Nadurra

Amazon.com
Of all the bands who have tried to modernize Celtic music, Capercaillie have been the most successful at adding electric guitars, synthesizers, and elements of world music while still retaining their connection to the Scottish music's deep roots. On Nadurra, which is Gaelic for "naturally," the band drops the experiments in African and Latin rhythms and timbres that marked their last few releases in favor of a sound that emphasizes traditional Celtic instruments like fiddle, tin whistle, uilleann pipes, cittern, and accordion. While the sets of dance tunes such as "Argyll Lassies" and "The Cockerel & the Creel" show the band is at its peak instrumentally, it's the vocals of Karen Matheson that set Capercaillie apart from the rest of the pack. When she sings in English the songs barely rise above the level of workmanlike contemporary pop. "Truth Calling" could almost pass for a k.d. lang torch song, but when Matheson switches to Gaelic she takes the music to an entirely different plane. Non-Gaelic speakers may not understand the lyrics to songs like "Hoirreann O" and "Mo Chailin Dileas Donn," but they would have to be deaf to not recognize the magic Matheson and her bandmates create when they perform these ancient melodies. --Michael Simmons

Tracks:

Skye Waulking Song
Hope Springs Eternal
Michael's Matches
Tighinn Air A'mhuir Am Fear A Phosas Mi
Hoireann O
Truth Calling
Argyll Lassies
Mo Chailin Dileas Donn
Rapture
The Hollybush
Gaol Troimh Aimsirean
The Cockerel In The Creel

Product Description

1. Skye Waulking Song
2. Hope Springs Eternal
3. Michael's Matches
4. Tighinn Air A'mhuir Am Fear A Phosas Mi
5. Hoireann O
6. Truth Calling
7. Inspector Hector giFailte Gu Whalley Range giArgyll Lassies giBass Rock, The
8. Mo Chailin Dileas Donn
9. Rapture
10. Hollybush, The giGranny Hold The Candle While I Shave The Chicken's Lip II
11. Gaol Troimh Aimsirean
12. Eurythmic, The giBulgarian Red giCockerel In The Creel, The

Format: CD

Amazon.com

Of all the bands who have tried to modernize Celtic music, Capercaillie have been the most successful at adding electric guitars, synthesizers, and elements of world music while still retaining their connection to the Scottish music's deep roots. On Nadurra, which is Gaelic for "naturally," the band drops the experiments in African and Latin rhythms and timbres that marked their last few releases in favor of a sound that emphasizes traditional Celtic instruments like fiddle, tin whistle, uilleann pipes, cittern, and accordion. While the sets of dance tunes such as "Argyll Lassies" and "The Cockerel & the Creel" show the band is at its peak instrumentally, it's the vocals of Karen Matheson that set Capercaillie apart from the rest of the pack. When she sings in English the songs barely rise above the level of workmanlike contemporary pop. "Truth Calling" could almost pass for a k.d. lang torch song, but when Matheson switches to Gaelic she takes the music to an entirely different plane. Non-Gaelic speakers may not understand the lyrics to songs like "Hoirreann O" and "Mo Chailin Dileas Donn," but they would have to be deaf to not recognize the magic Matheson and her bandmates create when they perform these ancient melodies. --Michael Simmons

Customer Reviews:

I love this CD!.......2007-02-12

Although I don't have too many of their albums (yet), it seems anything this band puts out is wonderful, and so far, "Nadurra" is my favorite (although I just ordered "Beautiful Wasteland," so that may change when I get that one). I think it's a good sign when I can only rate the individual tracks as to which one is more wonderful than another. My only criticisms would be that they haven't included much in the way of their signature funk-puirt-a-beul that I've grown to love (although "Hoireann O," the one they did, is one of my favorites), and that the English pop songs such as "Hope Springs Eternal" and "Rapture" come off sounding a bit gimmicky. But there isn't a single track that I don't like, and this is more than made up for by the album's many high points. My favorites are "Skye Waulking Song," "Hoireann O," and "Gaol Triomh Aimsirean," which is one of the most beautiful Gaelic ballads I have ever heard. (even though I have no idea what the heck she is singing about ;-) All in all, a wonderful CD, and a great introduction to Capercaillie for those who are unfamiliar with them.

Beautiful Blend of Melody & Funk.......2006-05-15

Prior to its release, rumour had it that this album would see Scotland's Capercaillie "return to their roots" - presumably meaning Scottish traditional folk. Seeing the band in concert in Scotland at around that time convinced me that such talk would have to be seriously qualified. A new bass player and two percussionists added beef to a band already famous for accenting the lilt inherent in traditional Celtic music, and then tweeking it further still. And the stellar voice of Karen Matheson - whether singing in Gaelic or English (or any language she might choose!) - has always lifted the band into a category of its own.

Live in June 2000 they were a brilliant blend of funky rhythms and fine melodic musicianship. Ditto with Nadurra. From gently lyrical Gaelic songs like "... A Phosa Mi" to dazzling tradition-stretching tunes like fiddler Charlie McKerron's "Michael's Matches" or piper/whistler Michael McGoldrick's "The Bass Rock", this album is as varied as it is superb. One moment they are plumbing the emotional depths of Celtic melancholy (as with Manus Lunny's "Truth Calling"), the next they are showing its irrepressible flip-side (as with Shaw's "Inspector Hector" or Lunny's wonderfully-titled "Granny Hold the Candle While I Shave the Chicken's Lip 2").

Rarely will you hear a band so at home with the individual and collective skills of its members. This is a beautiful album - as shimmering and unpredictable as a summer's day in the highlands.

Amazing, Pure and Simple.......2002-12-14

This is by far the most sophisticated, syncronized CD of Capercaillie's to date. It has a little of everything from the past CDs; a lot of Gaelic music (including one of the most beautiful songs ever, "Number Four", since I can never remember the Gaelic!), a few English songs, and perhaps the best jigs and reels they have produced thus far. The band has also adopted a newer, more modern, marketable feel that may alienate some, but if you get past that, you'll see pure brilliance.

One of the best.......2002-02-18

Next to Delirium, this cd is one of the very best of Capercaillie. Finally they have dropped those Afro-Celt influences, which to me seemed somewhat out of place, though I like both afro and celtic music as such. Instead they have made some very good original songs, and luckily most of them are in Gaelic. For some reason, I always feel that the Gaelic language takes Capercaillie one step higher

Capercaillie are brilliant.......2001-09-14

I love this CD. Beautiful music. Innovative and modern Celtic sounds, wonderful voices. A great companion to From Dusk Till Dawn.

Average customer rating:

Been done better on "Secret People"
Reworked Capercaillie songs, original versions were better

Nadurra
Capercaillie
Manufacturer: Survival Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Scottish Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Crosswinds
Beautiful Wasteland
The Capercaillie Collection 1990-1996
To the Moon
Sidewaulk

ASIN: B00004WN0T
Release Date: 2000-09-11

Tracks:

Skye Waulking Song
Hope Springs Eternal
Michael's Matches
Tighnn Air A'mhuir Am Fear a Phosas Mi (The One Who Will Marry Me Will)
Hoireann O
Truth Calling
Inspector Hector/Failte Gu Whalley Range/Argyll Lassies/The Bass Rock
Mo Chailin Dileas Donn
Rapture
Hollybush/Granny Hold the Candle While I Shave the Chicken's Lip II
Gaol Troimh Aimsirean (Love Through the Seasons)
Eurythmic/Bulgarian Red/The Cockrell in the Creel

Album Details

First New Studio Album for Three Years from Britain's Leading Celtic Band.

Customer Reviews:

Been done better on "Secret People".......2000-11-30

I was disappointed in this album. Most of the songs were remakes from the "Secret People" CD (I already knew this) and I guess I just expected better. There is liberal use of musical programming on each song and (in my opinion) it gets monotonous pretty quickly. I'm a big fan of Capercaillie but this one just didn't cut it for me. The versions on "Secret People" are better.

Reworked Capercaillie songs, original versions were better.......2000-11-24

CAPERCAILLIE, a self-titled disc, is a set of remixed and reworked songs, mostly from SECRET PEOPLE (which is, for some strange reason, getting hard to find).

Most of the songs give an even greater showcase of Capercaillie's singer Karen Matheson but, to tell the truth, the original versions are better. Giving songs like "Alisdair Mhic Cholla Ghasda" an afro-sounding beat might make them hip and modern, but the remixing takes away from the traditional nature of Capercaillie's repetoire.

Because a lot of the tracks of SECRET PEOPLE were already pretty contempory-sounding, a few songs like "Bonaparte" and "The Miracle of Being" aren't very different from the originals. But nonetheless, I would encourage anyone to pick up SECRET PEOPLE (or any other Capercaillie album) before listening to this interesting, though uninspired, diversion.

Rock Music:

Rock Music

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