Customer Reviews

Wayfarer: A Celtic Pilgrimage

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

 

 

If you loved Eire you'll be equally moved by his latest work. Wayfarer is a reflective and soulful album. #3 "Gazing on the Face of the Sea" and #10 "St. Joseph Arrives in Avalon" are two of my favorites. Also there's a distant bell sound at the beginning of #5 "The Way of My Fathers" that makes you feel like you're right there. The listening experience is enhanced by reading his stories and thoughts included in his booklet. It's, in my opinion, his best work so far.

..and I don't even like Celtic-inspired music. John Doan is a real treat. If you have never heard any of his solo releases (this one and Eire), have a listen to some of the samples here. This Oregon-based musician primarily plays guitar (and other instruments as well) on this CD. His talent is truly amazing. He brings effortless-sounding technique to the music making it complex and accomplished, yet not over-powering. There is a Celtic feel to the music, but this is not the traditional jigs and reels music. This CD is more contemplative, and evokes a mood of green lands and misted hills--after all, it is on the Hearts O' Space label. There is some additon of complementary sounds in the music, such as distant church bells, but the addtional stuff doesn't make the music sappy or contrived. Each piece is a treat on its own, so listen to any of the samples, and you will get an idea of the spirit of the music. Doan also has a wonderful Christmas CD available from Hearts of Space--try it, too.

WAYFARER is a lovely album of soothing contemplative pieces played with the beauty and quiet passion I expect from Doan. It is not as varied in style as EIRE: ISLE OF THE SAINTS, and if you're not listening carefully, the songs will blend right into each other. Not that this is necessarily a handicap; I use this music for my Healing Touch work and for reading and journaling, all times when sudden changing of styles and tempos might be very distracting indeed.

This album is Doan's story -- in music -- of his travels to sacred sites or "thin places" in the British Isles. If you have an hour to travel, you can take the journey yourself by reading the notes Doan provides with each song. Close your eyes to experience the song, then open them and read the notes once or twice. Then close them again and fly away.

I bought this album because I had previous one--Eire~Isle of the Saints. I consider it not better than previous album (Eire) initially. But after listening to it again and again, I have promoted this album as one of my best favorites. The songs within always touch me and bring me to another space. It really deserves trying John Doan's work.

I highly recommend John Doan's album Wayfarer. Harp, guitar blend with Doan's storytelling vision in a collection of songs that are uplifting, provocative, mesmerizing.

Skellig Michael is pure magic, but the rest of the album gives you soothing, yet invigorating music. Sometimes Celtic instrumentals can been too soothing, make me sleepy, slowing me down when I am trying to write. Others make me want to get up and dance, causing me to lose focus. Doan's album is just right, the perfect back drop. This is not a variety of tunes, but ones that seamlessly fit together and blend right into one another, so they are non-intrusive when I am trying to concentrate.

Pure Celtic magic! Flawlessly conjured by Doan.

When I discovered John Doan's music several years ago, he quickly became my number one top-favorite Celtic-style composer and musician. I put his CDs into my three-drawer player and listen to glorious music for hours...and then play them over again. There just aren't words enough to define how lovely and lyrical and moving and unique his compositions are. And how in the world that man can play such an unusual and complicated instrument as his harp-guitar without having additional arms or at least 20 fingers is a mystery to me. I have not had the privilege of being in attendance at one of his concerts or even viewing his skill on television. Nevertheless this master musician accomplishes it with eloquence and beauty. I can say that I do not love one John Doan CD over another, for they are all absolutely splendid! This CD is wonderful.