Edge of Silence
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Description
The band Solas is based in the U.S., but the members are mostly Irish born and all are musicians of the first rank. The leader, Seamus Egan (flutes, tin whistles, uilleann pipes, guitars, etc.), won a bevy of Irish instrumental championships before he was out of his teens, and has since composed some notable film soundtracks, including The Brothers McMullen, which yielded the hit "I Will Remember You." Not surprisingly, Solas is one Celtic band that understands the meaning of a hook. This 2002 release is a mixed bag of jazzy floor-stompers, power-pop experiments, New Age exhalations, and ethereal ballads that make the most of Deirdre Scanlan's exquisite soprano. Winifred Horan's fiddling is especially evocative--dusky toned and effortlessly inventive--and the other players are also consistently on their game. However, their contributions are mitigated by intrusive synths and overdubs, which rise to the top of the mixes with crutchlike frequency. --Christina Roden
Album Description
In this era of disposable, singles-driven albums it's refreshing to encounter an album meant to be experienced as a whole rather than as a mere collection of tracks. Solas, already acclaimed by many as the most exciting Irish traditional group in the world, has broken new ground with their fifth album, The Edge Of Silence. They interpret a wide range of material in surprising ways; songs by contemporary artists are given a Celtic tinge, making explicit their connections with the deep, ultimately Celtic roots of American music. The Edge Of Silence is a moody, noir-ish song cycle with a cinematic feel. Solas weaves together a fascinating body of material including songs by Bob Dylan (the obscure gem "Dignity"), Tom Waits, Nick Drake and Jesse Colin Young of The Youngbloods. Also part of the mix are two striking songs by extraordinary new songwriting talent Antje Duvekot, as well as traditionally-rooted original compositions. It all adds up to a seamless and powerful evoking of elemental life forces--love, death, and the unquenchable human spirit. The Edge Of Silence is produced by Grammy-winning producer Neil Dorfsman and Solas' leader Seamus Egan. Dorfsman has produced artists such as Sting, Mark Knopfler, Dire Straits, Bruce Hornsby and Paul McCartney.
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