White Raven serves up a wonderful course of traditional music on The Place Where Life Began. And, while not all of the songs are traditional, they all feel very much so. Some of that stems from the clear and strong vocals that are found on every track. The rest of it is carried by the music and the instruments the band plays. And with White Raven you have a group that could switch either to purely a cappella or instrumental and still serve up a lovely CD.

When they start singing "Mo Ghile Mear," you are hit by the power and clarity of their voices, and the singing is breath-taking. The melodies they weave with their voices in "The Boys of Barr na Sraide" continue to show the strengths of the first song. The men of the group handle "All Around My Hat" on their own. The fiddle opens "I Know My Love/Love at the Endings" and serves to underline the melody in the first part before taking over in a solo in the second.

"All the Fine Young Men" is a mournful song of remembrance, and the singing brings the full weight of the lyrics home. The mood drifts slightly from there with "Dark Island," but the music remains quiet and tinged with longing. The memories continue to flow in "The Dawning of the Day," with the harp taking the lead accompanying the singer.

The mood jumps for the brighter with "Rory og Mac Rory/The Rose in the Heather" as the first part celebrates love, followed by a lively dance. They put the words of Yeats to song with "The White Birds," and the delivery underscores the longing in the words. The longing continues into "Since Maggie Went Away," although the nature of the longing in the song changes with the lyrics.

And they return to a brighter mood with "Down Where the Bees are Humming," a delightfully cheeky song. The music flows smoothly between the two melodies in "Polkas: O'Sullivan's/O'Callaghan's." They close off the CD by letting their voices carry "The Tennessee Waltz," and the quiet dance in the lines fits the song perfectly.

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