Swap a CD: 15 Recently Posted CDs in Celtic

Various Artists - Narada Wilderness

Various Artists — 2013-05-20T15:10:01-05:00

Various Artists - Danny Boy

Various Artists — 2013-05-20T00:38:41-05:00

Percy Fletcher Edward Elgar Edmund Rubbra Gilbert Vinter Eric Ball Major Peter Parkes Roy Newsome - Epic Brass: British Music For Brass Band

2013-05-19T15:40:56-05:00

John Whelan - Flirting With the Edge

John Whelan — 2013-05-15T22:37:17-05:00

Wow! This aptly titled CD from John Whelan and his musical friends packs a real punch. Even on the more mysterious and lyrical pieces, there's an underlying, focused energy that says "zone": as in everyone who played on this album was in one during the recording. Whelan can play a wild, raucous accordion that's never sloppy or self-indulgent, and when he's paired with Oscar Lopez on guitar, the two spawn a chemistry that takes one's breath away. As Whelan says on the jacket, he and Oscar weren't schooled in their instruments, and a lack of self-consciousness shines throughout this collection. The few ballads sprinkled throughout the album add a lovely respite; Connie Dover's work on "Red Is the Rose" is especially radiant, and the flamenco-flavored pieces are surprisingly graceful and genuine. As on 1997's Celtic Crossroads, Whelan aimed on this CD to push the musical envelope via collaboration, and the celebratory Flirting shows the man has again met his artistic goal. --Karen Karleski

Barry Crimmins - Kill the Messenger

Barry Crimmins — 2013-05-15T12:19:26-05:00

Jeff Johnson - The Memory Tree

Jeff Johnson — 2013-05-14T15:22:57-05:00

Exploring themes of loss, grief and memory, "The Memory Tree" is an inspired musical journey through life?s profound contrasts of darkness and light. Johnson?s keyboards and vocals spiral within a full range of brilliant instrumental performances by Irish musicians, Brian Dunning (flute and whistles) and John Fitzpatrick (violins), along with cellists, Jami Seiber and Jozef LuptÁk, David Hagelganz on saxophone and classical singer, Janet Chvatal. Also featured are guitarists, Tim Ellis and Derri Daugherty, Gregg Williams on drums and percussion, and Phil Baker on bass.

Petrol Presents - Greatest Songs Ever: Ireland

Petrol Presents — 2013-05-13T21:52:09-05:00

Robert Shaw - Irish Folk Songs

Robert Shaw — 2013-05-13T17:42:37-05:00

Kim Robertson - Celtic Christmas

Kim Robertson — 2013-05-13T07:35:38-05:00

Kate Macleod - Feel the Earth Spin

Kate Macleod — 2013-05-11T13:53:23-05:00

Laura Mackenzie - Laura & The Lads

Laura Mackenzie — 2013-05-10T23:22:28-05:00

Mike Katz - Month of Sundays

Mike Katz — 2013-05-10T23:21:26-05:00

Laura Mackenzie - Evidence

Laura Mackenzie — 2013-05-10T23:04:20-05:00

Heritage of England - Heritage of England

Heritage of England — 2013-05-09T21:30:57-05:00

Various Artists Adiemus lll Clannad Craig Armstrong Dave Koz Delerium Dream Academy Loreena McKennitt Massive Attack Various Others - Pure Moods, Vol. II

2013-05-09T14:19:31-05:00

For listeners with a sincere interest in the broad variety of music loosely aligned under the New Age banner, Pure Moods II will strike your ears as something less than a high-concept showcase for the genre and more as a mulligan stew of easy-listening favorites. This is not necessarily a bad thing; yet a recording marketed to the general public as a comprehensive, current, state-of-the-art overview of atmospheric music shouldn't include such ill-fitting oddities as George Benson's "Breezin'," a lite-funk relic from 1976, or "Emily" from jazz saxophonist Dave Koz. Happily, the 77-minute, 16-track sampler offers far more items of interest than irritation. It reaches back to 1983 to remind us of an ahead-of-its-time display of Celtic mysticism from Clannad ("Theme from Harry's Game"), and it both opens and closes with superb selections from one of the genre's most admired artists, Loreena McKennitt--very appropriate since, one could argue, discussions on the future of New Age should both begin and end with McKennitt's name. Despite its few warts, Pure Moods II is a good listen overall. --Terry Wood