 Michael Londra's Celt Reviews & News |
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hubblegal  |
Posted: 12-Mar-2006, 08:02 PM
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Peasant
Group: Celtic Nation
Posts: 2
Joined: 01-Mar-2006
Zodiac: Willow
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The reviews are in for Michael Londra's new release CELT and they
couldn't be better.
Sirius :
"Michael Londra is situated in that ideal place - somewhere between
the Irish Tenors and Enya. Talk about commercial. He has a
wonderful voice and, after a lot of hard work and dues paying, he is
poised for international success." Larry Kirwan, Black 47 and host
of Celtic Crush on SIRIUS Satellite Radio
Irish Music Magazine:
With the roles of Jesus in John Debney's The Passion Symphony and the
lead in Riverdance on Broadway to his credit and as Musical Director
of Accuradio's RadioCelt, you'd expect tenor Michael Londra to
deliver a blend of theatricality and musical sensibilities. That is
precisely what he does on his new CD, "Celt".
Londra's voice has the indulgent sweetness of honey which can be both
a blessing and a curse. The trick is to enrich those qualities
without allowing the music to become overly sentimental. In tackling
such traditionally affecting standards as "Danny Boy", "The Water is
Wide", and "The Flower of Magherelly", Londra sets himself a
formidable task. It is his meticulous vocal delivery that allows him
to triumph. His intensity on "She Moved Through the Fair" is
particularly haunting; no mean feat for a song that has been recorded
by everyone from Donovan to Jean Redpath. And because no vocalist
should let a CD go by without some impressive vocal gymnastics,
Londra includes "Ag Criost An Siol", a hymn for which his elegant
voice couldn't be more perfectly suited.
Once homage to the classics has been paid, "Celt" gracefully ensures
that Londra's talents as a contemporary songwriter won't go
overlooked. Proving that you can take the boy off Broadway but you
can't (and shouldn't!) take Broadway out of the boy, Londra's
original songs are the stuff of stage and screen; they tell stories,
they stir the emotions and his gentle and articulate delivery makes
them the album's strongest tracks. "Do You Think of Me", "Crown of
Gold" and "Beyond the Star" emphatically prove that Londra is more
than just a pretty voice. Catchy melodies, expressive lyrics and
some beautifully judicious traditional instrumentation form a package
that should impress both trad and pop audiences.
"Celt's" musicians deserve some positive attention as well. Producer
Steve Skinner's artful arrangements are lush and for the most part
restraint is shown. The pipes and whistles of Ivan Goff, (Eileen
Iver's Band) and Declan Masterson (Moving Hearts, Patrick Street) in
particular, are not only expertly played, but wisely placed to offer
an earthy balance to Londra's voice which, set against the drone of a
pipe or whistle, sounds all the more ethereal.
Upcoming live engagements
Irish Arts Center
NYC
March 12
Irish America Magazine's Top 100 Event
NYC
March 16
Fighting 69th Regiment Event
NYC
March 17
The Passion of the Christ Symphony
Alltel Arena, Little Rock
May 6
Starting May 1, CELT will be featured in 245 Borders stores
nationwide. You will see the album featured on the listening board
and be able to hear the cd instore before purchasing. We are excited
that Borders believe in the project as it is rare that an independant
artist gets such an endorsement by this major chain.
More exciting news coming in a few weeks about the release of CELT
worldwide and tour dates outside of the US. In the meantime,
European fans can purchase copies by going to
www.amazon.co.uk
You can buy the album in the US at the link below
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000E40PV...6052?%5Fe\
ncoding=UTF8
or got to http://www.lmlmusic.com
Marjorie
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