Waiting for an Echo

Solas

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 22, 2005)
• Original Release Date: February 22, 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Shanachie
• ASIN: B0006TRO6S
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #28,549 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  #58 in	Music > Folk > Traditional British & Celtic Folk > Celtic Folk
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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

While Waiting For An Echo was recorded in hotel rooms, dressing rooms, and studios on two continents, the album sounds sonically cohesive with an emphasis on instrumentals. Stylistically, however, the quintet of top-flight musicians is all over the place. There's a bushel of Irish traditionals that come in shape of reels and jigs strung together (the even-keeled "Steven Campbell's/The Road Ringussoon/The Bag Of Beer" is a highlight); but the band also dives into folk-pop balladry on "The Silver Dagger" and "Erin," conjures a little country twang on "Lowground" and "On A Sea Of Fleur de Lis." A handful of guests further diversify things, but one thing about Celtic musicians is their thirst for jamming, so in way this is a more realistic look at a band than some of its Celtic music-leaning fans may be willing to allow. Nevertheless, there is enough here to keep them placated, unless you're fan of singer Patricia Scanlon, who contributions are limited to a few songs. – Tad Hendrickson

Product Description

Waiting For An Echo, Solas seventh Shanachie CD, was recorded in a number of locations including Seamus’ home studio in Philadelphia and on the road in Germany. "We did what we call guerilla recording," laughs Seamus Egan. "We recorded everywhere we could, backstage at concerts, in hotel rooms and wherever it made sense using a Mac G4 and my mobile recording unit." In typical Solas fashion, the band has crafted a thrilling mix of traditional gems, jigs, polkas, reels, contemporary material and originals. Their use of counterpoint and driving syncopation pulsates throughout the CD.

Seamus Egan says, "From one project to the next, we never want to make the same record. This album is more than anything a snapshot of where we are musically. We’re a band that happens to have a strong grounding in a particular tradition. But the way we look at it, that tradition allows itself to be played with a little bit; it’s malleable enough and strong enough to allow that. I think it’s fundamentally impossible to play music any other way than being who you are and what you are. Irish traditional music is the first music I have any memory of; for a long time, I thought it’s all there was. But I never saw it as something old; it was always there in our lives, and always evolving."

Highlights on Waiting For An Echo include the Antje Duvekot song "Erin," featuring the vocals of Mick McAuley, the traditional song "The Silver Dagger" which showcases an imaginative revamped melody and altered arrangement by Winifred Horan and the Richard Shindell song "On a Sea of Fleur de Lis," featuring the angelic vocals of Deirdre Scanlan. Solas has long wanted to record this Shindell song and finally does it on Waiting For An Echo.

Also included is "The Coconut Dog Morning Dew," two reels, the first penned by Eagan and the latter a traditional number arranged by the band. "The Coconut Dog" unites Solas with renowned Spanish bagpiper Carlos Nunez who has recorded with and is currently on tour with the Chieftains. The band recently had a chance to meet up with Nunez while on tour in Germany October and November of 2004.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Turn me back to a witch..., May 5, 2005

By	Garry Daniel (Knoxville, TN United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Although I knew of Solas from an article in Dirty Linen Magazine, I had never actually listened to them until I bought "Waiting for a Echo" just a week ago. I am amazed at this band's versatility and flexability, and at their sheer power.
I won't fall into the trap of debating what is traditional and what isn't. I'll leave that to the people more knowlegable with that sort of thing. All I'm attempting to say in this review is that I like Solas very much and I appreciate their talent. This is a very very good album and one which makes me sit and listen to the music. I say that because so often people will put a CD on and engage in some other activity, using the music playing as background noise.I do not believe this type of music is intended for background noise. It does require your attention, and grab your attention it does! Songs such as "On a sea of Fleur De Lis",
The Ploughman", and "Silver Dagger" grabbed me immediately upon hearing them. Much has been said in other reviews of Solas "selling out" and becoming just another pop band. Trust me, this band is not The Corrs and never will be. That's not to say I don't like The Corrs and their brand of pop music,it's only to say that Solas is not, and never will be, as pop as the Corrs. Solas is a wonderful band, and "Waiting for an Echo" is a wonderful album.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Return to Form, March 13, 2005

By	David "forestcity" (Evanston, IL) - See all my reviews

After wandering from their base, especially with Edge of Silence, Solas has returned to form. There is no better traditional Irish band at work and Waiting for an Echo reinforces that fact. Solas delivers the best version ever of The Silver Dagger. Deirdre Scanland delivers great vocal readings of On A Sea Of Fleur De Lis and The Ploughman. (If there is a fair criticism of this cd, it is that Deirdre's beautiful voice is not present enough.)

The jigs and reels are exactly what we have come to expect from Solas. This is there best record since The Words That Remain. Given a few listens more, I might come back and say it is better than anything they have done.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Better..., May 10, 2006

By	Someone who knows about this stuff - See all my reviews

I'm a traditional Irish musician and Solas' first two albums are definitely on my top ten list and always will be. However, every time a band member swaps out and every time Seamus Egan finds a new way to over-produce traditional music, I lose a bit more interest in this band.

Unless you're looking for new-agey, rock-influenced folk music, stay away from any of their albums past Sunny Spells and Scattered Showers. Although they may be playing traditional music in a technical sense, there's so much percussion and amplified instruments on their new tracks as to make it completely buried. The same goes for Seamus Egan's recent solo work.

However, with this album it's a bit of a welcome return to form. Granted, without John Williams, Karen Casey and John Doyle, they'll never approach the great sound they had a decade ago, but at least this album has actual TUNES. There aren't many of them compared to the songs (seems to be the general trend in traditional bands trying to branch out), but at least the album isn't made up of "pieces".

I have my usual complaints about the album--it sounds over-produced, over-arranged, and over-dubbed. Win Horan still hasn't gotten past her classical past, apparently. Who uses vibrato on reels, anyway? Her playing often reminds me of classical players new to Irish music who lack the subtelty and style needed for traditional music. And it's a shame that one of this generation's most talented musicians, Seamus Egan, seems to have been stricken with chronic bad taste.

In general, if you're looking for a good intro to Irish music, don't start here. Danu, Flook, Dervish and Slide are the big names now. For solo work, check out former member John Williams' album, "Steam", and the latest from Liz Carroll and John Doyle. And don't ever get those 4 or so albums Solas recorded during their "experimental" (read: "selling out") stage. Try the first 2 and stop or you'll risk being very disappointed.