Bridget
McMahon - Celtic Woman
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Bridget McMahon - |
vocals,
acoustic guitar, violin, percussion |
Chris
Conway - |
tin
& low whistles, keyboards, acoustic & electric 9 string
guitar, nylon string guitar, mandolin, kalimba, vocals, percussion |
Dan Britton - |
bodhran,
acoustic guitar, percussion - 5, 6, 8, 9 |
Adele McMahon - violin
- 5 |
Neil
Rabjohn - cajon
drum - 5 |
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1 |
Walk
With Me |
2 |
The
Curragh of Kildare |
3 |
The Moon and the Tide |
4 |
Peggy Gordon |
5 |
Cúnla |
6 |
Spancil Hill |
7 |
I Could Hear Your Voice |
8 |
Black is the Colour |
9 |
The Water Is Wide - Dans Fanch Mitt |
10 |
Hold
Me Now |
11 |
Down By The Salley Gardens |
12 |
Walk With Me (reprise) |
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21st
Century Celtic woman.
Songs rooted in the Irish tradition are given fresh new sound
gives the perfect setting for Bridget's beautiful and passionate
voice.
"real,
earthy, intimate singing by a modern-day female bard" - New Age Reporter
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background
Recording
Celtic Woman started when 2 tracks were recorded 2 years
ago but was interrupted when Bridget moved to Ireland with
her young family. Recording in earnest was resumed in December
last year and finished early in the new year.
She also found time while in CCs studio to record sessions
for Govannen on their Celtic Fire CD, Dave Kirk's Mayfly
CD and on Chris Conway's Songs for Dreamers album.
Although many of the songs are traditional the sound is
very modern and full of the influences CC can bring to a
recording. One track has a hint of Latin while another has
an ethnic tribal feel. Pop and electronica, 60s retro and
more are all; there but it all feels like a whole and running
through the album is a rich Celtic tradition with whiistle
tunes and bodhran.
biography
Bridget
McMahon has been singing and playing music since she was
a child - he father is a singer of traditional songs from
County Clare. She fist appeared in acoustic clubs and Irish
music sessions with her sister in Leicester UK. She attracted
attention which led to her joining various groups such as
The Sisters of Murphy.
She recorded with bands Endorphin and Saoirse and joined
the band Govannen, recording atmospheric vocals alongside
Vikki Clayton on their acclaimed Healing Waters album. She
left the band to move with her young family to Ireland but
returned to record on Govannen's Celtic Fire album and play
some concerts with them.
Bridget lives in the remote west coast of Ireland in County
Mayo. Her two children, Saoirse and Daniel, take up much
of her time but she continues play concerts, solo and in
a duo with Eamon Wilson which in 2007 took her to Dublin,
England and Croatia and singing live on Irish Radio.
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influences
Alan
Stivell, Loreena McKennitt, Moya Brennan, Mary Black, Capercaille,
Donal Lunny, Hothouse Flowers, The Corrs
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trivia
All tracks trad Ireland arranged by Chris Conway except
3, 10 by Bridget McMahon
1, 12 by Chris Conway
7 by Bridget McMahon & Chris Conway
9 trad Ireland, trad Britteny arr Chris Conway
re-released in 2014 with new cover art
Walk
With Me was especially written for Bridget by Chris
Conway. He recorded his own version of the song as Life
Road on his Songs For Dreamers album.
Instrumental versions of Cunla and Spancil Hill
were released on Govannen's Celtic
Fire album.
I Could Hear Your Voice grew out of an instrumental
piece Dreamcatcher on Chris's Songs
For Dreamers album where Bridget recorded some whispering
and vocals. Chris took some of these elemtns out and made
this track.
Chris indulged in some of his favourite influences in arranging
some of the tracks on Celtic Woman....tho it's quite possible
that you may not realise this as they all suit the songs
so well.
The arrangement on Down By The Salley Gardens is
influenced by the Brain Wilson production sound from The
Beach Boys.
The arrangement on The Water Is Wide was influenced
by Lisa Stansfield.
The arrangement on The Curragh opf Kildare was influenced
by Brazilian bossa music and especially Marcos Valle.
Dans Fanch Mitt is a Breton tune Chris heard Alan
Stivell play.
CC's favourite track -Down By The Salley Gardens
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track
by track |
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1.
Walk With Me (Conway)
Chris Conway wrote this song especially for Bridget highlighting
her love of music and family.
Bridget McMahon - vocals
Chris Conway - tin & low whistles, keyboards, kalimba,
vocals, percussion
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2.
The Curragh of Kildare (trad Ireland arr Conway)
This beautiful traditional ballad gets a touch of latin
as Spanish guitar and rhythms grow through the song.
Bridget McMahon - vocals
Chris Conway - low whistle, keyboards, nylon string guitar,
acoustic 9 string guitar, vocals, percussion
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3.
The Moon and the Tide (McMahon)
Bridget composed this song mnay years ago and still plays
it at solo concerts. The song itself has an Americana feel
but the Irish whistle tunes keeps the Celtic vibe.
Bridget McMahon - vocals, acoustic guitar
Chris Conway - tin whistles, keyboards, electric 9 string
guitar, percussion
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4.
Peggy Gordon (trad Ireland arr Conway)
This beautiful well known ballad is sung with great passion
by Bridget.
Bridget McMahon - vocals
Chris Conway - low whistle, keyboards, electric 9 string
guitar, percussion
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5. Cúnla (trad Ireland arr Conway)
Govannen join Bridget on this lilting song with her sister
Adele's fiddle featured especially.
Bridget McMahon - vocals, handclaps
Chris Conway - keyboards, percussion, handclaps
Adele McMahon - violin
Dan Britton - bodhran, percussion, handclaps
Neil Rabjohn - cajon drum
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6.
Spancil Hill (trad Ireland arr Conway)
This is one of the most well known of Irish songs. In this
unusual arrangement there is an almost folk-jazz feel to
it with the addition of layers of Bridgets voice.
Bridget McMahon - vocals
Chris Conway -tin & low whistles, acoustic 9 string
guitar, keyboards, percussion
Dan Britton - bodhran
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7.
I Could Hear Your Voice (McMahon & Conway)
This delicate sound poem came out of a spontaneous session
in the studio.
Bridget McMahon - vocals, violin
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8.
Black is the Colour (trad Ireland arr Conway)
Bridget has been singing this song in her live solo set
and with Govannen for many years and her voiuce sounds stunning
on it.
Bridget McMahon - vocals
Chris Conway - mandolin, piano, keyboards, acoustic 9 string
guitar
Dan Britton - acoustic guitar, bodhran
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9.
The Water Is Wide - Dans Fanch Mitt
(trad Ireland - trad Brittany - arr Conway)
A positively funky version of this Irish ballad. In the
outro a fave Breton tune of Chris's strikes up.
Bridget McMahon - vocals
Chris Conway -tin & low whistles, electric 9 string
guitar, keyboards, percussion
Dan Britton - bodhran
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10.
Hold Me Now (McMahon)
Another great Bridget original song with again an Americana
feel.
Bridget McMahon - vocals, acoustic guitar
Chris Conway - low whistle, piano, keyboards, vocals, percussion
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11.
Down By The Salley Gardens
(trad Ireland arr Conway)
Once again a unique arrangement of this wel known song -
the melody is traditional (The Maids of Mourn Shore) and
the words are said to be set by poet WB Yeats. Bridget recorded
an instrumental version of this melody on Govannen's Healing
Waters album. This version has a kind of retro 60s feel
but it works.
Bridget McMahon - vocals
Chris Conway - low whistle, piano, keyboards, electric 9
string guitar, percussion
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12.
Walk With Me (reprise) (Conway)
A little reprise as Bridget walks and sings into the distance.
Bridget McMahon - vocals
Chris Conway - keyboards
Produced by Chris Conway
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reviews |
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Celtic
Woman, Review by Ascentor 11/15/2011 translated from Russian
to English
Bridget
McMahon with the composer Chris Conway presents his vision
of traditional Irish music, which reflects not only the
"classic" theme, but also important innovations
introduced by the genre over the past half century, among
which, of course, is to isolate the impact of rock music,
jazz and the blues.
Bridget sang in a band «Govannen», participated
in a number of other projects and this experience has allowed
her to not go on the road Copy Enya and her followers, and
to work on their own style. Style in which they can hear
the influence of «Clannad», through which we
perceive the "Celtic" music as a fusion of folk
melodies and songs, tongue twisters, romantic and soulful
ballads, many stories of love and waiting to tell not only
words but also in music, in which solo violin, leather drums
and Irish flute, tuned to high and low pitch. And, thanks
to «Clannad», we can also be written in a style
recognizable features of the unique atmospheric, electronic,
usually landscapes, painted in emerald green color.
All this can be heard in songs «Walk With Me»,
tuning to a specific way and is the "face" of
the album. Bridget plays not only folk songs but also his
own compositions, as well as songs written with Conway.
And if these things seem quite nice and traditional, ably
conveying the mood of Irish music with a rich arrangement,
then the solo work of Bridget («The Moon and the Tide»
and «Hold Me Now») tend to be more American
country rock in the spirit of Sheryl Crow representing a
variant of the road music for the endless highways, which
roam the romantic young lady in plaid shirts with guitars
behind their backs.
Sounds quality and the atmosphere does not violate the contrary,
the album will charm and confidence. In fact, quite "traditional"
songs are a little - just rollicking «Cúnla»
with breaking language patter can fit into the concept of
"folk." The remaining things one way or another
presented with the spirit of Celtic music in a new light,
meekly laying down on the "enigmaticheskie" rhythms,
and sometimes a genuine feeling light jazz influence («The
Water Is Wide»).
However, there is always room for mystery and mysticism,
sincere feelings of bitterness and light, fantastic moments
- just listen to the ghostly voices in the dance form «I
Could Hear Your Voice», while the performer whispers
the words, carried by the wind toward the stormy sky, promising
a separation . Also worth listening soulful ballad «Black
is the Colour», may be one of the best work on this
album, which opens before us this soul, not necessarily
Celtic, a woman with all her experiences, hopes and feelings.
Irish music one can not be surprised, but to find an abundance
of such products precious emeralds still quite possible.
So - pay attention.
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New Age Retailer |
Celtic
Woman by Bridget McMahon is not to be confused with any
other CDs of the same name.
This is real, earthy, intimate singing by a modern-day female
bard. No glitz or glitter here, just very honest storytelling
set to music. Nearly half of the album is traditional songs
from Ireland, but with contemporary arrangements.
McMahon’s voice has a rich quality to it that at times is
reminiscent of the lat Eva Cassidy. Listen to her version
of “The Water Is Wide.” McMahon’s own “The Moon and the
Tide” is a fun, upbeat, bluesy number that could get good
airplay if given the chance.
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re-released in 2014 with new cover art
downloads
Streaming
Spotify
you might also like...
Bridget McMahon - Avalon Moon
Govannen - Healing Waters
other Chris Conway
Celtic Music
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