Solas

Talitha MacKenzie | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 5, 1994)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Shanachie
• ASIN: B000000E88
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #375,483 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

New York-born and Edinburgh-based vocalist Talitha MacKenzie has made her greatest impact since adopting the musical traditions of the Scot Gaels. Mouth Music, her short-lived collaboration with computer programmer Martin Swan, yielded a chart-topping album in 1988. Her solo album, Solas, reached the top three on the Euro World charts in 1994 and was followed by the equally-successful album, Spiorad, two years later. According to the Manchester Guardian, MacKenzie is "one of the most exciting vocalists on the folk/world stage."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great modern Celtic album, May 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Solas (Audio CD)

I fell in love with Talitha MacKenzie when she was with "Mouth Music". She left to pursue a solo career, and both she and Mouth Music have been going great guns (she was replaced by the amazing Jackie Joyce). This album has some songs originally from Mouth Music's debut album, most notably "Chi mi na Morbheanna", which was played at JFK's funeral. It has been improved with some excerpts form his most memorable speeches (eg. Long Twilight Struggle), making it quite haunting. It also pays to read the words - the spiteful lyrics in "S'Muladach mi" really come through in her voice! The music is upbeat and catchy - a great way to bring traditional Scots Gaelic songs into a modern context. Expand your horizons - I highly recommend buying it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Talitha MacKenzie - Solas, March 25, 2003

By 

:) "drpdg" (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Solas (Audio CD)

I purchased this CD by mistake. I am very glad I made that mistake. This is wonderful and like the other reviewer said, a "great way to bring traditional Scots Gaelic songs into a modern context". This is extrememly interesting music, the lyrics beautiful.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars An excellent argument for buying tunes on i-tunes, May 7, 2007

By 

Rebecca Menes "Gentle Reader" (Alexandria, VA United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Solas (Audio CD)

First, a word about my preferences. I like my Celtic folk straight up, with relatively traditional elements and arrangements. When Talitha MacKenzie stays away from the synthesizer and the drum machine she makes me very happy. She has a lovely voice and she shines in the simplest tracks on this album. Unfortunately, most of the tracks have been arranged as 80s pop tunes, which have not aged well.


This in mind, I recommend the following tracks:
Uamh an Oir (The Cave of Gold -- Mouth Music)
Rol Hol Ill Leo (Waulking Song, Sea Shanty)
Theid Mi Dhachaigh (The MacKenzie Lullabye) -- very lovely.

Otherwise the album is a bust.