Mairéid Sullivan
Mairéid's New Book"Celtic Women In Music"
"One of the aspects that comes across clearly when listening to the entire collection of her music (on Dancer ) is how talented and original
Mairéid is as a songwriter. Enchanting and fascinating songs....How thrilled I was to hear them so perfectly sung here. I play this CD softly as I'm falling into sleep...then I know myself to be loved eternally."
Maureen Williams, Keltic Fringe, Pennsylvania
"She can sound sultry...sweet...playful...wistful...or etheric...the listener can feel why some songs still have the power to pull on your heartstrings hundreds of years after they were first sung...."
Dan Liss, Aquarius Magazine, Georgia
"First there was Enya, then Loreena McKennit, and now Mairéid Sullivan brings it on home with her debut solo CD....Sullivan bravely and with delicate sensitivity presents her contemporary Celtic pop-fusion originals alongside fresh arrangements of traditional Celtic repertoire. With the poise of an elder and the delight of a maiden, this sparkling singer mesmerizes us."
GH, Napra Review, Washington
"Singer/Songwriter Mairéid Sullivan spreads her light to the world through the medium of Celtic Music. In her first album, Dancer , she blends a combination of traditional and original tunes in a seamless flow....The lyrics are infused with a Celtic spirit and the universal philosophies of love and freedom. At a time of re-emerging Celtic culture, we are reminded that "the roots of history and memory are buried deep in song." She sings with a voice filled with passion, mystery and wisdom. She sings of creating a better world, shaping our tomorrow. Reaching for the music of the spheres, with nature as an anchor, she reminds us that life is a dance and we are the dancer."
Kevin Maxwell - Music Manager, The Bodhi Tree Bookstore, Los Angeles
"Dancer , produced by the redoubtable Donal
Lunny, adroitly balances tunes ancient and modern, filling the new with past cadences and the old with contemporary cues...a formidable ensemble that moves easily between folk contemporary and classical genres...irresistible...enchanting."
Mike Daly - The AGE, (Melbourne) Australia
"Yet another remarkable Australian-made record is Dancer by Mairéid Sullivan...the musicians include some of Australia's best....But it's Mairéid Sullivan who takes center stage, with one of those gloriously sweet voices that reminds you of Enya until you realize that Sullivan doesn't need fleets of multi-track recorders to get her effects....To achieve that extra touch of greatness Dancer makes full use of the accompanying musicians....Congratulations to everybody who contributed to Dancer.
Bruce Gillespie - The Melburnian
"Her originals make her
something different. Sullivan happily admits a pop sensibility, so her songs have a lighter touch...a contemporary side with an acceptance, even an affection for an urban life. Sullivan...manages to cross some musically fascist boundaries....It is definitely music of sincerity and quality."
Ross Clelland - Drum Media, (Sydney) Australia
"There is something hypnotic about this disc. Perhaps it's my Celtic ancestry....Music that dances."
Kim Lockwood - Herald Sun, (Melbourne) Australia
Dancer
Check out the Real Audio Sound Sample
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"Hot
on the heels of her recent collaboration, "A Celtic Evening", with
The Chieftain's harper, Derek Bell, this is the latest offering from
this world renowned artist.
"For Love's Caress" is without a
doubt, a delicate and provocative masterpiece of contemporary Celtic
music. Many diverse elements are at work, and the chemistry is
there.
Mairéid has been featured on five Celtic recordings, and as in her earlier releases, she not only reinterprets traditional pieces in an extraordinary manner, but forges ahead with original material that defines the future of the genre. Unlike many other Celtic artists, Mairéid and her band create music which is totally void of well worn clichés, and instead presents a totally invigorating and inspiring musical environment.
The album contains five traditional pieces and
nine originals. Running at almost 70 minutes it is indeed a
metaphorical Celtic journey. Mairéid has assembled a top notch
international group of artists (and her mother) to back her
evocative, mesmerizing voice. Some of the pieces feature the entire
ensemble, where others use minimal orchestration to convey the
simplicity and beauty of the songs. Joining Mairéid is world
renowned Irish fiddler, Martin Hayes (with thanks to Green Linnet),
Eric Rigler (Braveheart, Titantic) on Uilleann Pipes, Tin Whistle and
Low Whistle, Donelle Page on Classical Harp, Gerri Sutyak on Cello,
Ben Kettlewell on Electric, Acoustic & Slide Guitars, and
Keyboards, Robert "Cass" McEntee on 12 string Rhythm Guitar and Bass,
Jim Mc Grath on Percussion, Shannon Michael Terry on Vocal Drones,
Mbira, Shruti Box, & Bullroarer, Andrzej Wolczynski on Accordion,
Genevieve Sullivan on vocal harmony, and a special guest appearance
by Mairéid's mother, Mary Sullivan. The
music evokes a sense of immediacy for the listener. It creates a
magical experience in a compelling atmosphere. On this new album,
Mairéid's soaring voice interprets each song with a gentle
spirit and delicate touch that reveals her visionary realm of mystery
and enchanting beauty. This is particularly evident on songs like
Danu's Land, and Anam Cara. As a personal soundtrack to a
spiritual pilgrimage, Mairéid sets her poetry to music in a
stunning creative musical statement. "For Love's Caress" will stir
your soul and let your spirit take flight with it's exquisite vocals,
lyrics and alluring musicianship".
Judd Wood, Alternate Music Press
Online music magazine
http://www.audiophile.com/amp
"All the elements of great Celtic music come
together in this brilliant album. Listening enraptured, lovingly
caressed by Maireid Sullivan's magic, one feels as though they are
Anam Chara, 'soul friend', to this noble artist."
Kevin Maxwell, Music Manager, Bodhi Tree Bookstore,
California
To Place order, note Title and cat. #
select ORDER FORM:
or Call Toll Free: (800) 611-4698
or: e-mail: hrmusic@rahul.net
Celtic Women In Music
LOS ANGELES TIMES
Review by Don Heckman, LA Times, November 5, 1999
"If you want to find out about something, who better to ask than someone who does it
for a living? And Celtic singer Maireid Sullivan was the perfect choice to be the author
of "Celtic Women in Music," a collection of interviews with many of the major female
Irish artists. The Los Angeles-based Sullivan is a highly regarded vocalist with a
particular interest in exploring and sustaining the philosophical roots of Celtic culture.
As such, she has interacted with her subjects in a fashion that has an impressive
degree of forthrightness, both on a personal and professional level.
The 30 artists profiled range from such veterans as Dolores Keane and Grainne Yeats to such high-visibility current performers as Loreena McKennitt, Eileen Ivers and Sheila Chandra. Some of the most insightful entries are those in which Sullivan's interest are most in sync with interviewees: a fascinating conversation with singer Noirin Ni Riain touching on everything from gender issues in Celtic music and the Catholic Church to comparative thoughts on the pain and pleasure of performance; a historically informative interview with singer-harpist Maire Ni Chathasaigh; and an entirely different perspective on Celtic music from American-born singer Connie Dover. The book is an easy and fascinating read, with Sullivan's gentle but persistent questioning allowing her subjects to illuminate themselves in a fashion that inevitably provokes a desire to hear their music. "
The Women: Volume One
Alternate Music Press features three profiles with artists from the book:
Máire
Brennan, Sheila Chandra, and Jean Ritchie.
Mary Bergin,
Máire Ní Chathasaigh ,
Máire Brennan ,
Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill ,
Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill ,
Mary Coughlan,
Nóirín Ní Riain ,
Connie Dover ,
Maura O'Connell ,
Ann Heymann,
Siobhán Peoples,
Eileen Ivers,
Maddy Pryor,
Dolores Keane,
Bonnie Rideout,
Alison Kinnaird,
Jean Ritchie,
Mary Jane Lamond,
Kate Rusby,
Talitha MacKenzie,
Cathie Ryan,
Karen Matheson,
June Tabor,
Eileen McGann,
Kathryn Tickell,
Loreena McKennitt,
Gay Woods,
Susan McKeown,
Gráinne Yeats
CD cat.# (m2589) $16.95
To Place order, note Title and cat. #
select ORDER FORM:
or Call Toll Free: (800) 611-4698
or: e-mail: hrmusic@rahul.net
Check out Mairéid's Web Site
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