Customer Reviews

In My Prime

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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Niamh Parsons has an unerring sense in choosing good songs that are suited to her gracious, warm voice. The traditional songs are unusual: "Green Grass it Grows Bonny" is a hauntingly sad song about a maiden with two sweethearts ('I just said I loved you to set your mind at ease, but when I am from you I'll love whom I please'); "Annan Waters", sung in séan nos (unaccompanied old style) perfection; and "Black is the Colour", familiar to American folkies, is given a beautiful treatment. Perhaps my favorite is a newer song by Alan Bell: "So here's to you" -- which we should all sing at farewells and special gatherings. The more you listen to this voice, the more in love with it you will be.

Like its predecessor Blackbirds and Thrushes, In My Prime is an appealingly unaffected, straightforward collection of mostly traditional songs from Ireland's vast repertoire, with emphasis on Niamh (pronounced Neeve) Parsons's calm, capable vocals. In other words, no evidence of the Phil Spectorish production which -- I may be being unduly optimistic here -- seems to be falling out of favor among Celtic-music revivalists. It's just guitar, mandolin, piano, accordion, and bass, and often not even these. Parsons can deliver an unaccompanied ballad just fine, and when she's dueting with her sister Anne Parsons-Dunne (as in the title song and the venerable Child ballad "Two Sisters"), you're entering heaven's Anglo-Celtic district. Nobody who does "Lakes of Coolfin" will ever hear a complaint from me about anything. And does anyone know when last in living memory "Black Is the Color" was recorded?

These songs are all old ballads, some by well known writers and some are old traditional tunes. Niamh Parsons does very well at reviving these old tunes. She's learned these songs from recordings by famous artists like Clannad and also from meetings with fellow artists like Karan Casey and Frank Harte. She does very well at making the music sound so purely traditional, with no keyboard synthesis, and accompniant on instruments like the guitar, harmonica, accordian, fiddle, and sometimes piano. She also sings a cappella, where her strong alto takes a meaning of it's own. She also sings with her sister and together they bring very deep meaning to these old ballad songs. These songs come from throughout the British Isles, Ireland, Scottland, Wales, and England. Many deal with such themes as love, true love, lost love, and false love. It's for that reason that "When I Was In My Prime" is the perfect title track. This is a traditional English melody in which the flowers symblize virtues. The pink symbolizes curtesy, the violet is modesty, the red rose is true love, and the willow tree is sorrow. Niamh sings with a very beutiful drone. A similar version of this songs is known as "Seeds of Love", and one notable version is Loreena McKennitt's version. I shuold confess that my favorite song is the very sad, "Orphan's Wedding", where I so loved her voice and the moving harmonica. It does go to show that she can sing well both with instruments and without instruments. I could go on for a long time describing how wonderful she is at performing each and every one of these songs. It's music that can bring tears to the eyes. Lovers of old traditional music will feel right at home here, with the way the Niamh Parsons preserves the old ballads, sounding so pure in tradition.

This is a much better cd than Niamh's previous one. Good selection of songs and excellent instrumental backing that does not overpower Niamh's wonderful rich voice. Not one "clunker" on the whole cd. Highly recommended to anyone who appreciates traditional music.

In My Prime sung with sister, Anne is very lovely, the harmony is beautiful and blends perfectly with the background drone. I liked Horo Johnny but thought it sounded a bit countryish. Orphan's Wedding is beautiful as is An Paistin Fionn. Two Sisters is sung acapella, but i liked the Clannad version better because they included lively music which is more fitting for this type of song. My favorite is probably Bold Doherty because it is so much fun to sing! Overall, this is a great C.D.

This is bar far my favourite CD to put on and just listen. She has a wonderfully warm sound but it is also strong and experienced. 'So Here's To You' is such a lovely song about farewells and future reunions. And it is true, the more you listen, the more in love with it you become. 'In My Prime' is rather haunting in sound but also a powerful song of the remembrance and reflection of youth past. 'Bold Doherty' is done in a traditional style with guitar and you almost miss the bodhran but her singing somehow more than makes up for it. Her voice dances and sways...if you're not careful you'll be caught up yourself in a nice dance unless you're singing along! All in all, a wonderful mix of songs from a very talented woman!

I really was enjoying this cd for awhile. Then I found me some Capercaillie. Now there is some awesome music!