Mouth Music

Mouth Music

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 1, 1991)
• Original Release Date: January 18, 1991
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rykodisc
• ASIN: B0000009O3
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #6,226 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #5 in	Music > Folk > Traditional British & Celtic Folk > Celtic Folk
  #15 in	Music > World Music > Europe > British Isles > Scotland
  #20 in	Music > Indie Music > World Music

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Here's where world fusion really begins, with the marriage of Scots tunes (most notably in the puirt-a-beul--mouth-music--tradition, which gives the band its name), African percussion, and dance beats. Instrumentalist Martin Swan and singer Talitha MacKenzie make a formidable and imaginative team, taking songs to places you've never dreamed of, all underpinned by a very fat 303 bass. While it all makes for great listening, "Seinn O!" is a true standout, as is "Chi Mi Na Morbheanna," with beautiful fiddle by Martyn Bennett. Out of this record comes the inspiration for Afro Celt Sound System, Transglobal Underground, and a host of other bands, but the album is more than a precursor. It's a joyous event in itself whose ideas and music still stand tall, with MacKenzie in particular emerging as a real star. Essential. --Chris Nickson

From the Label
This acclaimed debut album makes a remarkable and unique fusion, as Martin Swan and Talitha MacKenzie mix the "mouth music" -- puirt-a-beul -- of Gaelic Scotland with the polyrhythms of Africa, aided by the liberating influence of keyboard technology and samples.

Swan's unorthodox approach to composition and MacKenzie's vocal (ir)reverence succeed through their effective "abuse of source material," for which Swan cites David Byrne's and Brian Eno's MY LIFE IN THE BUSH OF GHOSTS as a strong influence. " It's a matter of finding a strong rhythm which complements (the traditional song structures) and then creating some kind of tension or powerful or surprising harmonic context in which they happen....(I try to find an) environment in which that song becomes even stronger than it is."

Swan and MacKenzie based MOUTH MUSIC on traditional Gaelic source materials, much of which MacKenzie first discovered when she traveled to Edinburgh to study Scottish and Gaelic culture in depth. "There's something about ancient Gaelic songs that's different....straight from the heart and very intense," says MacKenzie. MOUTH MUSIC is that and more, creating something very new from something ancient.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars musical echoes of the Scot Gaels, July 22, 2003

By	Alejandra Vernon "artist & illustrator" (Long Beach, California) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

Though filled with intricate rhythmic patterns, this music has a peaceful feel to it, and "mouth music", which is a style of Gaelic music intended for dancing, is performed to perfection by Martin Swan and his many instuments, and the pure and lovely vocals of Talitha Mackenzie. There are also the "waulking songs"; like the work songs found in every tradition, they have an energy that helps ease the time spent at labor, and lifts the soul from all that is dreary. There are two instrumentals on this CD (tracks # 4 and 8), and these also include the talents of Martyn Bennett, on small pipes, violin, and block flute. Bennett can also be heard on "Chi Mi Na Morbheanna" ("I See the Great Mountains").

Recorded in Scotland in 1991, the sound is excellent; the booklet insert, though minimal, has the lyrics in Gaelic and English, and my only complaint would be the all too short length at 36:24.
Anyone with an interest in high-quality, out-of-the-mainstream music, might be interested in this unique CD. It is a blend of the old and new, traditional instuments and electronic, rustic simplicity and modern complexity, all blended with enough magic to make the elfin spirit in you dance.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mouth Music...!?! Hmmm, where can I find a copy of this?, September 19, 1998

By A Customer

Everyone who's heard this recording has commented at first, "What the heck is that?" This comment is quickly followed by "Where did you find this - can I still get a copy?" (My copy is very old - still in tape media form... I "was" (thanks to Amazon.com) looking for this on CD media format.

If you enjoy fusion music - in this case, the roots of Celtic mouth music with a strong American influence, you will definitely enjoy this music collection. The fusion is seamless, compliments of Mickey Hart (drummer for the Grateful Dead band and independently of , "Planet Drum" fame) thus, creating a universal sound. If you like adventure in sound, try this one out. You won't be disappointed! Had this been released with English lyrics it definitely would have hit the best seller charts in America!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not for traditionalists, but wonderful, October 13, 1998

By A Customer

I've loved this cd for years--for some reason the public library had it where I used to live. When I moved, I had to buy my own. Talitha McKenzie is the vocalist here; beware, the other titles by "Mouth Music" have different vocalists. You want this one. I've listened to it so much that sometimes I think I know the lyrics (they've stopped being Gaelic to me; accompanied by the translations in the booklet, you can learn their meanings). Favorites are Bratach Bana and Chi Mi Na Morbheanna. I think Enya, Loreena fans might be open to this--maybe even fans of Sinead O'Connor's first album. Atmosphere-laden without feeling like new-age wallpaper.