Customer Reviews

The Sea Of Dreams

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have heard the powerful pipes of Davy Spillane almost everywhere. With Enya, with Maire Brennan, on the original Riverdance, on "Celtic Solstice" with Paul Winter, and on Adiemus's "The Eternal Knot". He seems to me to be the best uillean piper of Ireland, but this is the first time I've heard his own music, and I am very impressed. "The Sea of Dreams", starts with the very uplifting "River of Drums", in which the pipes play a very slow, flowing rythm. The rest of the music continues that mood, with the guitar and keyboard adding to the mood. Sinead O'Conner even plays a role in "Dreaming of the Bones" and "Danny Boy 'The Derry Air'"(she does well with traditional music) on track 7. Track seven actually combines Danny Boy and the Londonderry Air, two songs with the same tune, but different lyrics. All of the tracks of this album provide a dazzling blend of Celtic and pop music, with the harmonies and melodies of the low whistle and uillean pipes. I adored the traditional sounds of "Inagh",the dramatic sounds of "Equinox", and the very simple, poignant "The Morning Dew". One of the best tracks is "Midnight Walker", one of Spillane's greatest hits. It's a musical piece that gave good influence to Paul Winter, and was the prequal to "Dawnwalker". Spillane has done well in influencing the musicians and artists he has worked with, for his music brings great wonder and inspiration to those who hear. Those who love the unique sounds of the uillean pipes and want soothing music well feel at home hear.

"Sea of Dreams" is moody, ethereal and outright spacey. If you like Nightnoise and Enya, you'll love this CD. If you want anything resembling traditional Irish reels and jigs, you won't find it here. Contemporary keyboard sounds and dirge-like tempos water down the Irish tone of the arrangements. Davy Spillane is outrageously talented and a master technician but I'm personally disappointed to see him move farther and farther afield with this....Irish meditation music.

The opening track on Sea of Dreams River of Gems is Davys second undertaking of this tune also Daires dream and May morning Dew have appeared before on recordings,the first two tracks I mention are previously available on Davys first solo album Atlantic Bridge,although the production here is far superior to the origional recordings,the track May Morning Dew previously appeared on the Moving Hearts final album The Storm a milestone in Irish music.Midnight Walker was first recorded on the album Pipedreams,and Equinox appears on Shadow Hunter.This leaves us with Big Sea Ballad,Dreaming Of The Bones featuring Sinead O Connor on vocals,the beauitiful haunting Inagh,Danny Boy also featuring Sinead and the title track The Sea Of Dreams,but I must admit here its the bonus track which sticks out for me,My Heart Will Go On(theme from Titanic minus Celene Dion).All in all I would have to say because I have followed Davys career through out the 80s and have purchased everything in the past this album comes across to me personally as a sort of compilation of remixed Davy Spillane tunes,this is not to say I am dissappointed with this offering,this album is a fantastic tribute to the Irish Uilleann Pipes played by the greatest piper in the world today,Davy has singlehandedly taken Irish music by the scruff of the neck(to coin a phrase)and shown the world what an emotional instrument the Uilleann Pipes are,I take my hat off to you Davy Spillane,continued success.

In a review of Davy Spillane's "Pipedreams", I said "I didn't think he could get any better than the previous releases." I stand corrected, Davy Spillane Keeps Getting Better! I thought he was at his best. This 1998 release happily proves me wrong. "The Sea of Dreams" is so hauntingly beautiful, it touches the soul. The mellow voice Sinead O'Connor on "The Dreaming of the Bones" and the classic "Danny Boy" will thrill her fans, and make new ones of those unfamiliar with her breathy, heartfelt style. It includes another version of my personal favorite, "Midnight Walker" from Pipedreams. Wonderful background music for most any situation (use your imagination). If you are unfamiliar with his music, this is the CD I would recommend to get your feet wet; after that you'll dive right into the rest of them . If you want soulful, meditative pipes, then your satisfaction is guaranteed. Thanks Davy, for sharing your gift with the world.

I first became aware of Davy Spillane and his hauntingly beautiful music when I saw the movie "Wurthering Heights" with Ralph Fiennes. I was hooked from the first note. I was disappointed to learn that the sound track was not available to purchase, however, I did purchase the "Sea of Dreams" CD, and have become a forever fan of Mr. Spillane's. I will continue to purchase his CD's both past and future.

There is something about Davy's phrasing and dynamics that seems to get into one's deepest inner being. River of Gems, Midnight Walker and The Dreaming of the Bones are heard with the heart as much as with the ears. I listen to this CD very often while at my desk at work. As I listen, I always seem to sit up straighter, and breath so deeply that I almost get dizzy from the extra oxygen.

All of Davy Spillane's albums seem to differ from each other (except as regards the quality). I leave it to the other reviewers to argue their case as to whether this CD or that is more Celtic than the other. I just know that this is music at its finest.

This was my first Davy Spillane album, and I was not at all disappointed. A powerful and emotional album composed and performed in an obviously traumatic period in Davy's life.

Sinead's rendition of "Danny Boy" is the bench mark by which all future performances will be measured.

I have listened to Davy Spillane from earlier days, when he played with Moving Hearts and so on. He seems to have lost touch almost completely with his traditional roots on this album. Here he ventures too far into the new age space occupied by the likes of Yanni and Loreena McKennitt, and although his piping is excellent, as is to be expected, it lacks the heart that is behind real irish music.

I fell in love with Davey's music while watching Riverdance, but I didn't know how to find out more about him. I finally found and bought Sea of Dreams and I can honestly say that it's beautiful, haunting music that grips your heart and takes you to Ireland. My great-grandmother from County Cork would be in seventh Heaven if she was alive to hear his music. Thank You, Davey!

The meditative music of this album is wonderful to relax to, but it's pert enough to not put you to sleep. I bought it for it's meditative quality and have also found it to be soothing music to put on when friends drop in - they always ask what it is. Musically, it's surely among the best of it's class.