by Catherine L. Tully

Artist: MacTalla Mor
Album: "The New Colossus"
Year produced: 2007

Get ready to get knocked out with this CD--right from the very first track! The unstoppable energy of this band is back, and better than ever on their latest effort, "The New Colossus." MacTalla Mor is able to do their "fusion" style without it being overly obvious--it seems so natural to hear the wonderful and interesting sounds they call forth in each track. You can hear the tugging of all kinds of musical styles here; Calypso, Jazz, Rock and more, all blended with traditional Celtic rhythms and instruments.

With rich, emotion-filled vocals rounding out the mixture, this CD is a mixture of sounds that shows the range of the band while still being true to their overall style and cornucopia of sound. MacTalla has champion pipers, an award-winning Gaelic singer and top-notch musicians to call on--and they don't rest on their previous accomplishments, but rather seek to grow, expand their sound and better themselves each time they come together for a CD. The New Colossus is such an effort, and the band remains one of my absolute favorites.

Besides the first track here, bagpipe fans shouldn't miss track 7, New Wave or track 10, a bagpipe duet. That said, the best way to listen to the CD is to pop it in and go start to finish--you'll be taken on the grand tour--through a variety of musical sounds that is a treat--sometimes fun, sometimes astonishing and always terrific. The last track on the album will leave even the most discriminating listener satisfied, and those who love the pipes will be smiling ear to ear.

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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 Marc Gunn's Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. You can reach her through her photography website at www.moonbeamdigital.com.

Labels: cd_review_2007

Posted by Marc Gunn, Friday, August 03, 2007.
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