Karan Casey Winds Begin To Sing CD

Karan Casey's reputation as a singer has continued to grow, first as member of Solas, and then on her solo debut, Songlines. Now, with The Winds Begin to Sing, Casey has released another high-quality album of contemporary Celtic songs. The album gets started with the bouncy "Who Put the Blood," a traditional ballad freshly arranged. "Weary of Lying Alone" has a lovely arrangement, featuring no more than Donald Shaw's wash of keyboards, painting a spare and atmospheric background. The same simple background is used for Lewis Allen's "Strange Fruit." This choice may seem odd at first. Why would anyone try to place a song about Southern lynching into a Celtic song cycle? But on closer reflection, the song contains the same pathos of many traditional ballads, and Casey does a good job with it. Two songs -- "Éiright Suas a Stóirín" and "Buile Mo Chroí" -- are sung, at least partly, in Casey's native language, adding a nice touch. The arrangements, with the exception of keyboards, seem almost traditional. But the production, with flutes, layered guitars, and keyboards, is bright and polished. This gives the album a contemporary sound, even when the material is traditional. Casey's voice is lovely, both resonant and full, and she can proudly take her place beside other Celtic and English singers like Kate Rusby and Marie Brennan. For fans of Casey and Solas, The Winds Begin to Sing is a lovely release that is easy to play repeatedly. ~ Ronnie Lankford, Jr.

Recorded at Secret Music, Glasgow, Scotland between August 2000 & January 2001.

Personnel: Ted Barnes (guitar, bouzouki); Robbie Overson (guitar); Michael McGoldrick (flute); Niall Vallely (concertina); Donald Shaw (keyboards); Frank Torpey (bodhran); James MacKintosh (djembe, percussion).

Recording information: Secret Music, Glasgow, Scotland (08/2000-01/2001); SoundSound Studios, Cork, Ireland (08/2000-01/2001).

Photographer: Colm Henry.

Arranger: Karan Casey.

Personnel: Karan Casey (vocals); Ted Barnes (guitar, bouzouki, E-bow); John Doyle (guitar, background vocals); Robbie Overson (guitar); Dezi Donnelly (fiddle); Michael McGoldrick (flute); Donald Shaw (accordion, piano, keyboards); Niall Vallely (concertina); Alison Lawrence (cello); Ewan Vernal (double bass); Frank Torpey (bodhran); James MacKintosh (djembe, percussion).

Dirty Linen (8-9/01, pp.54-5) - "...Very well and good...an artist who has fully come into her own..."
Mojo (Publisher) (12/01, p.106) - "...Casey proves herself an exceptional singer..."