Customer Reviews

Mouth Music

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

 

 

Though filled with intricate rhythmic patterns, this music has a peaceful feel to it, and "mouth music", which is a style of Gaelic music intended for dancing, is performed to perfection by Martin Swan and his many instuments, and the pure and lovely vocals of Talitha Mackenzie. There are also the "waulking songs"; like the work songs found in every tradition, they have an energy that helps ease the time spent at labor, and lifts the soul from all that is dreary. There are two instrumentals on this CD (tracks # 4 and 8), and these also include the talents of Martyn Bennett, on small pipes, violin, and block flute. Bennett can also be heard on "Chi Mi Na Morbheanna" ("I See the Great Mountains").

Recorded in Scotland in 1991, the sound is excellent; the booklet insert, though minimal, has the lyrics in Gaelic and English, and my only complaint would be the all too short length at 36:24.
Anyone with an interest in high-quality, out-of-the-mainstream music, might be interested in this unique CD. It is a blend of the old and new, traditional instuments and electronic, rustic simplicity and modern complexity, all blended with enough magic to make the elfin spirit in you dance.

Everyone who's heard this recording has commented at first, "What the heck is that?" This comment is quickly followed by "Where did you find this - can I still get a copy?" (My copy is very old - still in tape media form... I "was" (thanks to Amazon.com) looking for this on CD media format.

If you enjoy fusion music - in this case, the roots of Celtic mouth music with a strong American influence, you will definitely enjoy this music collection. The fusion is seamless, compliments of Mickey Hart (drummer for the Grateful Dead band and independently of , "Planet Drum" fame) thus, creating a universal sound. If you like adventure in sound, try this one out. You won't be disappointed! Had this been released with English lyrics it definitely would have hit the best seller charts in America!

I've loved this cd for years--for some reason the public library had it where I used to live. When I moved, I had to buy my own. Talitha McKenzie is the vocalist here; beware, the other titles by "Mouth Music" have different vocalists. You want this one. I've listened to it so much that sometimes I think I know the lyrics (they've stopped being Gaelic to me; accompanied by the translations in the booklet, you can learn their meanings). Favorites are Bratach Bana and Chi Mi Na Morbheanna. I think Enya, Loreena fans might be open to this--maybe even fans of Sinead O'Connor's first album. Atmosphere-laden without feeling like new-age wallpaper.

I've had this CD for a few years now and I still love it now like I did when I first listened to it. I originally bought it for one reason - all of the songs on this album are in Gaelic and I was attempting to learn Gaelic at the time. While a few songs have some background techno, I think it really fits. Talitha MacKenzie has a really beautiful voice.

It's nice that the album insert includes lyrics in Gaelic (and the translation) so that you know what you're singing along to.

well, first let me say, i kind of like this record.
but i'm not so sure it is a fusion of traditional and modern styles so much as a collision between them. talitha mackenzie's singing is outstanding, but to my ears martin swan's arrangements neither accompany nor contrast with the singing.
some of the arrangements are so random that they sound like they were recorded in a different room with a different piece of music in mind. a bit too much of an 'abuse of the source material' to quite suit my taste. eno and byrne do it with more sensitivity and regard for their sources.

Transformational fusion of druidic ambience, Scottish fishing tunes, and sharp unintrusive technology...a treasure for mind travellers