Search - Steve McDonald :: The Message

The Message is loud and clear!

thomasbc | Kents Store, VA USA | 10/06/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"My first exposure to Steve McDonald's music was with his first Spinfield album released more than 10 years ago (1989) on the Hearts of Space label. It quickly became one of my favorite instrumental albums due primarily to the songs 'Arcturian Sunbird' and 'The Enchanted Harp'. I then eagerly awaited more instrumental music from Steve in the same vein as Spinfield. However, Steve since discovered his Celtic roots and launched a brilliant second career as a Celtic vocalist. His 'Sons of Somerled', 'Stone of Destiny' and 'Highland Farewell' CD's are stunning volumes of Celtic music. Yet, I still pined for the day when he would return to his instumental roots. 'The Message' is that dream fulfilled! The music on 'The Message' is quite a bit more mainstream than his first Spinfield album. The first album featured lush sonic landscapes whereas the new album has more melody and harder rhythms. 'The Message' is influenced greatly by the instrumental arrangements Steve used in his Celtic works. But, this music is definitely not Celtic. I truly hope Steve can keep the two "paths" he is on separate. He has so much to share in both regards. The only complaint I have (and the reason I can not give the CD five stars), is that I found his use of "ambient voices" in nearly all of the songs both gratuitous and distracting. Two of the songs, 'Walking on Water' and 'Drift' actually have lyrics (albeit very limited). And, nearly all of the rest have sporatic bars of harmonic "moans and ahs". I wish Steve could feel comfortable in the fact that his Spinfield music can stand beautifully on it own as intrumental music without the use of voices. The voices and lyrics are obviously an integral part of his Celtic music, but are not needed for Spinfield. Please, keep Spinfield alive, Steve! Don't wait another 10 years to revisit it once again."