by Catherine L. Tully

Artist: The McDades
Album: "Bloom"
Year produced: 2007

This hot CD is Celtic and so much more. You can feel the energy pouring out as you listen to the tracks on "Bloom". Trying to pin the style down is tough though. There are distinct Celtic sounds and instruments, but the band itself is Canadian and the sounds they produce on the instruments represent a very wide range of styles.

Some of the arrangements are complex, while others feature simple sounds and harmonies. "Smugglers Cove" is a perfect example of how you can have a song that is pared down and still able to shine with mood and feel.

The CD is quite interesting in that you never really know quite what to expect next. A sweet harmony. A song in French. Instrumentals that feel like improvisations. Never boring, this band knows how to keep one's attention with music and vocals as well as their arrangement.

Suffice it to say, this is a band that will not be reigned in by expectation or convention. They do what feels right to them; a true mark of artistry. Bloom represents a multi-faceted musical history that stays true to the band's roots while reaching and stretching to break new ground all at the same time.

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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 other magazines, and reviews music for Marc Gunn's Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. You can reach her through her website at http://www.catherineltully.com/.

Labels: cd_review_2008

Posted by Marc Gunn, Friday, June 13, 2008.
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