Mary Jane Lamond Storas CD

As a third-generation Canadian who champions Scottish Gaelic culture, Mary Jane Lammond is both a musician and a preservationist of sorts. Her music takes ancient Gaelic tunes and breathes life and modernity into them with reverent arrangements. "Storas," a haunting collection of 11 traditional songs, shines with not-so-traditional instrumentation and harmony. Although traditional Gaelic singers sang unaccompanied, Lamond's pure, soaring vocals weave between the layers of sound supplied by her acoustic band. She glides from milling songs to laments, to jaunty dance numbers with equal skill. Two of the album's most striking songs illustrate Scottish life during ancient and contemporary times. The lament "The Battle of Inverlochy" dates from 1645 and details a woman who has lost her father, husband, four brothers, and three sons with dramatic pacing and a cappella power. "It Is My Love the MacDonald Man" dates from the '50s and is a typical milling song accented with light percussion and a lively chorus. Lamond transcends time, borders, and language with this memorable CD. ~ Rosalind Cummings-Yeates

Mary Jane is an experienced and internationally respected artist within the Celtic and world music genres. She is a leader in the preservation of Celtic heritage, and her expertise in the Gaelic culture has garnered her critical acclaim worldwide. Mary Jane has earned several Juno and East Coast Music Award nominations and awards for her recordings; Orain Ghaidhlig (2000), Suas e!(1998), and Lan Duil(1997). She also composes and produces music for television, feature films and specialty projects. Mary Jane's latest recording "Storas" (Gaelic meaning "a treasure") is a stunning interpretation of Scottish Gaelic songs that have become part of Nova Scotia's Gaelic tradition. Her hypnotic vocals and heartfelt delivery are complemented by modern instrumentation and arrangements. This unique approach brings these traditional songs alive for the listener.

Personnel: Bonnie Thompson, Michelle Smith, Laurel MacDonald (vocals); Patrick Gillis, Chris Corrigan (guitar); Mairi Rankin (fiddle); Anne Bourne (cello); Margot Aldrich, Hilary Brown, Jennifer Jones (strings); Ryan MacNeil (bagpipe); Mac Morin (piano); Geoff Arsenault (percussion).

Audio Mixer: David Travers-Smith.

Recording information: Housefront Productions, P.E.I; Lakewind Studios, Point Aconi, Nova Scotia, Canada; Sonambulab, Toronto, Ont; The Music Room, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Translator: Angus MacLeod.

Arrangers: Chris Corrigan; Geoff Arsenault; Phillip Strong; Ed Woodsworth; Mary Jane Lamond.

This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files.