With no introduction to outline selection policy, an immediate suspicion is that "Celtic Mystery" is a concept that really might not mean very much -- and listening to the album does not change that opinion.

The album includes a number of fairly bland, sort of ethereal and vaguely Celtic tracks. Ron Korb, Golden Bough (two tracks), Blair Douglas, Triskell and Runrig do not inspire here, despite the Celtic tinge to the music. Irish singer Noel McLoughlin is generously represented with two conventional songs and an instrumental track. Although he plays and sings well, a popular song like "Carrickfergus" is hardly in the category of the album title.

It is good to hear a Welsh track (so often missing from this type of compilation) but Carreg Lafar's number, although with a real edge at the beginning, rather fades out into something less distinctive by the end.

The album is saved, though, by a few high-quality tracks. Ishbel MacAskill's Gaelic voice is beautiful and simply accompanied by clarsach and accordion, while top Irish band Altan are represented by an excellent song, "An Mhaighdean Mhara," showcasing Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh's wonderful voice. Scottish band Cliar contribute a sublime fiddle-based tune by Bruce MacGregor with a fine piano accompaniment and Breton musician Jean-Yves Le Pape performs pipes to a very high standard throughout a quality tune.

It is left to Celtic supergroup Capercaillie to steal the show though. Although dating back to 1987, "Urnaigh a "Bhan-Thigreach" finds singer Karen Matheson in superlative form with a gloriously pure vocal accompanied by lyrical guitar and poetic whistle. It is a deeply moving song with a passion that is missing from too much of the rest of the album.

by Andy Jurgis
Rambles.NET
24 December 2005