Joy Shannon : " An Chailleach"

 

This folk singer brings in an impressive cast to collaborate with her. The first track is simple and stripped down showing what she can do with her voice. It's effective in the manner it basks in the melancholy, Jessica Way joins her on the second song which does not stray a great deal from the formula that works on the first song. Things keep to a somber meditative drift with lust vocal melodies. The solemn nature works better on the "Crone of Loughcrew". Emily Jane White's voice blends with Shannon's making "The Spell" hover with a similar hypnotic cadence as the other songs. The harmonies are haunting and it works well to build ambiance. 

"Mo Corra" is another song that shows she does not need to get lost in the collaborations as the simple layers and mood work well. Lelia Abul-Rauf is one of a couple of songs the first being "Caer Ibormeith" which also features OSI and the Jupiter. The latter provides more ambiance, with Lelia, not really setting herself apart with some of her normal signatures. Then the song after is just Lelia and Shannon. You can hear the nuances that separate their voices more on this song. Osi and the Jupiter join her again for "Heather". It almost feels like a more haunting take on "Greeleaves' which you could say about many folk. The vocals are well produced in a manner that uses natural-sounding reverb.

"the Cannon Fire" has Ariel Ruin. Which contributes some light tenor vocals. It works well enough but is not the most gripping song of the album. The vocal melodies are more defined in the song after this. Emily Jane white joined her again for "Stupstack". It works but the harmonies are best on "The Flood" which is once again her by herself., Another strong case for her is better off working alone. 'Leaving' has Leia back on it, but it could have been done just as well with Shannon harmonizing with herself. "Song For My Father' presents another strong case for this fact. Then the remixes come which I am going to include for the purpose of this review as they feel different than the original songs. The remix of "Corra  Ban" feels darker. It is still very ambient, and almost like it will float off into the night sky. The same could be said of the "Haunted" mix to "Mo Corra" Her voice sounds great, but it's not much different than what we have already heard on this album. The same can be said of the re-mix of "the Crone of  Loughcrew"  I will give this album an 8.5, as it sound stunning but drones more than building into songs, however if you want dark ambient folk she is great at.

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