Hour Before Dawn

1. Four Harmonized Peyote Songs

2. Four Harmonized Peyote Songs

3. Four Harmonized Peyote Songs

4. Four Harmonized Peyote Songs

5. Standing All Alone

6. Blood, Sweat and Tears

Hour Before Dawn,Verdell Primeaux & Johnny Mike,Canyon Records,Int'l & World Music,Native American,Pop,World Music

Average customer rating: A nice sampling of the many moods of Solas Very good musicians, but this leaves me cold Full of the spirit of Ireland Competent but Dull Solas out do themselves this time

The Hour Before Dawn Solas Manufacturer: Shanachie ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Folk | Styles | Music Irish Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Celtic Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music General | Celtic | International | Styles | Music Ireland | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music Celtic New Age | New Age | Styles | Music General | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music Celtic | Europe | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music Celtic | New Age | Indie Music | Stores | Music International | New Age | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Words That Remain Edge of Silence Sunny Spells & Scattered Showers Another Day Solas ASIN: B00004Y9VH Release Date: 2000-10-10

Tracks:

1. Bheadh Buachaillin Deas Ag Sile
2. Granny Quinn's/The Lilac Reel/Sporting Pat
3. Last Of The Great Whales
4. A Little Child
5. A Miner's Life
6. What's Up With Win/Sonny Brogan's/Cahal's Jig
7. When My Love And I Parted
8. Homeless
9. Boy/Girl Tune
10. Bruach Na Carraige Baine
11. Bonnie Mae
12. The New Custom House/The Flavor Of The Month/The Tinkers Daughter/Dogs Among The Bushes/Pinch Of Snu
13. I Will Remember You

Amazon.com

Solas have become one of the world's most exciting Celtic bands by combining a respect for tradition with an adventurous musical spirit. On their fourth CD, The Hour Before Dawn, they gently stretch the boundaries of Irish music by adding new instrumental textures and more sophisticated harmonies. Led by Seamus Egan's flute and banjo, the band whips through the sets of dance tunes with authority and style. John Doyle continues to expand the vocabulary of Irish rhythm guitar while laying down a solid beat that lets the melodies of fiddler Winifred Horan and accordionist Mick McAuley soar. But as good as the instrumentals are, the songs with vocals are where Solas truly shine. The band's new lead singer, Dierdre Scanlan, has replaced Karan Casey, who left to pursue a solo career. Scanlan is equally adept on ancient ballads like "When My Love and I Parted," where she is accompanied only by Horan's violin, and contemporary songs like "I Will Remember You," which Egan cowrote with Sarah McLachlan. She has an earthy voice that reminds us that despite the band's instrumental prowess, the roots of Irish music are in song. --Michael Simmons

Customer Reviews:

A nice sampling of the many moods of Solas.......2004-01-01

From rousing sets of traditional dances to wistful laments and jazzed-up folk songs, Solas offers pleasant listening all around on this album. There is a light, gentle, intimate quality to their presentation and choice of material, not to mention a subtle intricacy in their arrangements. Traditional Celtic motifs are deftly interwoven with elements of folk, jazz, rock and pop, resulting in delightful little musical twists all throughout the album that are unexpected but somehow seem utterly right. Solas features Winifred Horan on fiddle, Seamus Egan on a plethora of instruments including flutes and guitars, Mick McAuley on accordion, guitarist John Doyle, and the clear, clean, honest lead vocals of Dierdre Scanlan. My favorite track on "The Hour Before Dawn" is the extremely haunting and poignant "Homeless", but the exotic "Boy/Girl Tune" is quite cool too, "A Miner's Life" is well-put and the traditional dance sets on tracks 2 and 6 are lively and fun. The spare, intriguing harmonies on "When My Love and I Parted" and "A Little Child" deserve mention too--not what I'd expected to find on a Celtic album, but very nice all the same and good example of how well this group combines diverse musical elements with seamless elegance. To experience an edgier, more intense side of this band, try their subsequent release, "The Edge of Silence". If you enjoy the musical stylings of Solas, you may also like the American folk group Trapezoid, in such albums as "Moon Run" and "Remembered Ways", or the work of fellow Celtic artists Silly Wizard, embodying the style of a decade or so earlier but with a similarly gentle sense of grace and soulfulness.

Very good musicians, but this leaves me cold.......2003-01-17

Let me preface this by saying I am a big fan of traditional Irish music, and a huge fan of Dervish, Trian, Liz Carroll, Bothy Band, Kevin Burke, Andy Irvine, etc. This is the first Solas CD I have bought, and will probably be the last. Although generally very competently played, the music just doesn't speak to me. I agree with the some of the other reviews to that effect that this Solas recording is too highly orchestrated, and not very traditional (though I don't mind that, per se). In my opinion "Last of the Great Whales" has some of the lamest and simple-minded lyrics I've ever heard. Though she has a very pleasing voice, Ms. Scanlon's rendition of it just fails to move me whatsoever (lacking in musicality, I believe one reviewer said). In my book her renditions just don't compare to Mary Black, Susan McKeown, or Karan Casey, though they are pleasant enough. The fiddle playing on "A Little Child" reminds me more of a classical violinist playing Irish music....very good tone, but too much vibrato, and too orchestrated with multiple violin tracks sounding like the London Philharmonic (e.g. When My Love & I Parted). On the positive side, there is some excellent guitar, flute, and button accordian playing on here (e.g. Cahil's Jig). It's as if the band is trying too hard to distance themselves from the many other traditional Irish groups, with the result that the arrangements are overly complex, and the material just isn't that interesting.

Full of the spirit of Ireland.......2002-12-06

Ranging from lively jigs and reels ("Granny Quinn's/The Lilac Reel") to the dreamy ("A Little Child") to the plaintive ("Last of the Great Whales"), with crystal-clear vocals and particularly good accompaniment, this group of five (three men, two women) is another I had never heard before buying the CD under consideration, so I can't compare it to their earlier outings, as others have done. But I don't need to hear them to know I'd like to. Though not (yet) my favorite Irish group, this one will definitely join my permanent collection.

Competent but Dull.......2002-03-08

A lot of people rave about this group and I tried real hard to like this by giving it repeated listenings but, I'm sorry, it just doesn't grow on me. A couple of the other reviewers of Solas' works have hit the nail on the head. This is a group of very competent musicians who perform flawless, note-for-note perfect renditions of traditional Irish songs with a few originals thrown in for good measure. They have a female singer with a beautiful voice perfectly suited to this type of music. So what's the problem? It's all a bit bland and boring. The performances are very smooth and polished, the production is cotton-candy-soft, and the musicians sound like they are sleepwalking; there is a total lack of energy, intensity, and passion in their playing. The musicians themselves sound like they're bored and just going through the motions, so why should the listener get excited? And it's all so nondistinctive; I've heard this all before. You can turn on National Public Radio on any Sunday afternoon and here numerous other groups that sound just like this. I much prefer groups who put their own stamp on songs and do something at least a little bit different with them. Even their softness and fluffiness aren't distinctive. I would only recommend this if you are looking for music to soothe you and relax you after a stressful day at work; this it will surely do.

Solas out do themselves this time.......2001-05-23

If this is your first time listening to Solas or if like me, you are a seasoned listener, you will love this album. Since 1996, Solas have been maturing as a band with each album and this is the culmination of both their tiredless efforts towards perfection and their coming of age. The firepower has not died but has become more and more intricate and complex. John Doyle continues to be a major driving force behind the music with his note perfect rhythms and unique style of playing. He is without doubt possibly the best traditional guitarist the world of trad music has ever seen. He lifts every tune to amazing peaks without once crossing the boundary into being over bearing.

Along with the firepower, you also have the delicate touch only Solas can add to the haunting slow airs and traditional songs. Where can Solas go from here? It really is hard to say but they certainly will remain in the annals of history long after their time for being the fore runners in merging the new with the old traditional styles without ever once losing respect for the core of the Tradition of the music. Bravo!! if this is the hour before dawn for solas, I can't wait to see what the dawn itself will be like!!

Average customer rating: ACTUALLY, VERY GOOD!! Strange and interesting, but not Brilliant

The Darkest Hour Is Just Before Dawn The Birdwatcher Manufacturer: Arena Rock ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music ASIN: B000050I43 Release Date: 2000-11-07

Tracks:

1. Cutting Rope
2. First Bright Light
3. Bound To Collide
4. Dawn
5. Little Birdy
6. The Hunt
7. Three Weeks
8. No Expectations

Customer Reviews:

ACTUALLY, VERY GOOD!!.......2000-12-13

On the contrary with the other review i read, i thought the Darkest Hour... to be quite a good cd. It's good because of the diversity and subtlety. It reminided me of Pink Floyd.

Strange and interesting, but not Brilliant.......2000-11-21

The Birdwatcher is a pretty interesting band, and their album "The Darkest Hour is Before the Dawn" is at times pretty enjoyable to listen to, especially for people who are interested in more heavily instrumental music. But there's a lack of continuity and progression that exists throughout the whole album that makes listening to it very boring at times. Also, though the musicians do experiment very heavily with different instruments and tones, there is an obvious lack of ability. Repeating 3 chords over and over for 4 minutes is not brilliant.

Average customer rating: Songs of Peace and Gentle Grattitude

In The Hour Before Dawn Father Peter Bowes Manufacturer: Sophia Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Folk | Styles | Music Christian Rock | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music Christian Contemporary Music | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music Praise & Worship | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music Christian Contemporary Music | Christian & Gospel | Indie Music | Stores | Music Rock | Christian & Gospel | Indie Music | Stores | Music General | Folk | Indie Music | Stores | Music ASIN: B0001FZCNE Release Date: 2004-01-01

Tracks:

1. Mother Of Us All
2. Strong Winds
3. Morning Song
4. Jesus Wants Only To Love You
5. Long Ago
6. The First Time
7. I Want You To Teach Me
8. Within You Without You
9. Jerusalem
10. Co-Mediators
11. Think About Loving
12. God is Watching
13. Master Jesus, Please
14. In Love With Love
15. Why Don't We Learn To Love
16. Golgotha
17. Scourging

Album Description

These songs more or less wrote themselves as God inspired them. Often I would write the guitar parts and the words would flow into them like a river flowing into the ocean. When they were finished they often felt like I witnessed them being born instead of me having a great deal to do with them. I thank God, Jesus and Mary for the blessings of the songs and the music.

Customer Reviews:

Songs of Peace and Gentle Grattitude.......2004-04-03

This is Fr. Peter Bowes' third CD and it is just as beautiful and moving as the first two albums. Fr. Peter's message is a simple one; open your heart to God's Love and to the Light of Jesus and Mary. His style is a gentle, folky accoustic sound with some songs featuring the traditional rock/blues setup of electric and bass guitars, drums and sometimes traditional instruments like flute and cello. One can hear the influences of artists like Bob Dylan, Peter Paul and Mary, Simon and Garfunkel and other great folk musicians of past and present. Of course, Fr. Peter's deepest inspiration goes far beyond any musical artist. His greatest love is for the Divine Composer of this Universe, of this world and of our souls.

Average customer rating:

A 1940s Radio Hour, Volume 3 Manufacturer: Ircc ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Gluck | Gluck, Christoph W. | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Lalo, Edouard | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Leoncavallo | Leoncavallo, Ruggiero | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mascagni | Mascagni, Pietro | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Strauss | Strauss, Richard | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music ASIN: B000003LQZ Release Date: 1994-10-18

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