Search - Alyth Mccormack :: Edge

Gaelic au-go-go

Mark S. Keresman | New York, NY United States | 08/17/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Alyth McCormack is a young singer from the Western Islands of Scotland who sings entirely in the Gaelic language. Despite her youth, McCormack's voice is rich with a striking, honest maturity. At times she reminds me of Helen Merrill (mainly the H.M. heard on her beautifully eclectic Jelena Ana Milcactic a.k.a. Helen Merrill album) and Sheila Jordan (sensuously smoky `n' airy, though not wispy), as well as the trad-Balkan singer Marta Sebestyen and the singers of such contempo-Irish groups Solas and Altan. The rhythm of these songs is implicit and poetic, more in the rhythm and meter of the words (traditional) rather than that of the instruments, save for a couple of tracks the use drum `n' bass rhythms. Whereas some would use jungle/d `n' b sounds to "modernize" (read: make more lowest-common-denominator "accessible") traditional sounds, McCormack uses electronic sounds sparingly, as counterpoint and as a respectful modern interpretation of traditional elements. The instrumentation is spare (acoustic and electric guitars, piano, fiddle, cello, harp, whistles) and the mood somber but not oppressively so. An Lomall (The Edge) has an affinity with the ECM Records "sound," particularly on albums by Lena Willemark, Jan Garbarek and especially John Surman (many of his albums feature Celtic over/undertones). This is austere yet soulful music for deep rumination and restless, moonless nights."

An Iomall - the edge - the edge of something wonderful

Mark S. Keresman | 11/12/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Last year I visited the a place called Stornoway, which is a town on one of the many islands off the coast of Scotland. This is the place where Alyth McCormack grew along with the haunting voice she has developed. An Iomall has captured all that is beautiful and wonderous in this part of Scotland and the first time I listened to Alyth, the memories of the scenery and the people came flooding back to me, as they still do each time I listen.The vocal flexibility of Alyth and the musical accompaniment causes the hairs on my neck to stand on end. I feel that this CD will be the cause of greater appreciation of Gaelic song and culture."

+1/2. Pretty-sounding modern Celtic pop

Joe Sixpack -- Slipcue.com | ...in Middle America | 03/07/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Lovely vocals, although with somewhat overly-saccharine, synthy arrangements. It's too slick for me, but if you enjoy both the softer side of Sinead O'Connor and the rougher side (such as it is) of Enya, as well as the strange, alluring sound of the Celtic language, then this album might be for you."