Celtic MP3s Music MagazineThe Celtic MP3s Music Magazine is a free monthly Celtic music magazine featuring free music downloads of Celtic, Scottish, Irish music from around the world. Here, you will find free music downloads from independent Celtic artists. Some MP3s are time sensitive. So download them now. All of the latest MP3s are available for at least a month. As always, if enjoy the music, please help the artist out and buy their CD. Serving Celtic music fans since 2000! Don't just download. Review: "The Borrowed Angels: Singing Songs by Mazz O'Flaherty" by Various Artists
Artist: Various Artists
Album: The Borrowed Angels: Singing Songs by Mazz O'Flaherty Year Produced: 2008 So you're walking up the street in Dingle, Ireland. You see a sign that says Dingle Record Store. You walk into a tiny 10x10 room and are drawn to this glowing and vibrant personality. It's Mazz O'Flaherty, the local hero who published the first record ever to be made in Dingle in something like 1971. A maven of her craft, Mazz has written songs that were covered by a number of Irish musicians including Finbar Furey. She is renowned for her paintings, and the lady is a staple of beloved local pub, O'Flaherty's, owned by her family, where she and her brother play every week. The CD cover is styled to resemble the entrance to the Dingle Record Shop, owned and run by Mazz, as a celebration of the people of Dingle and Mazz's family and friends. Each of the fourteen single and group performances offers a tribute to the writing and spirit of Mazz. This album, only available at the Dingle Record Shop in Ireland or online, will appeal to those who honor and appreciate both modern and traditional music of Ireland. The starting track is The O'Flahertys accoustic invitation to "E'ist, E'ist", Gaelic for 'Listen, Listen'. Bodhran and vocals lilt softly yet command a meditative listener to await the rewards of didgeridoo. Finbar Furey is an Irishman's Irishman, delivering a solo of"Yesterday's People" written by Furey and Mary Flaherty. Mary Greene adds grace with "The Painting Song", written by Mazz as a vocal interpretation of her love for painting. It is a ballad of becoming, of choice, beautifully illustrated through the voice of Greene. The variety of artists, or 'Borrowed Angels', showcased is a testament to the vibrance and staying power of Irish music. The O'Flaherty Clan is well represented. Noel Shine performs an instrumental stringed version of "St. James' Reel". Myles O'Reilly and the duo of Ruairi and Tony O'Flaherty each offers a version of "I Will Stand on This Land". The album comes full circle, culminating in resonance with a second version of "E'ist, E'ist", strikingly vibrant as a live recording grand finale by The U.S. Chamber Choir of Indiana. ______________________________________________________ Dionne Charlet is a freelance writer based in Greater New Orleans. She is a contributing writer for Where Y'at Magazine and reviews music for Marc Gunn's Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. Dionne runs the Cast Aways Open Theatre Troupe and performs with her fellow volunteer Cast Aways at Ren faires, sci-fi cons, charity venues and festivals throughout the Gulf Coast and beyond. Mrs. Charlet also works as an Outreach Coordinator for the Humane Society of Louisiana. You can contact Dionne at SHIATARA@AOL.com. Published by Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. Don't just download. Support your favorite Celtic music groups. Buy Celtic music CDs. Join Song Henge. To download, right-click link and save MP3 to your computer. Labels: cd_review_2010
Posted by Dionne Charlet, Saturday, February 13, 2010. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! Review: "The Music Plays Me" by Beyond the PaleArtist: Beyond the Pale Album: The Music Plays Me Year: 2006 Every once in a while a moving CD can transport the soul from the pressings of rolling chair, desk and strobing pc text toward a barefoot meadowed respite. "The Music Plays Me" is such a vehicle. There is variety, but it is of the up-to-par sort that provides a musical solace of consistency with the wherewithal to simultaneously interject clever phraseology. Gordon McLeod's original Irish style reel combo "Princess Morgan/The Skipper" is a lively testament to this man's dedication to his craft. His composition "Sligo" will 'conjure up a double rainbow' bowed on a rhythmic and lyrical journey. A fiddled blend of harmonica coupled with the beguiling vocals of Christy McLeod and Betsy Cummings bring an emerald sparkle to a country song entitled "Old Silver" composed by Radney Foster. Saxophone and vocals are provided by John Delaney in "Who Are These People," which is just the Bohemian take on popular culture that could spill from any random coffee shop conversation in the heart of the Irish Channel of New Orleans. Gordon, Betsy, Christy and John collectively play an incredible range of instruments including mandolin, hammer dulcimer, bodhran and tin whistle. The quartet artfully arranges the music, and they all sing, too! Definitely consider Beyond the Pale a must-see group if you are lucky enough to have them play at your local heritage festival. _____________________________________________________ Dionne Charlet is a freelance writer based in Greater New Orleans. She is a contributing writer for Where Y'at Magazine and reviews music for Marc Gunn's Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. Dionne runs the Cast Aways Open Theatre Troupe and performs with her fellow Cast Aways volunteers at Ren faires, sci-fi cons, charity venues and festivals throughout the Gulf Coast and beyond. Mrs. Charlet also works as an Outreach Coordinator for the Humane Society of Louisiana. You can contact Dionne at SHIATARA@AOL.com. Published by Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. Don't just download. Support your favorite Celtic music groups. Buy Celtic music CDs. Join Song Henge. To download, right-click link and save MP3 to your computer. Labels: cd_review_2010
Posted by Dionne Charlet, Wednesday, February 03, 2010. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! Review: "Ships Are Sailing" by The Langer's BallArtist: The Langer's Ball Album: Ships Are Sailing Year produced: 2009 The penny whistle plays out in my memory as I write this review. Hannah Rediske's mad whistlin' and accordion skills blend in perfect union with the vocals of Michael Sturm. Since their start in 2007, The Langer's Ball has been steadily gaining the attention deserved of a pub band sensation. This second offering from the duo, Ships are Sailing, is not a track list of sea shanties, but a compilation where Ireland goes a little Old Country, a little folk...and more. The work is a seamless progression of contemporary, Trad and original Celtic tunes that extends beyond Rediske's customary penny whistle, recorders and accordion and Sturm's guitar, mandolin and harmonica. Drums, bass, electric guitar make guest appearances with the guest musicians to play them. There is an ease to the strength in Sturm's voice, so much so that his singing often evokes a spoken quality. With the presence to be deemed a patriarch of ballads, Sturm can take on the persona of IRA folk hero Fergal O'Hanlon in a modified version of "Patriot Game" or morph into a chimney sweep with questionable intentions in "Sam Hall". The song selection is diverse. Langer's "Titanic" could liven up the gypsy vardo of any given Renaissance Faire. The music has such a Romani melodic cantor, patrons wouldn't bat an eye. The tragic story is told with that great Sturm quality of song-spake, but the star of this song is the piano accordion played masterfully by Rediske. From the hauntingly beautiful feminine vocal echo in "I'm a Man You Don't Meet Everyday" to the ease-out-of-your-chair and tap-your-boot pickup in "The Tinker's Fiddle", Ships Are Sailing is worthy of a listen, and you may just find that you miss the music, especially that gorgeous penny whistle, once the songs play through. ______________________________________________________ Dionne Charlet is a freelance writer based in Greater New Orleans. She is a contributing writer for Where Y'at Magazine and reviews music for Marc Gunn's Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. Dionne runs the Cast Aways Open Theatre Troupe and performs with her fellow Cast Aways volunteers at Ren faires, sci-fi cons, charity venues and festivals throughout the Gulf Coast and beyond. Mrs. Charlet also works as an Outreach Coordinator for the Humane Society of Louisiana. You can contact Dionne at SHIATARA@AOL.com. Published by Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. Don't just download. Support your favorite Celtic music groups. Buy Celtic music CDs. Join Song Henge. To download, right-click link and save MP3 to your computer. Labels: cd_review_2010
Posted by Dionne Charlet, Thursday, January 28, 2010. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! Review: "Wild And Wicked Youth" by TullamoreArtist: Tullamore Album: Wild And Wicked Youth Year produced: 2009 This is an enjoyable album by a band that highlights the music of both Ireland and Scotland. The arrangements here are what makes the CD a standout. Well, that coupled with the musicians and singers obvious skill. It's everything you could want in a Celtic CD. "Will Ye Go Lassie" is a calm, sweet rendition, reminiscent of a lullaby in tone. "Wedding Jigs" provides some lively pep to the mix, and the title track, "Wild And Wicked Youth" is as entertaining as one would expect from the words. With just three members, Tullamore manages to create a very full sound. Part of it is probably due to the fact that they have been playing together for a long time and have learned how to capitalize on their skills as a group. Mary Hanover is the voice behind the band, and what a sweet one it is. She also plays the hammered dulcimer and tinwhistles on the CD. Also on vocals is Rachel Gaither, and she adds music in the form of the guitar and fiddle. Mark Clavey is the person behind the scenes in terms of arranging the music, and he contributes to the vocals as well as playing guitar for the band. It all works really well together. Catherine L. Tully is a freelance writer and photographer who specializes in the arts. She has written for American Style and Classical Singer, among other magazines, and reviews music for Marc Gunn's Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. You can reach her through her website at CatherineLTully.com. Published by Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. Don't just download. Support your favorite Celtic music groups. Buy Celtic music CDs. Labels: cd_review_2010
Posted by Marc Gunn, Wednesday, January 27, 2010. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! Review: "Party In A Box" by Trinity River Whalers
Artist: Trinity River Whalers
Album: Party In A Box Year produced: 2009 I can't help it. This CD takes me back to days as a child where I played my parent's Kingston Trio records over and over again and sang along. The Trinity River Whalers have that same easy sound with a Celtic touch. Harmony, good arrangements and a jovial feel to the tracks on this album make it a joy to listen to. Funny, the lyrics aren't all peppy and uplifting, but you still find yourself tapping your foot as you hear them when set to music. I loved "My Blood" and "Mr. Valentine's Dead," and there are plenty of tracks here that you can sift through to find your own faves. There is a mix of traditional fare and other tunes here, so the tracks have a broad appeal. A nice, wide range of instruments parade around in the songs here. You'll hear banjo, guitar, harmonica, accordion, mandolin and pennywhistle among other sounds peppering the melody. This isn't the band's first effort either, they have released music together for some time now. Some groups have the magic, and some don't. The Trinity River Whalers can enjoy the sparkle that they create--and it's contagious. Catherine L. Tully is a freelance writer and photographer who specializes in the arts. She has written for American Style and Classical Singer, among other magazines, and reviews music for Marc Gunn's Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. You can reach her through her website at CatherineLTully.com. Published by Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. Don't just download. Support your favorite Celtic music groups. Buy Celtic music CDs. Labels: cd_review_2010
Posted by Catherine L. Tully, Tuesday, January 26, 2010. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! Review: "Seize the Moment" by Derek Byrne
Artist: Derek Byrne
Album: Seize The Moment Year produced: 2008 Derek Byrne has three great loves, his family, music and Ireland. After spending six years touring with Riverdance, and several more with his band, Eider, Byrne has settled down into a solo career. Byrne released two solo albums in 2008. We were lucky enough to receive Seize The Moment for review. Seize The Moment is a rare album that builds into something more than just recorded muse; It’s an experience. Derek Byrne sings and plays as If these songs run in his life’s blood. The Milwaukee, Wisconsin (originally Kildare, Ireland) based singer/songwriter gives his all on the twelve songs presented here. Whether it’s outstanding instrumental work (Eidirian, Blue Eyed Canyon, Running On Fumes Theme) or amazing vocals, Byrne is on top of his game. There are two songs on this album that are other-worldly, they’re so good. Seize The Moment is a beautiful song about keeping love alive in light of all the responsibilities and pressures that day to day life places on our shoulders. It’s a message we would all do well to stop and listen to from time to time, and the song itself is timeless. Expect this to be picked up and covered again and again by other artists. Likewise The Beautiful Truth; a paean written from father to daughter, filled with all of the love and emotion that relationship classically encompasses. A stone would failed to be unmoved by The Beautiful Truth. Both of these songs are special in that they represent a feeling or relationship in a fashion that is iconic and archetypical while remaining incredibly personal and touching. The musical arrangement for each is amazing. Of course the rest of the album isn’t so bad either. Byrne is an amazing instrumentalist, and that runs through all of his songs, but Eidirian is a particularly representative piece. Rhythm Of Falling is a starkly honest song that is all heart and very memorable. Save Tara is a gorgeous a Capella piece that you’ll have to hear to believe. Red Is The Rose marches to a martial beat in a classic performance. Other highlights include My Land, Hawaiian Pigeon Breakdown and Marie’s Wedding. I’ve never heard of Derek Byrne before this, and I am utterly amazed that a singer/songwriter this talented could stay effectively hidden from the world for this long. A gifted lyricist as well, Byrne represents the human heart in his music like no other songwriter I’ve heard, all done up in classic Celtic/folk arrangements. Perfect is, of course, unattainable, but for the 12 songs on Seize The Moment, Derek Byrne comes as closes as it’s possible to come. Seize The Moment is, of course, a Wildy’s World Certified Desert Island Disc. Make this CD part of your collection. Published by Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. Don't just download. Support your favorite Celtic music groups. Buy Celtic music CDs. Join Song Henge. Labels: cd_review_2010
Posted by Marc Gunn, Sunday, January 24, 2010. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! Review: "Invite The Light" by Banshee In The Kitchen
Artist: Banshee In The Kitchen
Album: Invite The Light Year produced: 2006 The idea behind this CD (or at least one of them) was to create a compilation of music for winter. It seems to me that something about the hammered dulcimer brings forth visions of ice castles and snowflakes, so it works extremely well. This is the fourth album for this band, and it is very well put together, starting off with a bright rendition of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen and finishing up with Aveenu Malkenu, which is a bit more melancholy. The mix of tracks is interesting, with a waltz, and things such as the Cook in the Kitchen Set. This is a band that has exceptionally skilled players, and it always shines through in their work together. The tracks take turns showcasing different skills, but not at the expense of the listener. Everything is arranged well and the flow from one track to the next seems logical and natural. There are no hard shifts or distracting solos. It seems that the sounds were carefully chosen to reinforce the "wintry" theme of the CD, and it works well. If you want something that you can have on in the background to help you daydream as you gaze out the window, this would be a great choice, but if you simply like to listen to skilled musicians, you'd do well here also. Catherine L. Tully is a freelance writer and photographer who specializes in the arts. She has written for American Style and Classical Singer, among other magazines, and reviews music for Marc Gunn's Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. You can reach her through her website at CatherineLTully.com. Published by Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. Don't just download. Support your favorite Celtic music groups. Buy Celtic music CDs. Labels: cd_review_2010
Posted by Catherine L. Tully, Saturday, January 23, 2010. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! Review: "The Green Knight" by Heather DaleFrom the first track I loved the sound of this woman's bright, crisp voice. She just comes across as so happy. Angelic, even. Thankfully the music and arrangements here were also lovely. The songs on the CD range from wistful to silly, and they were inspired by the Middle Ages and Renaissance--a fact that is easy to hear in the music. Each song is something different, and there are over 20 instruments played throughout the album, lending yet more variety to the tunes played here. You'll hear familiar Celtic instruments, such as the harp, flute and bodhran. I loved For Guinevere, which is the perfect vehicle for Dale's sweet voice. Rose and Lion had a nice rhythm to it and a bit of fun, and Come and Be Welcome served as both a great intro to the album and a sort of invitation to the listener. I liked the placement whether it was intentional or not. The last track, Hunting the Wren gives Dale a chance to really show off her vocal skills and she does so with a sprightly energy. If I had to sum this CD up in just one word, I'd call it entertaining, but if I could have two, the other would surely be pretty because of her voice. Catherine L. Tully is a freelance writer and photographer who specializes in the arts. She has written for American Style and Classical Singer, among other magazines, and reviews music for Marc Gunn's Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. You can reach her through her website at CatherineLTully.com. Published by Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. Don't just download. Support your favorite Celtic music groups. Buy Celtic music CDs. Labels: cd_review_2010
Posted by Catherine L. Tully, Thursday, January 21, 2010. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! Review: "Ghosts Of Our Past" by The BibleCode Sundays
Artist: The BibleCode Sundays
Album: Ghosts Of Our Past Year produced: 2008 Well! Consider me charmed by this unusual band of men from the UK. With just one listen to the song "The Boys Of Queens," I knew this group had some serious heart. The song is a tribute to the FDNY Firefighters, and the lyrics are touching--the performance heartfelt. I wanted to hear more and see if this was a lucky accident on their part, and to my pleasant surprise--it wasn't. This band is just that good. Not everything is depth and emotion here however. The band does a good job of handling humour too, as is shown on songs such as "Northolt Rd". Here is a snippet of the lyrics from the song, which describes what a "few too many" can do to one's judgement: "She tasted of cigarettes and stout, I didn't start the fire, but I couldn't put it out Skin as white as chewing gum and teeth of purest gold How I loved my Mary of the Northolt Rd" The band's tagline reads, "Bottle Slammin London Irish Rock," which is certainly appropriate, but it doesn't capture the full depth of what this band is about. With the righteousness of U2 and the energy of the Pogues, they mix and match styles and come up with something that is altogether unique. And I really, really like it. I'd be willing to bet that no matter what style of Celtic you like, you'll enjoy this CD too. Worth the investment. Catherine L. Tully is a freelance writer and photographer who specializes in the arts. She has written for American Style and Classical Singer, among other magazines, and reviews music for Marc Gunn's Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. You can reach her through her website at CatherineLTully.com. Published by Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. Don't just download. Support your favorite Celtic music groups. Buy Celtic music CDs. Labels: cd_review_2010
Posted by Catherine L. Tully, Thursday, January 21, 2010. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn! Review: "Ampersand" by FiddleSticks
Artist: FiddleSticks
Album: Ampersand Year produced: 2006 If you are a fan of the strings, this CD will call your name. Ampersand is filled with top-notch play and heartfelt rhythms, and the music that comes from these two young ladies could fill a large hall and captivate everyone in it. The women have taken advantage of what is possible in the studio and put down multiple tracks, so that you hear full sound rather than simple strings. There are others on the CD as well, but the ladies are at the heart of the music here this time around. I'm not sure if it's the combination of the cello and the fiddle or the verve with which the sisters play them, but this is an album that I thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish. Katie and Liz Davis are the women behind the sounds here, and since all the tracks are original, you will be continually surprised by each new song. While the music is definitely Celtic, you'll also hear a strong Bluegrass thread, and some Jazz sounds as well. It makes for an interesting combination. Don't miss tracks include "Aftermath of the Pumpkin Wars" and "Xanny Boy". The truth is that you really can't go wrong here, so just kick back and enjoy. There isn't a boring tune among the offerings here, that's for sure. Catherine L. Tully is a freelance writer and photographer who specializes in the arts. She has written for American Style and Classical Singer, among other magazines, and reviews music for Marc Gunn's Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. You can reach her through her website at CatherineLTully.com. Published by Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. Don't just download. Support your favorite Celtic music groups. Buy Celtic music CDs. Labels: cd_review_2010
Posted by Catherine L. Tully, Thursday, January 21, 2010. New to Celtic MP3s Music Magazine? Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates. Find free Celtic music downloads from Marc Gunn!
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