Karan Casey's reputation as a singer has continued to grow, first as member of
Solas, and then on her solo debut,
Songlines. Now, with
The Winds Begin to Sing,
Casey has released another high-quality album of contemporary Celtic songs. The album gets started with the bouncy "Who Put the Blood," a traditional ballad freshly arranged. "Weary of Lying Alone" has a lovely arrangement, featuring no more than
Donald Shaw's wash of keyboards, painting a spare and atmospheric background. The same simple background is used for Lewis Allen's "Strange Fruit." This choice may seem odd at first. Why would anyone try to place a song about Southern lynching into a Celtic song cycle? But on closer reflection, the song contains the same pathos of many traditional ballads, and
Casey does a good job with it. Two songs -- "Éiright Suas a Stóirín" and "Buile Mo Chroí" -- are sung, at least partly, in
Casey's native language, adding a nice touch. The arrangements, with the exception of keyboards, seem almost traditional. But the production, with flutes, layered guitars, and keyboards, is bright and polished. This gives the album a contemporary sound, even when the material is traditional.
Casey's voice is lovely, both resonant and full, and she can proudly take her place beside other Celtic and English singers like
Kate Rusby and Marie Brennan. For fans of
Casey and
Solas,
The Winds Begin to Sing is a lovely release that is easy to play repeatedly. ~ Ronnie Lankford, Jr.