Customer Reviews

Lan Duil

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The third album from this extremely talented singer shows her growing confidence as a brilliant arranger as well as singer. As in her other two albums, all the songs are in Gaelic. The arrangements on this album are a bit less rock-oriented than her hit second album 'Suas e!', but not as traditional as her first album, as there is a drum set, bass and a sprinkling of accordions, Indian tabla and even an electric guitar on one track. Mary Jane is ably accompanied by a variety of musicians including Wendy and Ashley MacIsaac, and several other Gaelic singers. The arrangements are varied and superb, accenting rather than overpowering the songs, and helping communicate the contemporary relevance of this music. The sound recording and mixing on this CD are wonderful. Mary Jane's great singing brings the lyrics to life. There is a terrific port-à-beul track, a traditional milling song recorded a capella with three other singers. The highlight of this album for me is Mary Jane's version of the lament "Cha Tig Mór Mo Dhachaidh", which is breathtakingly beautiful. The 24 pages of liner notes contain the lyrics in both Gaelic and English, the history of each tune, photos of important Cape Breton gaelic singers. My only quibble is that the liner notes are so full of information and art that the tiny print requires a magnifying glass! Altogether this is classiest album I've seen in several years. If there was any doubt before, this album should make clear that Mary Jane has joined the short but growing list of world class Gaelic singers such as Karen Matheson of Capercaille and Maighread Ni Mhaonaigh of Altan. Nominated for a Juno Award in 1999. Very highly recommended.

P.S.In response to the reviewer that lamented the relative lack of attention paid to other Gaelic singers such as Catherine-Ann MacPhee, Margaret Stewart, Ishbel MacAskill, I submit that Mary Jane can and does reach out to entirely new audiences who these other singers can't reach and brings these audiences to the Gaelic music where they will grow to appreciate the other singers. I have heard Mary Jane live numerous times without fancy electronic equipment in Cape Breton and know that her singing and devotion to Gaelic music is greatly appreciated there. I suggest thecriticisms are way too harsh.

Mary Jane Lammond has once again produced a truly unique and exquisite recording of traditional Gaelic songs. Regardless of what your musical taste are you will enjoy this CD. I highly recommend her first CD also. To those of you who are new to Mary Jane Lammond you should know that she sings exclusivly in Gaelic.You do not (!), by any stretch of your immagination,need to understand Gaelic in order to appreciate Mary Jane Lammond anymore than you need to understand French to appreciate Edith Piaf. Listen to the samples of this recording only if you are prepared to buy.

Although I unfortunately have not yet heard her very first album, "Land of the Trees" (or yet heard her 4th and newest album, "Gaelic Songs" which is currently only available through a Canadian label), this is undoubtedly a brilliant album by a talented singer--there is an excellent balance of traditional and contemporary, as with Suas E!, and every one of the songs sticks in your head after only one or two listens... already I can sing most of 'A Mhairi Bhoidheach' from memory, and I don't know Scots Gaelic! It's one of those albums that sticks with you; that you'll listen to over and over again. And the fact that while she is not only a talented singer, but also helps bring attention to the Scots Gaelic language and the Cape Breton culture, only serves to make her music more meaningful. Listen to this album, if you haven't already!

Brilliant! Mary Jane is brilliant! Her voice rings true on her recordings and as you sit across from her in a workshop! She brings all listeners to the Gaelic tradition (even my moody middle school students love her)! Oh and to "The Emperor's New Clothes" reviewer from 2000, have you listened to her traditional Gaelic Cd of songs from Nova Scotia? Did you? Hmmmm?

I don't know anything about Gaelic, or Gaelic singing but I do know Mary Jane Lamond has opened new doors for me. I listen to her all of the time and I have turned my friends "on" to her music. I am currently looking for other Gaelic singing artists but I haven't come across anything interesting. It all sounds the same and quite frankly everything I have come across has been BORING. Whether she is singing "correctly" or not she is obviously doing something that SELLS, and caters to her FANS (Like me!).

I don't have a drop of celtic blood in me, but I'm impressed by the voice of Mary Jane Lamond. She has a certain folk song quality, but the gaelic language gives her music a far away sound from a different culture. I especially like song number 5 on this CD whose title I can't even start to pronounce. Overall, I'm pleased.

My husband and I happened upon Mary Jane and her band at a local British pub recently. We were in awe of their clean, crisp sound and thoroughly enjoyed their version of Celtic music. It is now our latest favorite. Their music ranges from toe tapping to tear jerking. We wanted more, so we bought this CD.

A little message from one Canadian about another. I wanted to let folks now that this is NOT her sophomore effort. This is her third album. Her first one is called "From the Land of Trees". "Suas E" is her second and "Lan Duil" would be her third.

I may be the only person on the planet bold enough to say that Mary Jane Lamond (who used to call herself Màiri Sìne Lamond, but dropped the Gaelic name when success beckoned) is the most overrated singer singing Gaelic today. Critics and listeners alike have failed to notice the utter lack of technique in her singing -- each recording has gotten progressively more heavily processed, thus masking at least some of the deficiencies that exist. Her tone is very strident and harsh, coming from the throat rather than the lower torso, and her high notes are breathy and weak (and at times crack under the strain). It's obvious that, although Lamond has studied Gaelic, she hasn't studied vocal technique. Slick pop trappings aside, there's nothing to recommend here when the bare voice emerges.

In the meantime, fine Gaelic singers such as Catherine-Ann MacPhee, Margaret Stewart, Ishbel MacAskill and others are going virtually unnoticed. The difference between the singing of these aforementioned ladies and Mary Jane Lamond is profound. These women sing from the heart and from the gut; the singing is grounded, the Gaelic is pure and unadorned (it doesn't need the theatrics to convey the emotion), and there is a clarity and purity of tone completely absent in Lamond's singing. These singers caress the notes -- they don't blast them!

This unquestioning devotion to Mary Jane Lamond's singing is a classic example of The Emperor's New Clothes. Let's hope that more and more people will be bold enough to point out the Emperor is, in fact, naked.