Irish Eyes | Tualatin, OR United States | 01/27/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"As anyone seriously interested in the subject knows, there is a unique magic to Gaelic song, and this CD is a fine exemplar of that tradition. Aoife's singing voice is a thing of surpassing potency. Two tracks in particular stand out -- not just on this CD but in comparison to any other: "Seacht Suailci Na Maighdine Muire" (The Seven Joys of the Virgin Mary), and "A Neansai Mhile Gra" (O Nancy Dearest Darling). On the latter Maire Brennan does backing vocals for an effect that is indescribable.
A large part of the impact of the songs is due to the language: Donegal Gaelic. Sung by a woman, there is nothing else like it.
"
Eefa Ni Ferra
12/14/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I first heard Aoife's voice on the CD Celtic Spirit and decided to take a chance with Eefa Ni Ferra. I have not been disappointed. Her beautiful melodic voice captivates anyone who loves Irish song."
A very special addition to any collection
John L Murphy | 01/25/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you like Celtic music, you'll really appreciate the pure clarity of Aoife's voice on some lovely traditional pieces. Give it a try. You'll recommend it to others."
MOR Celtic folk-pop, following Clannad & Altan mid-90s
John L Murphy | Los Angeles | 01/31/2007
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Aoife deserves better than an album that smothers her talent. Other reviewers praise this more highly than I do, so let me explain why I rank it three rather than five stars. You're too lulled to hear her potential to best effect here. There's too much diffusion of sounds that distract you from her voice, too many busy arrangements that pillow her vocals rather than display her phrasing prominently to best effect. This CD, by a neighbor of the clan that made Clannad, and a student of the father of the lead singer of Altan, among other local luminaries (such as members of the Bothy Band) with whom Aoife has learned with and from among the Donegal Gaeltacht musical heartlands, is overproduced.
Maire Brennan, lead singer of Clannad, contributes her wonderful vocal delicacy to her friend's album. Brennan also co-produces it, and here I find reasons for the album's less than perfect rating. It's too lush, too watery, too airy. Similar, of course, to Clannad's sound after their first decade, and to Altan after they moved to Narada to emerge into a band that-- as had Clannad-- moved from a more pastoral to a slicker, New Age-tinged style that glossed over their traditional roots. The melodies, of Clannad, Altan, or Aoife here, never quite fade, but they are overshadowed by synthetic treatments and processed tones. These diminish the power of the arrangements, and weaken their dramatic impact.
There are quality musicians contributing, among them piper John McSherry (formerly Tamalin, now Tripswitch-- I have reviewed the recent, latter album on Amazon) and veteran fiddler Nollaig Ní Chathasaigh. Two songs stand out best and nudge up the overall score to a middling three stars: Neansaí and a duet which is a call and response, Cailín, with Seoirse O Dochartaigh. The former packs more of an emotional punch by allowing her vocals to rise with more emphasis above the musical backing. The latter adds variety with the male-female back and forth style that, surprisingly, remains rare on Irish traditional recordings. I wish the album had tried to be more distinctive, rather than veer as had Clannad and Altan by this time to the middle-of-the-road mass appeal audience for this tamed and muted style.
She recorded an early album of traditional tunes in the Donegal singing style in 1991, Loinneoig Cheoil; at the time I write this, it is going to be reissued. After I hear it, I will add my review. I'm curious to hear Aoife in her more "natural" element, before the studio threatened as it succeeded too often here to dilute her talented voice with instrumental meandering and soundboard clutter."
