Search - Davy Spillane :: The Sea Of Dreams

A sea of beautiful moods.

Callie | Portland, OR United States | 04/13/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have heard the powerful pipes of Davy Spillane almost everywhere. With Enya, with Maire Brennan, on the original Riverdance, on "Celtic Solstice" with Paul Winter, and on Adiemus's "The Eternal Knot". He seems to me to be the best uillean piper of Ireland, but this is the first time I've heard his own music, and I am very impressed. "The Sea of Dreams", starts with the very uplifting "River of Drums", in which the pipes play a very slow, flowing rythm. The rest of the music continues that mood, with the guitar and keyboard adding to the mood. Sinead O'Conner even plays a role in "Dreaming of the Bones" and "Danny Boy 'The Derry Air'"(she does well with traditional music) on track 7. Track seven actually combines Danny Boy and the Londonderry Air, two songs with the same tune, but different lyrics. All of the tracks of this album provide a dazzling blend of Celtic and pop music, with the harmonies and melodies of the low whistle and uillean pipes. I adored the traditional sounds of "Inagh",the dramatic sounds of "Equinox", and the very simple, poignant "The Morning Dew". One of the best tracks is "Midnight Walker", one of Spillane's greatest hits. It's a musical piece that gave good influence to Paul Winter, and was the prequal to "Dawnwalker". Spillane has done well in influencing the musicians and artists he has worked with, for his music brings great wonder and inspiration to those who hear. Those who love the unique sounds of the uillean pipes and want soothing music well feel at home hear."

DAVY SPILLANE BLACKSHEEP OF THE PIPERS.

FRANKIE GRIFFIN | Cork City,Ireland | 11/05/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The opening track on Sea of Dreams River of Gems is Davys second undertaking of this tune also Daires dream and May morning Dew have appeared before on recordings,the first two tracks I mention are previously available on Davys first solo album Atlantic Bridge,although the production here is far superior to the origional recordings,the track May Morning Dew previously appeared on the Moving Hearts final album The Storm a milestone in Irish music.Midnight Walker was first recorded on the album Pipedreams,and Equinox appears on Shadow Hunter.This leaves us with Big Sea Ballad,Dreaming Of The Bones featuring Sinead O Connor on vocals,the beauitiful haunting Inagh,Danny Boy also featuring Sinead and the title track The Sea Of Dreams,but I must admit here its the bonus track which sticks out for me,My Heart Will Go On(theme from Titanic minus Celene Dion).All in all I would have to say because I have followed Davys career through out the 80s and have purchased everything in the past this album comes across to me personally as a sort of compilation of remixed Davy Spillane tunes,this is not to say I am dissappointed with this offering,this album is a fantastic tribute to the Irish Uilleann Pipes played by the greatest piper in the world today,Davy has singlehandedly taken Irish music by the scruff of the neck(to coin a phrase)and shown the world what an emotional instrument the Uilleann Pipes are,I take my hat off to you Davy Spillane,continued success."

Beautiful, but not traditional Irish

quiz7 | Arizona | 09/16/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

""Sea of Dreams" is moody, ethereal and outright spacey. If you like Nightnoise and Enya, you'll love this CD. If you want anything resembling traditional Irish reels and jigs, you won't find it here. Contemporary keyboard sounds and dirge-like tempos water down the Irish tone of the arrangements. Davy Spillane is outrageously talented and a master technician but I'm personally disappointed to see him move farther and farther afield with this....Irish meditation music."