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Anam
Tine Gheal/Bright Fire
Linn Records (www.anam.co.uk)
Anam takes a light, almost retro approach to Celtic music. Much of their delicate, all acoustic sound harks back to the chamber-folk days of Dalglish and Larsen. The opening track goes back even farther, to sixties hootenanny male/female harmony singing. While there is nothing earth shattering on Tine Gheal, it is a pleasant listen,
lacking the pompous pretense of a lot of "Celtic" music these days. The vocals, by Brian � hEadhra and Fiona Mackenzie are sweet and emotive. The music, created with button accordion, fiddle, guitar, bouzouki, mandolin, and subtle touches of bodhr�n, is smooth and clean. Were Anam faulted for anything, it would be for lack of drama. The traditional ballad "North Americay" is a safe choice, a story lacking plot and with a happy ending. The � hEadhra-penned song "Will You Break My Heart" is cloying, but Mackenzie, her voice popping over percolating percussion, delivers a nice turn with the Scots Gaelic song "Mhurchaidh Bhig a Chinn a' Chonais (Little Murdoch, Best at Baiting)." Anam is a talented group of musicians; however, it would be nice to hear them expand their range. - Peggy Latkovich
Song: "Tine Gheal"
©2000 Anam (www.anam.co.uk)
Used by permission
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