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Alan D Group: Members Posts: 3670 Joined: Aug. 2004 Posted: June 02 2007, 03:53 In the Enya thread some weeks ago, Ray recommended Capercaillie, pointing out that the singer was Enya's sister. Took me a while, but I recently got around to buying their 'The Blood is Strong' album, and I've been playing it every day. It grows and grows on me. Her voice, singing in Gaelic, is incredibly beautiful. Combined with sensitive arrangements - whistle, guitars, syths etc, together they evoke the most haunting aspects of Scotland and the Scottish landscape that I think I've ever encountered. Cool light on water, those far northern hills, valleys, lochs; and the lonely roads that pass through ancient territory. I have to hear more. And some of Mike Oldfield's roots are here, in this kind of music. Anyone else have any comments? Back to top

TOBY Group: Members Posts: 1562 Joined: May 2002 Posted: June 02 2007, 12:38 I didn't realise their Blood is Strong album was still available. To be honest its the only Capercaillie album thats really caught my attention though I'm sure they must have done other good stuff, they've got a lot of albums out.  The Hebrides track is pretty beautiful and I like Arrival Theme too. The whole thing was commissioned as a sound track to a TV series about the Scottish Celtic heritage. I remember it being on Scottish TV in the late 80's, thats when I first heard it all. Back to top

Alan D Group: Members Posts: 3670 Joined: Aug. 2004 Posted: June 03 2007, 04:50 Quote (TOBY @ June 02 2007, 17:38) I didn't realise their Blood is Strong album was still available. The version I have is a more recently released extended album, Toby - it's the original Blood is Strong album together with 6 extra tracks from other (similar) TV projects. Back to top

RICHARDGORMLIE Group: Members Posts: 98 Joined: Nov. 2004 Posted: June 03 2007, 07:17 who said that enya's sister was the voice of capercaillie?.  wrong!.   the blood is strong is one of my favourite capercaillie cds. Back to top

Alan D Group: Members Posts: 3670 Joined: Aug. 2004 Posted: June 03 2007, 09:23 Quote (RICHARDGORMLIE @ June 03 2007, 12:17) who said that enya's sister was the voice of capercaillie?.  wrong!.   I believe you, Richard. The Capercaillie lead singer is Karen Matheson, whose voice, singing in Gaelic, is possibly the most beautiful I have ever heard; and so far I haven't seen a single reference to her being the sister of Enya, apart from Ray's comment. Also I believe she is Scottish, whereas Enya is Irish, isn't she? Ray - are you there? Where did you get your information from? Possible confusion may have arisen from the fact that the lead singer with Clannad was Moya Brennan who is indeed Enya's sister. For what it's worth, and much though I love some of Enya's music, Karen Matheson's singing seems to have something that both Enya and her sister lack. They both rely to a large degree on quite a bit of 'processing' on their vocals. Karen's singing seems far more pure, much less processed, and it has an authentic 'ring' to it - a bit like comparing a good copy with a genuine antique. Certainly her vocals tear at my heart like little else can manage, even after many playings. Back to top

The Big BellEnd Group: Members Posts: 971 Joined: Jan. 2004 Posted: June 03 2007, 14:09 This band are touring right now check out the groups website -------------- I, ON THE OTHER HAND. AM A VICTIM OF YOUR CARNIVOUROUS LUNAR ACTIVITY. Back to top

Alan D Group: Members Posts: 3670 Joined: Aug. 2004 Posted: June 03 2007, 16:38 Quote (The Big BellEnd @ June 03 2007, 19:09) This band are touring right now check out the groups website Thanks for this, TBBE. None of their upcoming venues/dates are feasibly accessible, but I'm dismayed to discover that Karen Matheson was performing at Kendal Brewery - half an hour's drive away - less than a month ago. And I missed it! Back to top

Matt Group: Admins Posts: 1186 Joined: Nov. 2002 Posted: June 04 2007, 06:40 The only Capercaillie album I have is "Delirium" which, though I quite like some of it, didn't make me want to buy any more of their work assuming it would all be in a similar vein. From the descriptions of "The Blood is strong" it sounds like it might be a different experience so I might search that one out. -------------- "I say I say I say I say, what's got three bottles and five eyes and no legs and two wheels" Back to top

glasgow_tubular Group: Members Posts: 215 Joined: July 2006 Posted: June 07 2007, 07:45 Ach there going to nearly every festival except the one im going to   And i was at skye when they were there. How frustrating. -------------- www.myspace.com/allaroundmyhat Back to top

Alan D Group: Members Posts: 3670 Joined: Aug. 2004 Posted: June 09 2007, 12:49 Quote (TOBY @ June 02 2007, 17:38) I didn't realise their Blood is Strong album was still available. To be honest its the only Capercaillie album thats really caught my attention Well, I'm now starting to see that 'The Blood is Strong' isn't really representative. I've been listening to a compilation called 'Introduction to Capercaillie', and also a (more recent) live album. I'm still enjoying this new music, but not at all in the same thrilling sense of an ethereal vision of Scottish landscape, people and tradition that so captivated me in the music of 'The Blood is Strong'. They often seem to infuse a kind of faintly jazzy or 'World' beat (is that the right expression?), into their material that (for me) reduces it to 'very nice, thank you, but quite ordinary'. I'm starting to wonder (and hoping my suspicion is wrong) whether 'Blood is Strong' may be the only album of its type..... Back to top

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