Search - Maggie Carchrie & Thomas Leigh :: Ru-Ra

Gaelic song meets 80s synth-pop - brilliant!

Scott Martin | Ann Arbor, MI United States | 03/31/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I should, perhaps, state at the outset that this is not a completely unbiased review: I spent a year at the University of Aberdeen in 1995 studying Gaelic, and got to know Thomas quite well. I knew then that he had a phenomenal feel for the beat, but I never had the chance to experience his keyboard prowess until the release of this album. Just think - all those years I missed out on....This album is unique in the growing genre of Celtic fusion music; rather than melding traditional sounds with rock (Capercaillie, Wolfstone) or electronica (Martyn Bennett, Afro Celt Sound System), Thomas and Maggie cast these tunes as 80s hits from an alternate pop universe. Information Society meets Altan? Maybe - but it works, mate! The inherent rhythms of the traditional tunes (many of which were originally work songs or orally-transmitted instrumental tunes) fuse wonderfully with the dance-floor synth and percussion, yielding a dance groove of irresistible proportions. If you can't hang with this, get back to yer cows!"

Classically beautiful and delightfully funky

Ken Irwin | Springfield, OH USA | 07/26/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is some of the most inventive new Celtic music I've heard in a long time. The vocals are clear and the intonation is lovely. The mostly-electronic instrumentation adds a whole new dimension to the music without detracting from the simplicity of the traditional vocal style. I'm particularly fond of "1,000 Deathshrouds Upon Love" and "The Selchie", but the whole album is great."

Maggie & Thomas are wonderful performers

Glasgow | Westfield, MA | 01/31/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Maggie Carchrie and Thomas Leigh have performed for many years at the Glasgow Lands Scottish Festival in Westfield, MA... Each year they have gotten better and better and we are glad to see that they have released a CD. Their performances have always been very well received and attended. As Ru-Ra has been such a popular group at our Festival, we are having them back again in July, 2002. We highly recommend the album!!"