norules-nolights.com
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Shannon Mercer with the Skye Consort |
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Wales, The Land of Song: Shannon Mercer with the Skye Consort by Brian Hay Note: Song titles shown as links open YouTube Windows to video or performances of the various songs on the disc. Hopefully more become available so the can be linked. This album opens on a note that's warm, accessible and sexy. 'Y Fwyalchen' ('The Blackbird') is a bittersweet song that Shannon Mercer brings all of her interpretative gifts to. The result is a delicious two and a half minutes of song that washes over the listener and welcomes them to the set. The track that follows, 'Codiad yr Hedydd' ('The Rising of the Lark'), is a call to wake up (open your eyes) and become a part of the beauty that's always right around us. Its melody is a joyful one that's set to a vibrant arrangement by Seán Dagher of the Skye Consort. The effect it has is to inject a buoyant mood into the program. The instrumental number that follows, 'Dydd G?yl Dewi' ('St. David's Day') infuses the set with feelings of solemnity before moving into a dancelike arrangement that still carries a hint of restraint. The arrangement of the first four tracks sets the balance that dominates the record. 'Suo Gân' ('The Slumber Song') carries the gentle serenity of a mother's lullaby. 'Y Gog Lwydlas' ('The Grey Cuckoo') bears an emotional makeup that's both pensive and joyous. The instrumental that follows 'Naid Tros Lannerch' ('A Leap Over the Glade') begins in a restrained manner before restoring a mood of buoyancy. This balance is a good one for the album. It moves the listener through a series of highs and lows that reflect the ups and downs of the lives of the Welsh people (or any people for that matter). But, it does so without losing sense of the fact that joy and sorrow always follow one another. There's no shortage of musical highlights on this record. 'Hyo Y Frwynen' ('The Magic of the Rush') is a delightful instrumental track that's apt to make listeners tap their feet. (It made me want to dance). Mercer sings 'Fenyw Fwyn' ('Gentle Maid') as if it's a loving but reflective caress. 'Ar Lan Y Môr' ('Down by the Sea') intertwines powerfully emotional singing from Mercer with jaunty instrumental interludes from the Skye Consort. Her singing is gorgeous on 'Dafydd A Gareg Wen' ('David of the White Rock'), 'Y Fwyalchen' ('The Blackbird') and Suo Gân' ('The Slumber Song'). It's absolutely ravishing on 'Y Gog Lwydlas' ('The Grey Cuckoo') and 'Y Deryn Pur' ('The Gentle Dove'). This is an extraordinary recording. Shannon Mercer is a very gifted artist who probably works very hard. Her singing on this disc resounds with love and respect for the material she presents. Seán Dagher's instrumental arrangements of the songs are fresh and vibrant. He did a fabulous job of infusing them with new life while retaining a traditional feel. The instrumental work from the Skye Consort is never short of stellar. The material itself is excellent. There's not a weak track on the disc. The way it's balanced is solid as well. The technical end of the recording is very good. If there's one complaint it's that the instruments occasionally seem too far down in the mix. But's that's nit picking. When (Shannon) Mercer and The Skye Consort close this disc with that the lovely 'Y Deryn Pur' ('The Gentle Dove') they close out a disc that's entirely satisfying. This should be a "must have" for any lover of traditional folk music. Analekta Records I bought the CD in a shop so I had to go to Analekta's site to see the lyrics to the songs. Browsing there was a very pleasant surprise. The people in charge of this label are doing everything they can to make the music they cover accessible. The site can be viewed in English or French. Navigation is easy and they've made it into an online listening room. But they haven't stopped there. The albums in their catalogue can be previewed in their entirety. The musical tracks can then be downloaded separately as a complete set. As well, they're available as MP3 or FLAC files. FLAC is a lossless compression method which is a huge consideration—the loss of information on MP3 files is noticeable on any reasonable sound system. The booklets for the CD's are available as PDF files and look as if they can be printed easily. The prices for all of this are very reasonable. They also have a pair of nuggets called 'Analekta Radio' and 'Analekta TV'. 'Radio' features a selection of tracks from an array of their releases. Listening can begin where the user chooses.. After that the list plays through until the user stops it. The window for this feature is separate and unobtrusive. It keeps functioning while the user continues to browse. 'TV' features a series of clips made while the recordings were being done. Generally, they're excellent teasers. Normally, they don't interfere with other work being done by your processor. The only knock against them is that that the aspect ratio is off on a few of the clips. But, given the attention to detail that's been put toward this website that's a gaffe that won't happen often. This looks as if it's just going to get better. This line serves as a spacer. |
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Singer Shannon Mercer |
