by Catherine L. Tully

Artist: Marita Brake
Album: "The Celtic Rose"
Year produced: 2005

I don't know what is more impressive--the fact this CD is all original by Blake and her producer (Kent Thompson) or the fact that it is all so good! In a genre that can tend to repeat itself often, it is an exciting thing when an artist comes along with great new material. There is that wonderful flow to this album that many try for, but few achieve. Track slips into track--effortlessly--and yet it is not the same sound over and over. It ebbs and flows.

Some tracks have an almost "New Age" feel to them, but not in a generic way. Track 7, Innisfree is the type of song that you can put on, close your eyes and drift right off into another world. It is meditative. In spite of the "otherworldliness" of many of the tracks, the music manages to stay in touch with the listener's heart.

Brake's voice easily spans the range from low to high, but hits its greatest richness is in the lower notes. You'll hear this especially on track 12, "On Me Mother's Grave" which is sung a cappella. This CD can be enjoyed for her skill, for the lyrics, or for the musical arrangements. Any one of these things by itself is a masterpiece, but put all of it together and it is truly magical.

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Catherine L. Tully is a freelance writer and photographer who specializes in the arts. She has written for American Style and Classical Singer, among others and reviews music for Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. You can reach her through her photography website at www.moonbeamdigital.com.

Labels: cd_review_2006

Posted by Marc Gunn, Sunday, May 28, 2006.
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