the snapping of fingers add to the impression of racing through the woods alone, at night, and hoping the gruagach doesn't get you.

I did not care for "Fresh Hops and Hemp," perhaps simply because it is a very slow song that keeps putting me to sleep. "Green Are the Hills" and "Deirdre's Lament" are too much like Generic Celtic music for me, and I find I also tend to ignore them. The CD is a mixed bag.

However, there are songs on here that are genuinely thrilling, and that happens rarely enough that I would enthusiastically recommend it to anyone who wished to buy it.

Heather Alexander has outdone herself. The blend of Middle-Eastern, African, and Irish music is flawless, both beautiful and entrancing. I've discussed the album with my friends and found myself unable to choose a favorite track as I love most of them. Though the book and the album place different emphasis on the world they combine to create a world far richer than either could standing on their own. I recomend both.

Heather Alexander is a wonderful artist... the way she has combined the song-style of Ireland with the musical influences of Africa, Egypt, and the Islamic culture are both fascinating and brilliant! Interwoven drum rhythms from Djembes and Bodhrans is not something I've heard on a recording before... and it seems to well represent the overtones of the novel it was written for.

I would highly recommend reading Steven Barnes' book, Lion's Blood... and then listen to this CD again. While it tells a story on its own, it really comes to life once you have the whole picture! To read about slaves singing in the fields while they labor... and then hear Heather's "Laddie, Are Ya Workin'?" is an amazingly powerful combination. The CD acts as a catalyst for the novel and perhaps the reverse is true as well.

I think Steven Barnes and Heather Alexander have created a great work together, and it's one they can be proud of.

Heather's stuff is amazing, breathtaking and entertaining. I cried the first time I heard several of these songs live, but the album allowed her to add dimensions that she just can't reproduce onstage. "The Mushroom Song" is just chilling, and "Deidre's Lament" is amazing.

Personally, I would recommend that you read Lion's Blood while listening to this CD. Musically, I think it's wonderful, but it's also important to understand the music in the context in which it was written: a world where Celtic and Frankish people are stolen from their homelands to work as slaves in an America settled by Africans. The songs show that mix, of hanging on to a Celtic heritage while unable to keep the Arabic, Islamic, and African forces from penetrating. Heather's music is moving, beautiful, and the perfect companion to the book. Seeing words on paper is one thing, hearing the melodies, the voices of lament, longing, and beauty singing them is quite another.

Always superb, Heather does a fabulous job in this, her newest cd. Her vocals are gorgeous as always and the blend of Celtic music and eastern tonality really gives this album a lot of new direction for her...definitely a must buy!

I have enjoyed Heather's years for several years. It has been years since Heather has done a book soundtrack, they were fabulous then and even more so now. She has indeed grown through the years. Her voice and the music are breathtaking...my favorite especially is "we are bound" followed by "new northwest" and "gruagrach". It sounds so much better live so if you get the opportunity go see her. I can continue on and on about her music so I'll stop now, but once you listen it's hard to stop...I'll listen to her repeatedly for hours without realizing it.

This cd took me by surprise as its a blend of celtic and Middle eastern muses. The cd is based on a novel by Steven Barnes entitled "Lion's Blood", an alternative history novel. Once again, Heather threw herself into writing sixteen songs that capture this wild and unknown land of the book. Dark and menecing songs such as "Gruagach!" and "Fire on the Sea" to softer almost dream or wishful songs such as "The Enneagram" and "New Northwest".

I had never heard of Heather Alexander before reading "Lion's Blood." The book affected me so strongly that I immediately ordered the CD, and when I heard it, I was blown apart. The power and longing in the songs increase the emotional impact of the book, making it impossible to forget. The haunting beauty and joy of the instrumentals save the album from being melancholy.

I bought this after hearing "Laddie, Are Ya Workin?" but was happily surprised that that, as good as it is, is not the best song on the album. That honor would have to go to "We Are Bound," which is a stunningly beautiful song of hope from an oppressed people.

If there were justice, this is the sort of artist who would be doing massive stadium tours-- the music is beautiful, well-crafted, and intelligent. You must not miss this album, or the book that inspired it.

I have become a fan of Heather's work. I see her at the local coffee shop when she is in town for a concert.
Her newest addition is a perfect blend of celtic and middle eastern music... to pick a few favs is hard but they would be
#2 Laddie are ya workin
#3 We are Bound
#11 Gruagach
#14 New Northwest
heck the whole cd is great... listen to it once if there is a song that you don't like play it again and think about the words
I would also reconmend getting the book for which the music was created for.. it is the perfect background for reading the book (on repeat)lol reading the book will help you understand the music better....
And if you think she is great on this cd ... you should see her live concerts...lol
I sleep with the cd on now so she gets the blame for my dreams...