Way Out to Hope Street

Skyedance | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 19, 1997)
• Original Release Date: August 19, 1997
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Culburnie Records
• ASIN: B000001UIS
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #44,488 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #14 in Music > Indie Music > New Age > Celtic
  • #15 in Music > Indie Music > New Age > International
  • #29 in Music > Folk > British & Celtic Folk > Scottish Folk

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly enjoyable, May 21, 1998

By 

P. Lozar "plozar" (Santa Fe, NM USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Way Out to Hope Street (Audio CD)

The artists who made the original "Skyedance" album (Machlis and Fraser) join here with a group of other outstanding musicians and a passel of original tunes. While the quality of the compositions varies and the arrangements are occasionally repetitious, in general the album is a delight. (One major contributor to its success is the terrific percussionist Peter Maund, who did wonders on Ensemble Alcatraz' early music albums a few years back.) The performances, whether cheery or melancholy, are spirited. Much traditional Scottish music consists of dance tunes, and this album never wanders out of sight of those roots. And you've gotta love someone who names a tune "The Braemar Cappuccino"!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fresh, new approach to modern Celtic music!, January 1, 2004

By 

Brianna Neal (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Way Out to Hope Street (Audio CD)

This sextet of already-established musical masters combine the best traditional Celtic and modern jazz elements to create a joyful and transcendent musical statement. "Way Out To Hope Street", Skyedance's debut album, is invigorating and distinctive. The vibrant fiddling of Alasdair Fraser, soulful wooden-flute-playing of Chris Norman and expert piping of Eric Rigler provide the traditional Scottish part of the group's sound, while Peter Maund's world percussion adds an eclectic layer. Underneath all of that, the rich piano and keyboards of Paul Machlis and Mick Linden's laid-back fretless bass give everything a modern, jazzy feel. The result is unlike that of any other Celtic group I'm familiar with--not traditional, rock or New Age, but rather a sound all their own. Full of energy, tension, hope and heart, it is really quite striking! The whole here truly is more than the sum of its considerable parts. And the subsequent releases of Skyedance, "Labyrinth" and "Live in Spain", are great too! For other innovative takes on Scottish music, try the compilation album "Bravehearts: New Scots Music: A Narada Collection", and also "Sidewaulk" or "Crosswinds" by Capercaillie.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bannokburn for a wedding song, April 24, 2008

By 

S. Candow (Orange, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Way Out to Hope Street (Audio CD)

I heard this song on the Atmosphere's Channel (Satellite music) and I wasn't even engaged...but as soon as heard Bannockburn by Skyedance I ran over to the TV to see who the song was by. I wrote it down and put it in a drawer. I ended up getting married about a year later and I used it as the song the bridesmaid and then I walked down the aisle....it was so beautiful and intense...not a dry eye in the crowd!