Customer Reviews

Ru-Ra

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I should, perhaps, state at the outset that this is not a completely unbiased review: I spent a year at the University of Aberdeen in 1995 studying Gaelic, and got to know Thomas quite well. I knew then that he had a phenomenal feel for the beat, but I never had the chance to experience his keyboard prowess until the release of this album. Just think - all those years I missed out on....

This album is unique in the growing genre of Celtic fusion music; rather than melding traditional sounds with rock (Capercaillie, Wolfstone) or electronica (Martyn Bennett, Afro Celt Sound System), Thomas and Maggie cast these tunes as 80s hits from an alternate pop universe. Information Society meets Altan? Maybe - but it works, mate! The inherent rhythms of the traditional tunes (many of which were originally work songs or orally-transmitted instrumental tunes) fuse wonderfully with the dance-floor synth and percussion, yielding a dance groove of irresistible proportions. If you can't hang with this, get back to yer cows!

This is some of the most inventive new Celtic music I've heard in a long time. The vocals are clear and the intonation is lovely. The mostly-electronic instrumentation adds a whole new dimension to the music without detracting from the simplicity of the traditional vocal style. I'm particularly fond of "1,000 Deathshrouds Upon Love" and "The Selchie", but the whole album is great.

Maggie Carchrie and Thomas Leigh have performed for many years at the Glasgow Lands Scottish Festival in Westfield, MA... Each year they have gotten better and better and we are glad to see that they have released a CD. Their performances have always been very well received and attended. As Ru-Ra has been such a popular group at our Festival, we are having them back again in July, 2002. We highly recommend the album!!

This CD was given to me as a gift and I have to admit it was one of the best I have ever received. I listen to it all the time and dance around the apartment. I would recommend it to anyone, any age! It's great!

My family really enjoy the music on this cd. We've seen Maggie and Thomas perform at a few places and really enjoy their show. There are always kids danceing in the crowds. So you know the kids will like it to.The beat to the music is so fun.

This is a super CD if you're really into pure music. Maggie takes Gaelic music to a new high with her crystal clear angelic voice, and the music is presented largely in the same fashion as it might have been heard in Scotland or on Cape Breton two hundred years ago. Close your eyes and you're transported through time to a distant seashore... no matter WHERE you're listening from. Enjoy!

One needs to look no further than this album to understand that the creative talents of Thomas Leigh and Maggie Carchrie will be taking the Celtic world by storm. Combining traditional Gaelic songs with progressive keyboard arrangements and percussion that is simply brilliant, this album will quickly become a favorite in your Celtic dance collection.

Some of my personal favorites from this album are "Two Pence worth" and "Two sisters." The introduction on "Two Pence Worth" is a good example how Thomas & Maggie build up the dance beat before Maggie's clear and enchanting vocals have you dancing to their unique blend of Celtic music.

Another significant attribute of this album is its "playability." The songs quickly take hold and you soon find yourself humming along. This is one album that no matter how many times we play, it sounds just as fresh and uplifting as the first.