Album Name: The Eve of St.Agnes
Artist: Carol Wood
Year/Label: 2006 / Independent
Review by Amy Lotsberg Producer of Collected Sounds
I find instrumental music really hard to review. Mainly because I am such a fan of voices and that’s missing. But I also feel that lyrics and the message in a song are very important to it.
There are instrumental tracks here but Carol Wood’s record does have some vocal tracks as well. They’re sung by her and by guest vocalists: Lindy Ponce de Leon and Laurie Robertson. They all have lovely voices that are similar to each other.
The harp music is really very nice. If you found yourself buying Joanna Newsom’s CD because of the love of the harp sound but never listen to it anymore because I…I mean you…just can’t handle the voice, then give this one a shot. Wood’s vocals here are a bit girly and whispery also but not nearly to the extreme of Ms. Newsom.
Pince de Leon and Robertson’s voices are more operatic. Not really my cup o’tea, but they’re obviously talented.
These tracks are really short. Most are under 2 minutes. So if you are bored with one, just wait a sec. Another will start shortly. The songs with vocals are sometimes riddles, sometimes poetry.
This record sounds really great on headphones. I close my eyes and feel like I’m at the Renaissance Festival. This is a lovely recording to listen to while reading or engaging in similar “mellow” activities.
Posted on March 9, 2006
Comments:
Rating: 5 Stars
Comment: I just bought this CD and love it. The music is really beautiful and some of it surprisingly very big sounding. Beautiful compositions, beautiful singing, and beautiful playing. Five Stars, for sure.
name: Aldo Canelli on Sunday, March 12, 2006
Track Listing
Listen to track samples
1. In May
6 Medieval Riddles:
2. Harp
3. Fingers and Pen
4. Fish in River
5. Mead
6. Swan
7. Reed Flute
Medieval Feast:
8. Procession of Courses
9. The Lovers’ Glances
10. The Dance
11. The Sotelty and the Water
The Eve of St. Agnes (Suite)
12. St. Agnes’ Eve
13. The Dancers
14. Madeline Dreaming
15. Into the Storm
Poets, Flowers and Time:
16. Daffodils
17. Ah, Sunflower
18. The Dandelion
19. The Forsaken Merman
20. Wise Woman Tango
21. Cyanoblue Waltz
22. Swimming in Elk River
23. The Song of Wandering Aengus
24. The Magician’s Birthday
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