An Raicin Alainn

An Raicin Alainn

Track Listings

1. Raicín Álainn (The Beautiful Comb)

2. Bean Pháidín (Páidín's Wife)

3. Caisleán Gearr (Castlegar)

4. Casadh an Tsúgáin (The Twisting of the Rope)

5. Oileán Na Teiscinne (Island of the Teiscinn)

6. Banríon Loch Na Naomh (The Queen of Loch Na Naomh)

7. Bímse Féin Ag Iascaireacht (I Myself Go Fishing)

8. Tonnta Cchonamara (The Waves of Connemara)

9. Amhrán an Phúca (Song of the Pooka)

10. De Thaisme

11. Ar Bhruacha Na Laoi (On the Banks of the Lee)

12. Úna Bhán (Fair Úna)

13. Inis Oírr in Inis Oírr (Inishere on Inishere)

14. Ceol Na Gaoithe (Song of the Gale)

Tracks:

Raicainn [The Beautiful Comb]
Bean Ph[Ps Wife]
CaisleGearr [Castlegar]
Casadh an Ts [The Twisting of the Rope]
OileNa Teiscinne [Island of the Teiscinn]
Banr Loch Na Naomh [The Queen of Loch Na Naomh]
Be F Ag Iascaireacht [I Myself Go Fishing]
Tonnta Cchonamara [The Waves of Connemara]
Amhran PhSong of the Pooka]
De Thaisme
Ar Bhruacha Na Laoi [On the Banks of the Lee]
a Bh[Fair a]
Inis O in Inis O [Inishere on Inishere]
Ceol Na Gaoithe [Song of the Gale]

Customer Reviews:

Direct, beautiful, composed, confident singing........2004-07-28

Hearing Amhrain na Phuca on Irish-language radio, I bought this CD, admittedly not easily found. The songs are varied, and the instrumentation never overwhelms the voice. It's rare to have recorded and in-print a singer from the Aran Islands, by the way. My favorites are the unaccompanied (sean-nos) tracks, but the blend of styles and settings keeps the sequence lively and thoughtful. I do believe her strength lies in her voice more than the backing, and in a future album I hope she concentrates on more of the Conamara sean-nos reportoire, which needs current representation on CD. She avoids Enyaistic wails and New Age synths which have swamped so many of her contemporary native Irish singing counterparts, and the purity of delivery--ironically perhaps--recalls very early (mid-late 70s) era Clannad with its pastoral dignity.

A credit to the gaelic language.......2003-11-20

I think this CD is wonderful.It took a lot of courage to do a completly gaelic CD without adding any english songs.It adds to it and makes it Gaelic to the core.Our whole family enjoyed it and I would recommend it to anyone.

Hauntingly Beautiful.......2003-09-18

I was introduced to Lasairfhiona Ni Chonaola's work on a visit to her native home on the Irish Aran Island of Inishere. We purchased several of her cd's at her family's gift shop. My brother then used some of the music to accompany a digital slide show he created.

Any fans of Enya's Irish language work will find Lasairfhiona Ni Chonaola's work very comforting. All done in acoustic styling with guitar, harp, flute, violin, Irish drum as well as several tracks that are sung acapella. Especially catchy is track 7 (I Myself Go Fishing) on which Lasairfhiona sings harmony to MacDara O Conola's lead with a drum accompaniment. All the lyrics in the liner notes are written in the Irish and then with an English translation.

Highly Recommended.

Music Review: