25 Years Of Celtic Music

25 years ago, Wendy Newton got hooked on traditional Celtic music and started Green Linnet Records in the back of a house in New Canaan, Connecticut. ...

25 Years Of Celtic Music
Provided By:The Daily Vault

25 Years Of Celtic Music
Various Artists
Green Linnet Records, 2001
REVIEW BY: Duke Egbert
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 03/21/2001
25 years ago, Wendy Newton got hooked on traditional Celticmusic and started Green Linnet Records in the back of a house inNew Canaan, Connecticut. With this one act, the entire history ofCeltic traditional music in the United States was changed, and inmany ways Green Linnet is solely responsible for the fact that youcan find the stuff in record stores today. Earthshattering perhapsit wasn't, but groundbreaking it was, and it's hard to identify anyother single label that has had such an effect on the Americanmusic scene.
I suppose it's only logical that Green Linnet decided tocelebrate this occasion by bringing out a double disc of selectedmusic from the label's history, much as they did to celebrate their20th anniversary. (I have that disc too, and perhaps I'll review ithere sometime.) And I admit to being glad they did. If you need asingle disc to start on traditional Celtic music, this is the oneyou want to pick up.
Divided into two parts, this is really two CDs in one. The firstdisc, 1976-1996, covers Green Linnet's first twenty years with asweeping summary of Irish, Scottish, Breton, and Galaciantraditional music, as well as some more modern takes on oldertunes. The selections are well-chosen, a nice variety ofnote-for-note authentic and more whimsical takes on the music.Special note should be taken of a few truly excellent tracks, mostnotably Phil Cunningham of Silly Wizard and his hook-laden "CeilidhFunk" (1989), Altan's ethereal "Dulaman" (1993), and Kornog's "TonBale Mur Ha Dans", a rich Breton melody originally recorded live in1983.
The second CD, 1996-2001, covers recordings made since the 20thanniversary collection, and it has some joys as well. Theserecordings contain many more less traditional elements, includingthe Romanian tinge on House Band's "Risipiti/Mairtin O'Connor" andthe African percussion on Old Blind Dogs' "Forfar Sodger", but theyall work. Of the more traditional melodies, Liz Carroll's "Lost InThe Loop", Lunasa's "Autumn Child/Heaton Chapel", and thespine-tingling rich voice of Niamh Parsons singing "An PaistinFionn" are highlights of a consistent and excellent look at boththe changing face of Celtic music and of Green Linnet Records.

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