| The Gap of Dreams | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 2 March 2018 | |||
| Recorded | November 2017 [1] | |||
| Studio | Attica Studios, [2] Drumdeevin, Termon, Letterkenny, County Donegal, Ireland [1] | |||
| Genre | Celtic | |||
| Length | 58:49 [3] | |||
| Label | Compass Records | |||
| Producer | Garry West and Altan | |||
| Altan chronology | ||||
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The Gap of Dreams is the thirteenth studio album by Irish folk music group Altan and their twelfth studio album of original material, released in March 2018 on the Compass Records label to critical acclaim.
This is the first studio album of original material to be released by Altan in three years, since the release of The Widening Gyre in February 2015. This is also the first Altan album not to feature former band member Ciaran Tourish (usually on fiddle and flute) since he departed from the band in late July 2017. [4]
As Altan states through their official website: "the album title is borrowed from The Ballad of Douglas Bridge, [5] a poem by Francis Carlin [nb 1] , in which he writes: 'The Gap of Dreams is never shut', referring to the gap between this world and the Otherworld. The Otherworld has always exerted a large influence on the fiddling tradition of County Donegal and has served as inspiration for song, music and folklore."
Altan recorded the new album during November 2017 "in the hills of Donegal", more precisely in Attica Studios, [2] Drumdeevin, Termon, Letterkenny, County Donegal, Ireland. [1]
The album features many sets of traditional Donegal reels such as Néilidh Boyle's composition, "Seán sa Cheo" ("John in the Mist"), as well as original compositions. Four of the songs are in Irish (Gaelic), which is Mairéad's first language, and the language of the northwest of Donegal. [1]
About Altan's new musical direction, The Irish Times 's music critic Siobhan Long stated: "It's fitting that Altan's first album in three years [...] should feature new tunes from the next generation – from Ní Mhaonaigh's daughter Nia [Byrne] (fiddle) and guitarist Mark Kelly's son Sam [Kelly] (concertina). These, alongside a pair of reels composed by Altan's most recent arrival, Martin Tourish on piano accordion, signal the band's appetite for evolution of the musical and familial kind." [4]
Singer and founding member Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh's daughter Nia Byrne contributed writing credits for "Nia's Jig", and played fiddle to accompany. Member Mark Kelly's (guitar and backing vocals) son wrote another single, "The Beekeeper", and played concertina on the single. Other recording members of Altan are Dáithí Sproule (guitar and vocals), Ciarán Curran (bouzouki) and Martin Tourish (piano accordion).
Altan called on Pledge Music's services to finance the new studio album.
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| The Irish Times [4] |   |
| Hot Press [7] | 8.5/10 |
The Gap of Dreams received positive reviews from a number of magazines and websites.
It received a warm review and 4 stars (out of 5) on 9 March 2018 from The Irish Times's music critic Siobhan Long, stating: "[Altan's] duelling fiddle sound is no longer a feature since Ciarán Tourish's departure, but The Gap of Dreams is a beautifully realised collection of new and traditional tunes rooted in their home place of Donegal. Ní Mhaonaigh contributes two gorgeous tunes of her own (including the evocative title tune) and her voice tends her pitch-perfect song choices with customary care, particularly on the beautiful "Cumha an Oileáin". The sense of internal refinement in the tune arrangements is heightened by the thoughtful contributions of bouzouki player Ciarán Curran and guitarists Mark Kelly and Dáithí Sproule. Unhurried and richly stitched, with arrangements that let the music shimmer, Altan are back – with gusto." [4]
Hot Press 's music critic Jackie Hayden gave the new album a rating of 8.5 points out of 10 and a warm review, stating: "This is Altan's 16th album [sic] since their formation in 1987, and their first studio effort since 2015's The Widening Gyre. Throughout their career, the Donegal act have displayed an impressive level of musical inventiveness. With The Gap Of Dreams, though, they've dug deeper, fashioning an album that reeks of history and of simpler times, when music and dancing were the glue that held rural communities together; real (and reel) channels of respite from hard living. Ní Mhaonaigh's vocals are as beguiling as ever, particularly on the wistful "The Month Of January", while "Cumha an Oileáin" is a timely reminder of the beauty of the Irish language, and "An Bealach Seo 'Tá Romham" boasts a welcome appearance by Moya Brennan. Ciarán Curran's bouzouki and the guitars of Dáithí Sproule and Mark Kelly add to the eclectic musical palette, with the production by Michael Kenney and Tommy McLaughlin also top-notch. It all makes for an uplifting musical experience." [7]
The Living Tradition 's music critic Alex Monaghan stated that despite "a few line-up changes since [he] last reviewed an Altan album—most notably the replacement of Dermot Byrne by Martin Tourish on accordion, and the departure of founder member Ciaran Tourish on fiddle which does leave the instrumentals weaker—Donegal's premier traditional band is still going strong [as] the basic formula still works: tunes and songs with a strong Donegal flavour, a mix of old and new, with a contemporary acoustic edge to the arrangements.» Monaghan enjoyed the new album, in particular tracks such as "Cumha An Oileáin", «sweetly sung despite the sad words, and set to a beautiful tune [...] or « the chilling "Month Of January" [which] sends a shiver down [his] spine,» adding that «[his] favourite track is a medley [track #10] which expresses the music of Donegal as performed by Altan since their inception, with fiddle and bouzouki, a clear full sound ending with "The Mermaid Of Mullaghmore" which would be at home on any Altan album since the original [1983] Ceol Aduaidh back in the mists of time." [8]
Durations source [3]
Altan
Guest musicians
Production
Altan are an Irish folk music band formed in County Donegal in 1987 by lead vocalist Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh and her husband Frankie Kennedy. The group were primarily influenced by traditional Irish language songs from Donegal and have sold over a million records.
Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh is an Irish fiddler and the lead vocalist for the Irish folk music band Altan, which she co-founded with her husband Frankie Kennedy in 1987. Ní Mhaonaigh is recognised as a leading exponent in the Donegal fiddle tradition, and she is often considered one of the foremost singers in the Irish language, her native tongue. She was part of the Irish supergroup T with the Maggies who performed in January 2009 at Temple Bar TradFest in Dublin their first ever two concerts under that name and who released in October 2010 their debut album. After nearly 22 years with Altan, on 28 December 2008 Ní Mhaonaigh premiered in Gweedore her debut solo album Imeall which was later released worldwide in February 2009. After 29 years with Altan, in October 2016 Ní Mhaonaigh released her alternate band Na Mooneys' debut album Na Mooneys.
Another Sky is the seventh studio album by Irish traditional band Altan. It was released in February 2000 on the Narada Productions label.
Frankie Kennedy was a flute and tin whistle player born in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He was also the co-founder of the band Altan, formed with his wife Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh. The popular Frankie Kennedy Winter Music School was founded in 1994 in his honour.
Proinsias Ó Maonaigh or Francie Mooney was a fiddler from Gweedore, County Donegal, Ireland. He is known for his distinguished fiddle playing and his unique and vast contribution to Irish music and culture. He is the father of Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh and grandfather of fiddle player Ciarán Ó Maonaigh.
Heartsongs: Live from Home is a live album by Dolly Parton, released on September 27, 1994. Recorded at a concert at Parton's theme park Dollywood, the album featured a mix of Parton originals and traditional folk songs. "To Daddy" was one of Parton's compositions that she had never previously released; Emmylou Harris, who recorded the song in 1978, took her recording of the song to the U.S. country singles top three). The campy "PMS Blues" went on to become a concert favorite, and received a fair amount of airplay as an album track. Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh sang Irish vocals on "Barbara Allen".
Local Ground is the ninth studio album by Irish folk music group Altan, released in March 2005 on the Narada label.
The Blue Idol is the eighth studio album by Irish traditional band Altan, released in February 2002 on the Narada label.
Blackwater is the fifth studio album by Altan, released in April 1996 on the Virgin Records label. Three of the songs are sung in Irish. "Ar Bhruach Na Carraige Baine" is sung partly in English and in Irish. "Blackwaterside" is sung in English. It was the first album released by the band since the death of founding member Frankie Kennedy two years earlier. The final track on the album is a tribute to Kennedy and was written by Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh herself.
Harvest Storm is the third studio album by Altan, released in April 1992 on the Green Linnet label.
Island Angel is the fourth studio album by Altan, released in 1993 on the Green Linnet label. In 1995, Q included Island Angel in its publication "In Our Lifetime: Q's 100 Best Albums 1986–94", a list compiled to celebrate its 100th issue. It was also the final album to feature founding member Frankie Kennedy who died a year after its release.
Runaway Sunday is the sixth studio album by Altan, released in July 1997 on the Virgin Records label.
The Red Crow is the second studio album by Altan, released in November 1990 on the Green Linnet Records label. The title track, written by Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh also features on her 2008 début album, Imeall.
Ceol Aduaidh is the first studio album by Frankie Kennedy and Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, originally released in 1983 on the Gael-Linn Records label. It was reissued in 1994 by Green Linnet Records and a remastered edition was issued in 2009 by Gael-Linn.
Altan is the second (studio) album by Frankie Kennedy and Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, originally released in 1987 by Green Linnet Records. The musicians appearing on this album are substantially those that became the early incarnation of the band Altan. The band later (retroactively) called Altan their debut album.
Imeall is Irish musician Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh's debut solo album, self-produced on her own label "Moon" and released physically as a (numbered) limited edition in late 2008 / early 2009 and digitally available through her official website.
25th Anniversary Celebration is the tenth studio album by Irish folk music group Altan. It was released in January–March 2010. The album does not contain new original material for it is a compilation of studio re-recordings of previous material with orchestral arrangements.
Gleann Nimhe – The Poison Glen is the eleventh studio album by Irish folk music group Altan and their tenth studio album of original material, released in late February / early March 2012 on the Compass Records label.
The Widening Gyre is the twelfth studio album by Irish folk music group Altan and their eleventh studio album of original material, released in February 2015 on the Compass Records label. It was released to critical acclaim.
Na Mooneys is the debut (eponymous) self-produced album from Irish folk music band Na Mooneys, released in October 2016.