Lowlands

Susan McKeown | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 26, 2000)
• Original Release Date: September 26, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Green Linnet
• ASIN: B00004YL6K
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #33,028 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #32 in Music > Indie Music > World Music > Europe
  • #34 in Music > Folk > British & Celtic Folk > Celtic Folk

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Susan McKeown not only has one of the finest voices in contemporary Irish music, she has wedded a profound understanding of the traditional songs of Ireland with an adventurous musical spirit. On Lowlands, her second collection of traditional songs, her connection with the roots of Celtic music is so deep that when she mixes instruments like the kora (African harp), erhu (Chinese fiddle), and tabla (Indian drum) with the less exotic violin, guitar, and tin whistle the results sound absolutely right. McKeown moved from her native Dublin to New York in 1990, an event that she says paradoxically made her feel more Irish. Songs like "The Snows They Melt the Soonest," which features the fiddling of Johnny Cunningham, and "The Lowlands of Holland," a lament about a lover's death at sea, are infused with the sense of loss and longing that haunt the emigrant in a new land. On Lowlands Susan McKeown performs a rare feat of artistic alchemy by transforming sorrow into beauty. --Michael Simmons

Product Description

Lowlands by Susan McKeown

This product is manufactured on demand using CD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's standard return policy will apply.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lowlands is a Wonderful Folk Album, March 16, 2001

By 

Kenneth M. Gelwasser (Hollywood, Fl USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Lowlands (Audio CD)

I first heard the voice of Susan Mckeown on Public Radio's Prairie Home Companion. When her Irish accented voice, boomed from my car's radio, it immediately grabbed my attention.It was at that point, I was determined to find and buy her music. My first choice was the CD, Lowlands, and what a great choice it was.This is simply a wondeful Irish folk album,that features Susan McKeown's strong beautiful voice along with a vast array of musical instruments from around the world. I have no ideal of the backround of the songs, but they give one the feeling of being transported back into old Ireland's mystical past.There are songs about romantic lovers,long voyages and distant countries.My favorite song of the CD is titled,"The Hare's Lament", which tells the story of the hunt from the rabbit's perspective.Truely,a moving song. I know that most performers hate being compared to other performers, but I just can't help myself.If you a fan who likes popular Celtic singer, Loreena McKennitt, then you will love Susan McKeown.I find that both have a very similar singing style, with a use of unusual instruments from around the world, to tell tales of ancient lands and love.This is really a wonderful CD which I heartily recommend!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Triiumph, October 13, 2000

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Lowlands (Audio CD)

Dublin born Susan McKeown now calls New York home; wherever she lives, she has one of the most compelling voices in acoustic music. This is an album of traditional music; yet with unique arrangements and that incredible voice, Susan forges a sound that is all her own. "Lowlands of Holland" is one of the sweetest performances of the year.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Vocals That Sweep You Away, May 27, 2003

By 

Shanshad "shanachie_shadowfax" (Discworld) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Lowlands (Audio CD)

If you've yet to hear Susan McKeown sing, you don't know what you're missing out on. Likely one of the most stunningly original and artistic Celtic singers in recent history, Ms. McKeown's sixth album, Lowlands, has fast become one of my favorites. Powerful, ethereal and yet earthy and raw, her voice is the signature element of this CD; with the remarkable range of accompanying artists building the landscape that houses it.

Lowlands is a collection of mostly traditional Celtic songs, performed with a markedly non-traditional flair. Bodhrans, banjos, the kora and the bouzouki . . . the instrument selection is varied and fascinating. Susan performs them all with passion and lovely evocative technique.

For a bouncy, light selection in Gaelic "An Nighean Dubh" is an excellent opening track, with Susan's voice dancing through the song effortlessly, buoyed up by a mix of instruments that embellish and provide tempo, but never overtake her voice as the star attraction. "The Snows They Melt the Soonest" is a sweet track with sparse accompaniment--soft guitar and violin-- to accompany this bittersweet love song. "Bonny Greenwoodside" is a traditional Scottish murder ballad, performed with simple chant and percussion style. Stripped to the bones it is starkly effective and powerfully haunting. The only non-traditional number on here is perhaps my favorite of them all. "Dark Horse of Ireland" written by Liam Weldon. This dark commentary on the bitterness and pain of war and rebellion is a perfect match for McKeown's voice. This selection, devoid of all instrumentals and with only the sound of wind at the introduction, impresses on the listener McKeown's vocal power.

I could probably go on at length about each and every number on this CD, but I will leave that to the listener to discover. If your looking for comfortable background music, this is probably not your best choice--McKeown's style is meant to pull the listener in and inspire emotion. This is the kind of CD to savor when you have time to relax and listen, I tend to use it in between writing as inspiration. While not for everyone, Susan McKeown was an unexpected delight to this listener, and I look forward to discovering more of her work.

Happy Listening! ^_^ Shanshad