Customer Rating: 
Summary: Excellent album
Comment: This is one of my favorite music CDs. The music has a haunting beauty about it, and although (from a guy's perspective) one or two of the songs are a little sappy/girlie, overall I still find this one of my favorite albums.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Fantastic
Comment: I can listen to this disc over and over again. I have listened to it for about a month now, and am still not tired of the lilting voices. A wonderful composite of singers and songs.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Four Fair Maidens Awaken The Celtic Muse
Comment: 'Celtic Voices' featuring Mary McLaughlin, Connie Dover, Maireid Sulllivan and Emma Christian is a wonderous blend of traditional and contemporary folk compositions. This 14 track compilation moves smoothly and seamlessly through a fascinating soundscape of mood and emotion with each performer leaving her own indellible mark on the listener. There's McLauglin's brooding and deeply mystical 'Yundah,' Dover's festive 'In Aimsir Bhaint an Fheir,' and Sullivan's nostalgic and romantic 'She Moves Through the Fair.' Concluding with Christian's bittersweet 'The Goodnight Song' we bid a sad farewell, at least for now, to a beautiful listening experience that will call you back again and again to the Emerald Isle of Dreams.
It's simply the best compilation of Celtic music I've yet to come across. Definitely one of the essentials.
Customer Rating:
Summary: really beautiful
Comment: this is definitely repeat listening material. the voices are so wonderful, the words are almost unnecessary. some of the songs bring tapping and swaying to your whole body, others bring tears. i am certainly glad i bought this cd.
Customer Rating:
Summary: an amazingly beautiful album
Comment: This absolutely breathtaking album features four women who, even though are not as well known as artists such as Eyna, Loreena Mckennitt, Clannad and The Chieftians, have made a monumental impact on not only the Celtic music industry, but also in my own life.
First there is Mary McLaughlin who sings "Bring The Peace", "You Saw His Eyes", and "Sealwoman/Yundah". Born in North Ireland, Mary moved to London at the age of 18 where her music career began to flourish. The album begins with "Sealwoman/Yundah", a spellbinding, almost erotically charged song inspired by the Celtic legand of the selkies (sea-like creatures able to take human form). In it the "Sealwoman" (selkie) is torn between her home (the sea) and human love. Next up is "Bring The Peace" a lovely song about gaining wisdom after a period of seperation, and for coming "full circle." Rounding off the three songs Mary contributes is "You Saw His Eyes" whose message resonates any pop song that's out there today: to love someone only to be brokenhearted.
next up is Connie Dover, born in Arkansas and raised in Missouri. She sings "The Wishing Well", "In Aimsir Bhaint an Fheir", "Siuil a Ruin" and "Cantus". Praising the birth and final sacrifice of Christ as well as the devotion of Mary, his Mother, "Cantus" is exceptionally emotional. "In Aimsir Bhaint an Fheir" (at haycutting time) is a stark contrast to "Cantus". More lively and upbeat, this traditonal song finishes with a dance tune written by Phil Cunningham who has had a long and fruitful working relationship with Connie. The mood changes drasticlly once again for "The Wishing Well", inspired by a poem written by Padraig Prease. This poignant song is about the sometimes overpowerful feelings of love and the fear of "losing yourself" in the process. "Siuil a Ruin" (go, love) is the heartbreaking tale of a woman's love for a solider who has fled to France in times of war.
After Connie's beautiful voice, there is the equally stunning voice of Maireid Sullivan,who was born in Ireland and at age 11 moved with her family to San Francisco, and later moved to Melbourne, Australia. She sings "Colour Me", and the more traditional "She Moved Through The Fair" and "Waly Waly". "Colour Me", co-written by Maireid and guitarist Steve Wilson, paints a lovely picture of a river on a sunny day. "She Moved Through The Fair" has been a favorite among celtic artists (Lorenna Mckennitt also sings a rendition of it, among others)and "Waly Waly", another traditional favorite is sometimes refered to "The Water Is Wide"
Closing out the album is harpist and Isle Of Man native Emma Christian who contributes the songs "Ushag Veg Ruy" (Little Red Bird), "Oikan Ayns Bethlehem" (Birth In Bethlehem),"O Kirree, Tou Goll Dy Faagail Mee" (O Kirree Thou Wilt Leave Me), and (very fittingly) "Arrane Oie Vie" (The Goodnight Song). Sung in her native language, Manx Gaelic, Emma creates a serene, intimate atmosphere for her audience. Keeping close to her roots, all four songs are rich with the Manx tradition.
The Title for this cd (Celtic Voices:Women Of Song) is so perfect because I feel the human voice is one of the most complex and beautiful instruments. This cd clearly demostrates that in the stunning, impressive talents of these four women. This is a wonderful album for immense lovers of Celtic music (such as myself) and also for those who are new to Celtic music. I highly recommend it.
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