Celtic Journey [Import]

This wonderous CD opens up with "Nimue's Lament (Vocal Version)" by Alkaemy, and features beautifully themed vocals and a lush string arrangement. Backing vocals come courtesy of the great Miriam Stockley. "Secret Call" by Gingko Garden is a slightly more electronic version of Enya, with male and female vocals in tight harmony together. The beginning almost reminded me of "Smooth Operator" by Sade. "Into The Blue" by Ring is a beautiful Celtic-themed song with a laid-back march/hip-hop beat and elegant female vocals. "Angel" is another great offering from Clair Marlo (when will she release her own CD?). Her angelic vocals float atop light harps and percussion. "Celtica" by Govinda features a slightly sharp fiddle part played over a heavily syncopated beat accompanied by guitar and synthesizers. It takes a bit to get used to it, but you will succumb to the melancholy emotions it brings forth. "Slow Runs My Heart" is performed by the talented vocalist Jayne Elleson. Lush strings and a sweet accoustic guitar accent Elleson's warm, divine vocals. "The Emerald" by Celtic Dance is a slower Celtic dance, but just as lively. Harp, fiddle and pipes combine in this traditional-themed dance. "Celtic Mist" by Christopher Franke makes me envision the large plains of Ireland and tribes marching to and fro across them, in fog and cloud, rain and wind, sun and snow. "Wailing Reel" by Orion starts off as simple guitar and piano and adds in more Irish instrumentation as it goes along. Aeone's "Anam Cara" features Aeone's Kate Bush-like vocals together with beautiful piano and string arrangements to create something truly special. "Awakening" by Philip Riley features traditional Irish instrumentation along with Enya-esque pizzicato strings and low-frequency bass. Female vocals vibrate within this mix, giving the song a warm feeling. Sally Oldfield's "My Damsel Heart" also features female vocals, with the accoustic guitar and strings. By the middle of the song bass and drums are included in. The song rides upon the strength of the expressive vocals provided by Oldfield. "Willow Song" by Richard Burmer combines brilliant use of synthesizers with a sensitive flute line, bringing to mind the willows in the wind. "So Fair A Land" by Jon Mark combines synthesizer lead and oboe lead to create a fair land within our imaginations and minds. The CD ends with "Le Morte D'Arthur", also by Alkaemy, and background vocals once again by Miriam Stockley. While not as good as "Nimue's Lament (Vocal Version)", this song holds its own as well, and concludes the CD nicely.

I LOVE this CD!!! The music is very gorgeous and it flows very well. It is a must have for every lover of Celtic and New Age music. The mix of instrumentals and vocals are nice!

This Celtic CD with some vocals on it is very nice to listen to at work or at home. I sampled the songs from Amazon and then bought it and am very happy with it. I can recommend it to anyone who likes Celtic/New Age music a lot.

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