A New Beginning, Listener Album Review

[SaharaMusic]

Sahara brings A New Beginning to the world “A New Beginning” is the latest release by Dave and Trish Long, a duo originally from Ireland who now reside in Australia. The album is a genre-bending amalgam of styles, borrowing from jazz, pop, folk, and Celtic. They describe it on their website as “a marriage of sounds and influences between the Northern and Southern hemispheres, ‘the mist meeting the haze’”. The lyrics are positively uplifting and seemingly personal, not unexpected for a duo that have been together for a few decades.The album begins with the über-catchy “Right the Wrongs” (This reviewer’s children were singing the chorus for hours after hearing the song once). The title track perfectly embodies the positive vibe that the album puts out. “The Promise” is a beautiful instrumental played on whistle (or recorder) that could easily fit into a movie soundtrack during the scene when the protagonist arises victorious against all odds. “Renovating My Igloo” adds an interesting electronic/new age twist along with a delightful key change between verses. “Rainy Day at Shady Creek” sounds like a Celtic song that was dropped into a Spaghetti Western (talk about genre-bending)!The album was completely written, played and recorded by Dave and Trish and it’s done very well. The musicianship is top notch and their voices mesh together well. The instruments on the album include guitar, sax, whistle, flageolet, recorder and keyboards. This may not be the album for those who like their Irish/Celtic music more traditional. But for those who enjoy their Celtic music wrapped up in a perky, jazzy package, “A New Beginning” will do the trick. Jason Hohl 67 Music USA
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This post has been edited by SaharaMusic on 03-Jul-2013, 10:28 PM

[SaharaMusic]

"Fans of Bruce Hornsby, Van Morrison and Marc Cohn will certainly welcome Sahara’s A New Beginning with open arms. The duo of Trish and Dave long incorporate a broader spectrum of musical styles. There are hints of smooth jazz, pop rock and Celtic. In terms of instrumental delivery, I’d say hands down to both of them. Their years performing on stage and recording the way they want their albums to sound, ripened and made their music intoxicating like fine wine. It is the confidence brought about by the test of time, elements and LIFE that we all go through. There are certainly events that shake us rendering us incapable of moving. But it is the call of artistic desire that always brings us into a sense of purpose. This optimistic thought is present all over the album’s 10 tracks. Sweetness, pain, laughter: these are emotions that surround A New Beginning. There are other atmospheric surprises like The Promise which possesses a definitive Celtic sound. The vocal layering and melody lean into Clannad and Loreena McKennitt. Other titles like Right the Wrongs and A New Beginning are songs that anyone who has gone through tough times can relate to. The Sweetest Thing, track four, delivers the “get into the Irish pub” kind of sentiment. It has that relaxed atmosphere of being with someone you loved through the years. It says that you don’t have to hide anything because you can be who you are with the right person. Let’s Unite affirms the belief that we can all get through our differences if we realize our similarities. I reflected on this and also remember all the natural disasters like earthquakes, famine, disease and poverty. We aren’t invincible. So why should we fight each other when nature is already fighting us and diminishing our numbers? Must we also contribute to the pain? The song has that Irish marching beat. It Could be True is an example of someone continuing to “court” a beloved through the years in the relationship. I think it is telling us that winning someone’s heart doesn’t stop after marriage. It continues and there is never a morning when you wake up with a sense of wonderment and challenge to continue loving against all odds. The nice sound of the recorder glides throughout like a nightingale. Renovating my Igloo is groovy. Fans of Talking Heads can relate to the 80’s New Wave style. Another tribute to being with someone through thick and thin and also the idea that nothing is constant but change. But love the a unifying and constant force. Is it only Me has a rocking feel. Both vocal and instrumental arrangement set the example of musical excellence. Rainy Day At Shady Creek explores the world of Jazz and Bluegrass. It sounds like traditional Irish music gone crazy. I love it though. Such a nice ending for this album that needs repeated listens". Baxter Labatos The Celtic Music Fan

Review on Sahara
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This post has been edited by SaharaMusic on 04-Jul-2013, 10:39 PM

[SaharaMusic]

“That’s ‘Live Every Day’ from ‘Sahara’ from their latest album ‘A New Beginning’. Now regular listeners to ‘The Afternoon Show’ and also to ‘New Traditions’ will know that we’re big fans of ‘Sahara’. A two piece band, Trish and Dave Long, and they write all their own material and this album ‘A New Beginning’ is their latest and I would say their absolute best. They’ve relocated to Australia, and one of the things that’s happened with their traditional sort of celtic tinge to their music is they’ve taken on board some of the, I think some of the Australian experience is seeping in to their music and I have to say check this album out - it’s a stunner! It’s called ‘A New Beginning’ and go and have a look at ‘Sahara’, check out their website, google them, listen to them, because I think you’ll find especially, musically they are absolutely stunning. They always have been. And their voices sort of blend absolutely beautifully. But also, I think lyrically, this is a step up and it really is something that we would advise you to have a listen to because they just sort of suck you in and it’s one of those albums that you can revisit time and time again. We’re gonna play a track off the album called ‘Sweetest Things’, and one of the reasons for that is cause it’s a personal favourite of mine - this is ‘Sahara’.” “Cracking stuff that’s ‘Sahara’ and ‘Sweetest Things’, as I say off their new album ‘A New Beginning’ and check out the album, google them, find out about them, and I think your gonna enjoy them. You’ll hear them more and more on ‘New Traditions’- we like them a lot.” Mark Williams ‘New Traditions’ The Bridge 102.5 UK (transcribed from radio broadcast)

Review on Sahara
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This post has been edited by SaharaMusic on 04-Jul-2013, 10:45 PM