Search - Heather Heywood :: By Yon Castle Wa

Just wonderful

02/19/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"this album struck me as being one of the finest folk albums i have ever listened to. heather has a voice that reaches your heart. she sings with such emotion and powerful talent that i couldn't stop playing the cd. i would highly recommend this cd to everyone - YOUNG AND OLD! heather heywood has a brilliant singing voice and i can't wait to hear anything else she has in store for us."

Something new and different to my ears

Joseph Haschka | Glendale, CA USA | 09/26/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm not an avid listener of music, and am therefore unsophisticated in that respect. I'm more of a visual guy drawn to books and films. However, I occasionally stumble across a musical artist and an album that even I recognize as something special. Thus, I would call your attention to Heather Heywood and her CD, BY YON CASTLE WA'. Heather is a singer of traditional Scottish ballads. While her voice is not of the caliber of, say, Loreena McKennitt, a favorite of mine in the Celtic genre, it's clear and vibrant. And it's obvious she has a great love for the songs she sings. The fifteen tracks of BY YON CASTLE WA' are roughly divided half and half into those that are accompanied by instruments and those that are not. Perhaps Heywood singing completely solo takes some getting used to as my favorites are in the former group. In any case, instrumental accompaniment is minimal - perhaps a piano, fiddle, flute, highland pipes, whistle or guitar. There are three selections that I'll pull off for later inclusion on a CD of favorites that I burn for listening in the car: "For A New Baby", a song of a mother's parting from her newborn; "I Hae But Son/The Wandering Piper", tribute to a mother's pride in a son fighting for Bonnie Prince Charlie, paired with a bagpipe solo; "Paul's Song", a contemporary piece based on a scriptural passage.Left to my own ignorance and devices, I would probably award 4 stars to this album. There are, after all, tracks that haven't resonated with my bio-rhythms even after listening to the CD several times. Moreover, the album insert doesn't contain text of the lyrics, a sometimes useful inclusion. However, recognizing that this is likely a superlative example of the genre, I'm awarding 5 stars and hoping I won't be accused of copping out to overstatement.By the way, the odd title is the first four words of the track "Jamie". After listening to it with the greatest attention, I think the last word is a contraction of "wall"."

The best folk music eva!

Xra | Heaven | 09/16/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Heather Heywood sings like an angel, the music reacheing the soul of mankind, back to nature. I would seriously recommend this to any music lover as being one of the best fol albums ever to be released to the public. A must for folk lovers everywhere! Buy it or be a square!"