Customer Reviews

The Winds Begin to Sing

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Of all the great Irish women singers (Cathy Jordan of Dervish, Niamh Parsons, Delores Keane, etc), Karan Casey is my favorite. Karan is back with her second solo album after her superb debut "Songlines". The most striking difference in this CD are the spare arrangements compared to Songlines where the tracks included many of her band members from SOLAS. Here, accompaniment is provided mainly by Ted Barnes on guitar and bouzouki, with occasional appearances by Donald Shaw on piano, Michael McGoldrick on flute and Niall Vallelly on concertina (a treat). The focus is almost entirely on Karan's singing which in its slightly understated way brings enormous impact to the intense, often political, largely traditional songs she has chosen with several in Gaelic. Not quite as approachable as "Songlines", this CD a wonderfully thoughtful, fascinating, poetic and highly effective exploration of human dramas of the heart and war through song both old and new. Very highly recommended. And if you don't already have them, be sure to pick up SOLAS's first three CDs which feature Karan plus some mighty instrumental playing.

James Taylor, what a voice. First time you hear it, it's like, how did that guy get such a soothing, intimate voice like that? Sweet, profound. Fast forward a few years to Karan Casey, and there! The same endearing vocal qualities----comforting, vulnerable, confident. A voice that compares to Sandy Denny, Astrud Gilberto, Sarah McLaughlin. Great command of vocal ornaments, a little like country singer George Jones that way. A little like Dick Gaughan's (sadly) now out of print "No More Forever." A recording you'll go back to for many years.

The CD holds together well, nice continuity, good flow. Great production (for me, that means knowing how to say "no," as in no violin sections, no tambourines). Her "Songlines" CD was good, but more of a band effort, with Karan taking a backseat at times to the incredibly talented musicians she attracts. This effort is Karan at the top of her game---shining brilliantly over music that is still every bit as interesting as the more complex arrangements of previous work.

Her choice of material reflects her position as THE vocal center of Irish traditional music. Her association with archivist Frank Harte assures the listener of a wealth of material that begs to be recorded. Knowing this CD is like sharing a secret with a friend. It's a wonderful effort. Thanks Karan!

When news of Karan Casey's leaving the amazing Solas band to go solo first hit, I was both bummed and excited. On one hand, I did not look forward to the possible end of one of the world's greatest Celtic folk acts, but, on the other, loving her first solo work, the brilliant: "Songlines", I really was jazzed to hear her new stuff.
Thankfully, Solas continues, as strong as ever, unfortunately the same (in this listeners opinion) can't be said for "the winds begin to sing"...
In a nutshell, this record drags - from start to finish. Gone is the fire, the highs & lows, the well crafted and brilliantly sung tunes of "Songlines"...
Ms.Casey's voice is in fine form, but it can't save this record of average songs, and average playing & production.
I miss Seamus Egan's touch in the producers role ( Solas & "Songlines) which may have helped in song writing / song selection and definitely would have lit a fire in the production here.
I find my opinion of this record has not changed since I bought it on it's release day in 2001, and it rarely, if ever, gets play now. Of course the hardcore Casey fan (who will buy anything with her name on it) will disagree here, but save your money on this one and buy her earlier work.
I only hope her future releases put her back in the saddle as one of the world's great Celtic folk voices!

Karan Casey has the most incredible voice in music - Celtic or otherwise. Her "instrument" is expressive, without affectation; light, but at the same time strong and clear. A pure and unadorned "beauty" that sings and interprets the "word" without overwhelming or stealing it's importance. The CD's songs are largely traditional, but in many cases given newer chord progressions and harmonic twists that create tension on the slower songs, and add color and interest to the more standard folk songs. All featuring Karan's voice, the songs are paced and varied to maintain interest throughout. They are supported by, and equally divided between: uptempo, guitar driven songs; slower mood pieces simply and quietly supported by piano or synthesizer; with the remaining songs being led by straightforward, finger picked guitar. While every song sounds full and rich, there is still a transparency throughout that allows Karan's voice to stand front and center, and that leaves room for the supporting instruments to be clearly understood as well. The arrangements and playing are beautiful, creative, and wonderfully matched to Karan's singing. This is a beautifully composed, sung, played and produced collection of songs. And now thankfully, this is another "place" where song and musicianship have come together, feeding the need for musical expression, and making our musical lives a more satisfied place to spend time. Thanks for these blessings to Karan Casey and Donald Shaw.

I have been listening to this album for several months now, trying to find the right way to approach Karan Casey's music. It would be easy to just class her as and Irish folksinger and leave it at that, but her choices cover a wider range than that, and some of her more modern work is outstanding. Especially when they fall into the heart of her range.

That being said, most of the tracks on this CD are of traditional songs arranged by Casey. She has a decided preference for a sparse, acoustic sound, and I cannot fault her for that. Most often some combination of guitar, violin, piano, and something thrown in for color. All of the songs are thoughtful choices, and the truth is the quality is so high that I have few favorites. Perhaps "You Brought Me Up", "The King's Shilling", and the infectious "Eppie Morrie." "The Liberty Tree" I am also partial to because I'm still a revolutionary under this middle class disguise.

Karen Casey's voice is almost a grand success. She has a great knack for color and variation that stands her in good stead. Her range unfortunately is somewhat limited, and in the high end begins to sound strained when she pushes. On the other hand, her true range has the kind of edgy Irish quality that lends itself to the plaintive melodies she often sings, and works will in jazzy settings as well. I think her artistic control is excellent - listen for the little bands and quavers that she uses to bring the music to life.

I don't want to over-hype this album because it deserves better than that. Nor do I want to mislead potential buyers into thinking that it is all of a piece. Karan Casey uses a wide range of Irish music to demonstrate both its variety and its timelessness. This makes the CD interesting on many levels, and I think that is what makes it worth continued attention, far beyond the time when the novelty of its ethnic echoes has worn off.

Karan Casey truly has a voice like heaven. "Where are you tonight I wonder" is worth it price all on it's own. I have to admit I'm sort of a sap, but I honestly was brought to tears on the first listen. If you liked her first album, while this may be more subdued, you won't be sorry. She is a gift.

It is hard to find fault with this lovely recording, except perhaps to observe that while Karan Casey's reading of the Billie Holiday classic "Strange Fruit" hardly disgraces her, she might have been better off to let it be. Holiday's version says it once and for all. But all things considered, that is, I concede, a fairly small complaint. When Casey is in her element, which is the Anglo-Celtic tradition, scarcely anyone does it better, and The Winds Begin to Sing is seldom less than inspired. Wonderfully spare, sung with great passion, power, and precision, it more than fulfills the promise of her first solo recording and proves that even without the backing of the estimable Solas, Casey is a talent to be reckoned with. She is equally adept at blood-soaked ballads ("Who Put the Blood," a variant of "Edward") and romantic laments, and just about anything between. Hard to believe so young a woman could have produced so mature a work, and hard to imagine how she could top it next time around. She will, though, I suspect.

First off: I have a bias. I am the founder of the Celtic Music Society of Montgomery, and Casey is playing for us in February. She will be the second concert we've presented (the first was irish guitarist Gerry O'Beirne) and that should tell you something about my enthusiasm.

I first encountered Casey on emusic.com, looking for someone else. Her voice was immediately arresting. She used to sing with Solas, and her loss has diminished that group greatly.

I did a radio promotion for the O'Beirne concert, during which the announcer played a brief excerpt from this album. By the time I got back to my desk at work we had sold 6 tickets-- for a concert four months away, on the strength of a brief 30 second clip! (from Martinmas Time, from her other solo album Songline) That's how evocative her voice is. She has the expression and range of a jazz singer, a little-girl quality like Triona O'Domhnaill (you may remember her from Bothy Band, Relativity and Nightnoise, as well as her solo albums) and a strength of expression and emotion that is unforgettable.

This is a fabulous followup to Songlines, and it takes more risks. "Who put the blood" is a retelling of "Edward, Edward"-- haunting but also jaunty. "The King's Shilling" has made it onto a compilation CD of mine. Her cover of Andy M. Stewart's "Where are you tonight I wonder" is simply dangerous listening for anybody recovering from a breakup. "Strange Fruit" doesn't quite work for me, but then, I'm in the South :) and it's hard to escape Billie Holliday...

As a singer she's now become one of the few artists I would buy a CD from on name alone. Don't miss this one!

An absolutely amazing voice. She's got incredible flexibility & range. Her gaelic is kinda strange on some albums - i'm told she's not a native speaker & they also stress things differently in the southeast, but if you can deal with that you will LOVE everything she sings.

I love her voice. My favorite songs are: Who Put the Blood, Eppie Morrie & Weary of Lying Alone. I also love Courting is a pleasure by Kate Rusby & Neptune by the Poozies & Kate Rusby, Black is the colour and Green grown the Laurel by Cara Dillon.