A Crystalline Clear Folk/Rock "Must-Have" from early '70s
David Allan Hitchcock | Bellevue, WA USA | 07/21/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Can be compared to Sandy Denny, early Joni Mitchell, even the Celtic stylings of Loreena McKennitt... Shelagh is a dark-eyed, clear-voiced beauty who recorded 2 fine Folk/Rock albums, ("STARGAZER" being the most impressive showcase of her song writing talents) and then promptly disappeared!The mastering on the Mooncrest re-issue is relatively free of tape hiss & studio hummm, considering the technology available in 1971, when these tracks were originally recorded.The first side of the LP, originally comprised of: 1. Rod's Song 2. Liz's Song 3. Lonely King 4. City's Cry 5. Dowie Dens Of Yarrow. Tracks 1-4 are similar in style to early Joni Mitchell and some Sandy Denny, in approach. "The Dowie Dens" is a traditional song given a surprisingly strong arrangement that swirls about in ethereal eddies of mystery. Wonderful stuff.The second side originally contained the following tracks: 1. Baby Go Slow (w/Mac & Katie Kissoon of "Chirpy Cheep" fame assisting with unique back-up vocals) 2. Canadian Man (Another Mitchell/Denny-styled number, but all her own, never-the-less) 3. Good Times (Real upbeat, cheerful folky reminiscenses) 4. Odyssey (Really powerful number, logging in at 6.08 min, but worth every second! "Down the hill come gliding cars, their lights turn into falling stars..." this one still makes me shivers!) 5. Stargazer (With all the "Rocket Man" and "Starman" hoo-ha from other Brits, this is the timeless classic. Kate Bush would embrace Robert Kirby's arrangement, ending with a chorus from "Cantiones in Ecclesias" featuring Latin text by Johannes Kepler.)With the help of instrumentalists the likes of Richard Thompson and Keith Christmas amongst the contributing musicians, this is a very satisfying outing for the relatively unknown, but surely talented Shelagh!The disc is a rare treat. Get it while you can!"
