Silver Apples of the Moon is a solid Celtic recording firmly within the center of the tradition. It features the harp, hammered dulcimer and the sean nos singing of Connie McKenna. Everything you would expect from a Celtic recording is here and this is both its greatest attribute and shortcoming.

The musicianship of Ceoltoiri members is top notch. McKenna, Sue Richards (Celtic harp) and Karen Ashbrook (hammered dulcimer, pennywhistle, boxwood flute) are all fine musicians. They have also featured a number of guest musicians who tastefully add different textures to tracks: bodhran, double bass, viola da gamba and fiddle.

The woven string texture of this CD is lovely. The harp and dulcimer conjure a misty and far-away mood (hey, there's even a waltz called "Far Away"). A sprinkling of jigs and reels balance out the songs, old and new music is featured, and those who expect at least one Gaelic song, O'Carolan tune and Child ballad per recording will not be disappointed.

The album kicks off with "Arise and Dress Yourself," a bouncy Irish Gaelic song where the harp and dulcimer set the tone and McKenna's voice leaps and dives through brightly chiming strings. As the introduction to the CD, I was impressed and eagerly anticipated the rest of the recording.

Sadly, the rest of the CD doesn't much rise over this level of energy. "Arise" is followed by a set of Scottish reels that are pretty but not lively -- basically the same tempo as the preceding song. In fact, there are no up-tempo tracks and the best cuts are those that embrace the slow and mournful aspect of the tradition.

"Killarney Boys of Pleasure/Oro 'Se Do Bheatha 'Bhaile" is again a competent, even pretty set of music, but there's little drive to it, and the same can be said for "Rockin' the Cradle." They are beautiful, well performed and wistful, but lack that earthiness that puts the folk in folk music.

The highlights of Silver Apples are the sad songs, the songs where McKenna's expressiveness truly shines and where the harp's and dulcimer's gentleness work best. "Song Of Wandering Aengus," a Yeats poem set to music by Richards, is both the song from which the album's title is derived and, in my opinion, the best track on the CD. Without becoming a new-age parody of Celtic music, it captures that feeling of ancient past and magic that still lives in this tradition. The contemporary waltz "Far Away" and the final song "Lias Laddie" are also quite beautiful in the same vein.

My impressions of this CD are positive but a bit vague. Nothing truly stands out except for a handful of slower songs. It isn't new age -- it firmly upholds the tradition -- but tempos are roughly the same through the entire disc so nothing jumps out either. The musicians are wonderful; the songs, taken individually, are beautiful; and yet when it's over nothing makes me want to play it again.

Silver Apples is a mellow CD, perfect for quiet winter nights or cool summer evenings. The best analogy I can come up with to describe it is that of a graphic equalizer set with all mid-range fader bars. There are no lows at all. On the other hand, there are few highs either.

- Rambles
written by Fred Keller
published 8 March 2003