Gaelic Storm, Tree

There’s a certain wildness about Irish tunes that gets lost in much of the transition to modern music. Artists seeking to catch the ears of modern rock lovers often end up leaving something vital behind – that raw freedom we associate with the green hills of their native Ireland. Too often the rollicking, drink-loving feel is exchanged for a fey, new age sound that focuses on the esoteric knowledge of the ancient Celts.

Gaelic Storm avoided all this in their latest album, Tree. Famous for appearing as the steerage band in Titanic, Gaelic Storm manages to sound accessible to modern ears – introducing a bass guitar and updated percussion – while not losing for a moment their roots and fun-loving Irish attitude.

A new member, Kathleen Keane, graces the band with her energetic fiddle and tin whistle. She plays both wonderfully in “The Plouescat Races” – her duet with frontman Patrick Murphy’s vocals will bring a smile to your face as you catch their excitement.

Ms. Keane’s voice is exquisitely showcased in their cover of Janis Ian’s “Mary’s Eyes”. The lyrics are wistful and poetic: “Mary’s eye are startling blue / And her hair’s Newcastle gold / And she walks the thin white line between the body and the soul.” Her voice touches you as much as her fiddle excited you the song before, until you can do nothing but “lift a pint of silence” with her to Ireland and her people.

Gaelic Storm’s love of the finer things in life (Guiness!) is, as usual, evident in their songs. “Johnny Tarr” follows the story of a drink-loving Irishman – “he could open his throttle and throw back a bottle as quick as the devil himself” – through a day in his life. You’ll find your smile growing as the story proceeds, breaking out into laughter at the surprise ending.

The rest of the album is filled with similarly fun and appealing stories (though parents should note that some might not be appropriate for young ears). One of the best is a surprisingly fast rendition of the traditional “Old Puck Goat (An Poc Ar Buile)”.

Through the stories and jigs, any resistance to the Irish spirit is quickly worn down until you feel the excitement and freedom of the music. It simply cries for you to get up a dance to it, filling the air with whoops and shouts of delight. My advice is to not ignore the urge.

Related Links:
    Visit the artist’s website

    Buy Tree at Amazon.com