Lights in the Dark

Hector Zazou (Artist), Traditional (Artist), Breda Mayock (Artist), Katie McMahon (Artist)

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 18, 1998)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Elektra / Wea
• ASIN: B000009PT5
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #231,446 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Ralt (The Star)

2. Seacht Sauilcena Maighdine Muire (Seven...

3. Dn Nar Marbh (Song of the Dead)

4. Caoineadh Na Dtr Muire (Keening Joys of...

5. Seacht Sauilcena Maighdine Muire (Seven...

6. Gol Na Dtr Muire (Lament of the Three...

7. Amhrn Na Pise (Song of the Passion)

8. In Ainm an Athar le Bua (In the Name of...

9. Seacht Ndlas Na Maighdine Muire (Seven... -

10. Duan Chro osa (Little Song to the Heart...

11. Caoine Mhuire (Mary's Lament)

12. Achain an Ghra (Requests of Love)

13. Amergin (Tomb of Every Hope)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Zazou specializes in ambient soundtracks for nonexistent movies that take their cues from various world music genres. This time out it's Irish sacred music, and Zazou, with the help of a small army of international stars including Egyptian percussionist Hossam Ramzy, trumpet wiz Mark Isham, and French picker extraordinaire Thierry Robin, has fashioned 13 moody settings for ancient and modern texts that feature mournful vocals by Brede Mayock and Lasairfhiona ni Chonaola. The result is new agey, but the passion of the singers and some disturbing instrumental touches keep the music from getting too predictable. The misleading ads for this album say that it features Brendan Perry from Dead Can Dance, and Katie McMahon from "Riverdance." Perry does play percussion on two tracks, and McMahon sings lead on three, but if you're looking for the Gothic pop of DCD or the exuberant Irish jigs of "Riverdance," you're going to be disappointed. --j. poet

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sheer brilliance in the dark, June 29, 1999

By A Customer

Hector and the ladies go way beyond the traditional ethereal old and modern Irish religious Sean Nos of the likes of Noirin Ni Riain, who is justly thanked on this album "for paving the way". Nowhere the same, nowhere boring, nowhere conventional, but refreshing, surprising and renewing a very old tradition. Like a genuine Celtic tradition to mould an amalgam of the very best of foreign elements (Japanese!) with the strong potential of indigenous traditions to create a unique and succesful blend. A perfect album as such, in its sheer musical brilliancy but even with consideration to the tradition of numerical esoterism when putting its strongest track Amhran na Paise on position seven (!) out of a total of thirteen (!) Columcille himself would have approved! He who has ears, may he hear...

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Music to make moss grow, whisky flow and tired skin prickle., February 6, 1999

By A Customer

This should surprise nobody. The man needed to set straight the dangerous Riverdance tendency which should not be the world's window on Irish culture. Lights in the Dark follows naturally the even more ethereal -- but perhaps more feral -- Les Nouvelles Polyphonies Corse (Philips 848515-2), a set of Corsican choral works with a little touch of John Cale. How can I find out what's happening next? Do I wait 'til Cale comes to Australia again, and ask him? Hector, talk to me!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hypnotically beautiful, October 13, 1998

By	Aliza Mansolino (Burlington, VT) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

An ethereal, dreamy collection of sacred Irish hymns - very different from Hector Zazou's other CDs, but equally mesmerising. The vocalists and arrangements are haunting. Not to be missed!