Customer Reviews

Lullaby Journey

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

 

 

I bought this CD because of Chris Norman, a man I used to take flute lessons from, but I love this CD because of Custer LaRue, and Kim Robertson. Together, they create a beautiful blend unlike any other that I've heard before. For those of you not familiar with Chris Norman, he plays a wooden flute which means that the sound is much warmer than that of a traditional metal flute, so for this CD, that works out brilliantly. It's also amazing how LaRue manages to match pitches with the flute. At times, you can't tell which is which. That is amazing and not an easy task to accomplish. The selection of music for this CD is just as incredible as the musicians themselves. Most of the songs would be classified as Celtic, and even those composed by Norman (who's lived in Baltimore for a number of years) have an underlying Nova Scotian theme due greatly in part to his native roots in Halfifax, the capital of Nova Scotia. However, even if you are not a fan of Celtic music, this CD will still work perfectly for you. The only thing that I don't recommend doing is listening to this CD during the day, because it is guaranteed to put you to sleep with it's beauty and serenity.

Out of the hundreds of CD's I own, this is still my favorite, even after several years of enjoying it. The program is a perfect unity, truly a journey. The pervading mood is quietness, peace, mystery. It builds to a climax with tracks 7-9, with haunting and thrilling melodies that sweep you away. In its evocation of sleepiness and movement, the album is like a dreamed adventure. None of the three instruments (soprano voice, harp, and wooden flute)is ever out of place, but they combine most felicitously. The album is never dull, ebbing and flowing in dynamics and tempo. If you buy one cd in your lifetime, let this be it.

Custer LaRue is one of my favorite singers. Such an expressive voice is hard to find. This is my favorite album of all the Baltimore Consort related artists. The recording and sound is, as is usual with Dorian, excellent. These songs are rich and beautiful. I especially like "Lovely Willy" and the version of "All the Pretty Little Horses." I give this disc my full recommendation.

I've owned this CD for several years now, and it was my first experience with Dorian recordings and Custer LaRue. I now own all of LaRue's recordings and several of Kim Robertson's and Chris Norman's as well. I am a fan of folk songs the world over, but especially English and Celtic varieties. What is so lovely about this CD is that it doesn't give you the same old stuff you find on other "Celtic ballad" CDs. This is a much more eclectic and obscure mix. What a wonderful, refreshing variety! My favorites are Gloomy Winter's Now Awa', Lovely Willy, Mine Eyes are Now Closing, and Manx Lullaby. I sing professionally and have added the former three to my folk song repertoire. I also direct several community children's choirs and added Manx Lullaby to our repertoire this season -- the kids loved it, the parents loved it, I loved it! I never get tired of these songs, except maybe All The Pretty Little Horses. That part about the bees and the butterflies pecking out the lamb's eyes is really awful. What a terrible lullaby. But that song aside, this album is one that you'll NEVER be sorry you bought. You'll fall in love with it and listen to it over and over and over and over and over and over and over...

I'm giving this one five stars on faith.

I am simply crazy about Custer LaRue. When you've heard her sing, backed by the Baltimore Consort, you can forget about Enya or anybody else. My only complaint is that Ms LaRue hasn't put out enough CDs.

But these lullabies -- I can tell you, the first three tracks are great, but for all I know, the rest of the CD is blank. I'm usually fast asleep by the beginning of track 2, and I've heard track 3 only a few times. Who knows, maybe she starts yodeling in track 4, I wouldn't know anything about it.

Maybe before I send this in I had better listen carefully. Okay, here we go, track two and zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.....