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reviews | ||
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What
reviewers have to say about
"Stunning
debut by the Gaelic-singing Mackenzie sisters from Gress on the Isle of Lewis...
plus production by none other than Michael Marra and a supporting cast of well-known
instrumentalists... enticingly fresh vocal harmonies, some fine new compositions
by the sisters and beautiful solo singing from the soul. Wonderful stuff." "This is a small label but in Ishbel MacAskill's "Sioda" and Maeve MacKinnon's "Fo Smuain" it already has two of the best Gaelic albums released in the last few years. It now has a third with the release of "Camhanach" by the sisters Fiona, Gillian and Eilidh Mackenzie. This CD, the first by the sisters as a group, differs from the other two mentioned in that it includes a great deal more instrumentation and plays fast and loose with arrangements. From the rich opening bars of Wendy Weatherby's cello, via Gospel country to the "Precenting" style finale, the CD teases and flirts with the listener. One minute there is a lump the size of Lewis in your throat, the next you are wearing out the leather on your sole. Let's get the obvious out of the way first. The girls can sing. Eilidh in particular has an expressive and emotional voice but Gillian and Fiona can hold their own. Whether in unison or in harmony the girls' voices provide a strong base on which a veritable who's who of musicians build textured and layered arrangements which take a number of listens to fully reveal themselves. One of the most pleasing aspects of this CD is that many of the songs were composed by the sisters. It is refreshing to hear new Gaelic material especially when it is of the quality offered here. Eilidh provides the bulk of the new songs as well as a version of "A Fagail Ghriais" which can also be found on Eilidh's 1992 solo CD "Eideadh Na Sgeulachd". There is also a slight Cape Breton influence with the inclusion of Farquhar Fraser's "Ho Ro's Toigh leam Fhin Thu". Three of the girls' songs bring the CD to a glorious climax. The first is a quite remarkable piece of Gaelic country gospel which is nowhere near as naff as that description sounds. Using pedal steel guitar and Coisir Sgire a bhac; (Back Ladies Choir or Loadsaweeminsinging as the notes put it) the girls create a piece which hits a soft spot every time. "Is E Cho Prisell Dhomh" is followed by some funky rocking as the girls let their hair down a bit. In contrast the final track "Leabaidh Naoimh Aula" gets back to the sisters roots in Lewis. Roddy Mackenzie (Dad) starts the track using the precenting style which is incredibly moving and allows the girls to pick up from that emotion as they move into the song, and slay the listener with aching harmonies before the pipes wring the last vestiges of emotion from them. A quite stunning arrangement of a song that I'm sure will be picked up by other singers. Overall
this is a beautifully crafted CD which has had lots of thought and imagination
put into it. Yet the sisters have not forgotten where their tradition is anchored,
and have kept the Gaelic feel intact. The delightful singing would probably have
been enough but when allied to the sensitive and clever arrangements the CD becomes
a bit special. Recommended. "One
of the most impressive albums of its kind to reach these ears... a healthy mixture
of traditional and contemporary compositions... an all-star Scots-folk cast...
It's the Mackenzie trio who grab the honours... absolutely engrossing performance
featuring stunning harmonies and drop-dead gorgeous solos... The accessibility
of the album is a big plus in its favour, and rarely has a wholly Gaelic album
been so delightfully easy to appreciate." "Camhanach
from Mackenzie turns out to be full of surprises. The sisters' musicality and
the sheer clarity and precision of their diction is much to be commended - not
least for the ease with which the Gaelic learners will be able to use the Gaelic
lyrics and the very useful translations to follow the sung word. Most extraordinary
effect of all is the final track, "Leabaidh Naoimh Aula"... at once
magnificent and heart-rending, and as painstakingly constructed as a vocal piobaireachd." "Always
in the foreground are the harmonies - so incredibly close and intuitive - as only
sisters can sing... Here even hearts of steel melt!... One of the absolute highlights
of the last year!" Folker Magazine (Germany) "Unusual and sensual...
Eilidh, Gillian and Fiona sing beautifully and with heart... accompanied by a
group of highly competent musicians... lovely arrangements and songs throughout...
extraordinary Celtic voice."
What
reviewers have to say
Mackenzie
is the most beautiful act of Gaelic song to be found on the folk music scene.
Eilidh, Fiona and Gillian Mackenzie are three young girls with bittersweet voices,
creating a heavenlike soundsphere - absolutely stunning! To hear these three sisters from Lewis sounding out together in the Tron cellar was a rare opportunity, with Fiona Mackenzie, now set for international Celtic stardom with the band Anam, joined by sisters Gillian and Eilidh for a session of superb acappella Gaelic singing - unhyped, unaccompanied and often compelling, a little subterranean eruption of Gaeldom, deep in the rubbled heart of a Lowland capital. There
was fine solo work from all three as well as rich, swooping harmonies in choruses
that had a predominantly non-Gaelic speaking audience singing along. Traditional
material was drawn from the Hebrides and the Gaelic diaspora of Nova Scotia, as
well as some of their own compositions to enrich the tradition. Perhaps outstanding
were two of their own, Gillian's Buaidh na Bardachd - The Muse - inspired by the
late George Mackay Brown's unfulfilled love affair with an Edinburgh Girl - poignant
Lewis strains for a much loved Orcadian - and Eilidh's lovely Hai-o Eadaraibh
O, written for her children. And, of course, there was the irresistible vocal
syncopation of walking songs and puirt-a-beul. This was heart music, pure and
unadorned, and it never missed a beat.
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