Search - Relativity :: Gathering Pace

Something different!

Brianna Neal | USA | 01/01/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Put aside your expectations. Not traditional in timbre, but managing to retain a quaint charm nonetheless, the music of Relativity relies heavily on synthesizers and electric guitar while still featuring customary accoustic leads like accordion, fiddle and voice. Relativity is a quartet of actual relatives--brothers Phil and Johnny Cunningham of Silly Wizard on accordion and fiddle, and siblings Triona Ni Domhnaill and Michael O Domhnaill from Nightnoise on keyboards and guitar. Expectedly, their sound is rather like a marriage of those two other bands. This group covers new ground though, with unusual combinations of instruments and sounds that seem unlikely, especially for the Celtic genre, but actually work very well. Normally I don't care for the tinkly timbre of a synthesizer programmed to sound like an electronic harpsichord, but here it proves surprisingly complimentary to the raw reediness of Cunningham's accordion. Michael O Domhnaill's guitar playing ranges from traditional strumming and finger picking to downright hard rock, but fits Relativity's material very well. Everyone sings, and though the blend is not expert, their harmonies are quite pleasant. The compositions, most of which were written or arranged by Phil and Triona, are engaging and well crafted--no boring music here! It's all full of heart and soul as well as musical interest. The mood of this album is gently rollicking--again an amalgamation of the participants' styles--but I'd have to say it's more like the gentle, laid-back releases of Nightnoise than the edgier albums of Silly Wizard with their fiery dance sets. While all the selections on "Gathering Pace" are nice, my favorites are the distinctively rock-like "Rose Catha Na Mumhan" with its eerie, wailing guitar descants, the sweetly touching instrumental "As She Sleeps", and the plaintive "Ceol Anna", the latter two of which would make great sentimental themes for some soundtrack or another if they've not already been used that way. For more by the members of Relativity, check out also the work of Nightnoise and Silly Wizard."

A Long Search

wsawtell | Memphis TN USA | 08/11/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first heard Ceol Anna on 'Music from the Heart of Space' in March of 1998. I didn't manage to get the track list from the shown until recently. Ceol Anna is certainly one of the most beautiful pieces of music every recorded."