Éilís Kennedy
Time to Sail
© 2001 Eilis kennedy (689232068288)
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sweet, strong, lyrical, and equally at home with traditional Gaelic and contemporary material
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Éilís ( pronounced ay - leesh) was born and grew up in West Kerry , in the south of Ireland. She is a native Gaelic speaker and she grew up in a music - loving family. Her family tree has lots of great singers and she learned many songs at home.
Later , as she grew up , she was exposed to many types of music and began singing contemporary songs. She has met and toured with many musicians over the past 10 years and has been lucky to live in an area which attracts musicans and singers. Not surprisingly , she has a large repertoire of songs and was prompted by many people to record some of them. She sings expressively in Gaelic and loves to introduce Gaelic songs to those who have little experience of the language. She has a wealth of beautiful English songs , traditional and contemporary. Her passion is and always has been singing and it shows. She also plays whistle and flute and is a regular participant in music sessions . Éilís is a great teacher of songs and does so with great humour .
Here are some reviews of her album " Time to Sail"
Eilis is an exciting singer, who is clearly inspired by the texts she sings. She has a real flair for communicating expressively but not over-ornately, and possesses an enviable control of phrasing and dynamics. Her degree of accomplishment is uniformly impressive, on slower and faster material alike - her lightness and vocal control on the jig-paced opener Nead Na Lachan and the energetic Factory Girls contrasts well with the emotional impact of the Henry Lawson setting Andy's Gone A-Droving.... This is a superb album, with a well-defined character and a stamp of real lasting quality, and a credit to all concerned.David Kidman, www.netrhythms.com
Eilis Kennedy from Dingle Co Kerry is a quietly growing presence on Irish singing circles. Her debut album Time To Sail unveils a massively underrated vocal talent with a quiet mastery of her craft. Her voice is a thing of gentle sublime beauty, the like for which mothers would be sold and kings ransoms exchanged.. Her sweet, clear, and flowing tones make short work of demanding songs in both English and Gaelic. Folk Roots Magazine
The Irish Times December 2001 ****
Without a lick of paint or a blast of fanfare, Eilis Kennedy ( one time member of the Melting Pot from Baile na nGall) has released a spectacular solo debut. Kennedy, a singer whose vocals need neither searchlight nor scaffolding to bore holes into the soul, belongs to a select company of singers (alongside Karan Casey and Virginia Rodriguez) possessd of the finesse of a seamstress and the precision of a neurosurgeon. Tá Mé 'Mo Shuí straddles the folk/trad divide effortlessly, Kennedy's guileless vocals hammocked by Barry Phillips' perfectly-judged cello. Her re-working of The Factory Girl , funkily imbued with a new-found hip-swivelling optimism, gels startlingly with a pair of barndances that lift and seperate the sentiment and rhythms as though they were genetically engineered for one another. A magnificent collection. ". Siobhán Long, The Irish Times www.ireland.com
Irish Music Magazine March 2002
Every once in a while, an album comes along which heralds a potentially, major yet underrated vocal talent. My first exposition to Eilis Kennedy and her debut album Time To Sail was through hearing Nead na Lachan sail through the radio waves, her clear sparkling voice and a clever arrangement made me want to checked out this Dingle based native. Now having listened to Time To Sail several times, my thoughts are unchanged Eilis Kennedy is an untapped major vocal talent waiting for the moment to shine. Why? For starters, she has a soft yet lyrical voice, which clearly sails through the albums ten, tracks and is equally at home with traditional and contemporary material. Some of the latter chosen is quite daunting including Sandy Dennys classic Who Knows where the Time Goes, Fairport Conventions Crazy Man Michael and Nic Jones s Canadee -i-o.
In the case of Who Knows where the Time Goes where lesser hands would have made a histrionic meal, Eilis interprets Sandy Dennys wistful allegory to her then lover Trevor Lucas with a quietly impressive authority and Canadee -i-o emerges as a fresh delightful performance. Where Eilis Kennedy scores is in the subtle arrangements framing her sparkling vocal chords and a tasteful choice in material. Time To Sails success is due to taste on all fronts- a gorgeous record no more no less. www.mag.irish-music.net
reviews
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eilis kennedy
author: adonis jalamudisexcellent
Beautiful voice; beautiful choice of songs
author: Teresa McNeil MacLeanThe first songs "grabbed" me immediately...I knew this was a CD I'd love, and was right. Bought a second one as a gift too. Beautiful voice and choice of songs. I wish there'd been more variety in tempo of the songs toward the end of the CD, but still each song was lovely, and there was variety elsewhere. I'd definitely like to hear more from Eilis Kennedy!
A great voice (and a really beautiful CD)
author: Jo Philips (Belgium)Eilis sings with such a natural facility, both in English and Gaelic, which results in a really beautiful and relaxing CD. If you like celtic music you should buy this one.
I can't say enough good things about this CD
author: RhondaI bought this album months ago. I absolutely love it. Eilis has one of the best voices I've ever heard. Just listen to her a cappella singing on cut 6. The beauty of her voice is evident on all the songs, but it really stands out on cuts 6, 2 and 10. The song selection is varied in tempo, style, content and language. My least favorite song is Canadee-I-O, but I can tolerate it. The rest of the songs range from very good to excellent. It's hard to pick favorites on this album, but two of my favorites are "Who Knows ..." and "Black is the Colour". I'd never heard the former before listening to this album on cd baby, but I've always loved Black is the Color. Eilis' version of this song is outstanding; the tune is different from what I was used to, but it's gorgeous (I love minor keys). Finally, the musicianship on this album is top-notch and perfectly complements Eilis' vocals. I am giving a copy of this CD to my sister for Christmas. She loved Belinda (aka Bill) Jones' Turn to Me, so I think she'll like this album too. Fans of Kate Rusby should also like this album. This beats the pants off PBS' over-produced Celtic Woman. Sure, those women have very nice voices, but it all starts to sound the same after a while; moreover, there's a real limit to the amount of ethereal soprano singing that I can stand.
Love this artist!
author: Penny from KentuckyThe simplicity and clarity of her voice enhance the depth of the songs she has chosen for this selection. I can listen to this CD again and again.
hauntingly beautiful
author: Lily SieuWhat makes this album for me is the use of acoustics. It has the feel of listening to someone live and intimate setting. Eilis' captures a confident yet personal emotion. Her voice is beautiful. I love this album.
Best New Irish Singer
author: Eric ApoeEilis Kennedy will undoubtably have a difficult time out doing this debut CD, but I'm sure she, and those who work with her will pull it off. Black is the Colour, is the best version of the song ever recorded, in my opinion. If you like Irish Music, support it, and do yourself a favor and buy this one. Eric Apoe
Tremendous power and beauty in this timeless voice
author: Rich Stebor, FloridaThe most beautiful instrument on planet earth is the female voice in song, and this CD testifies to that ancient truth. Captivating, enchanting, and music that mesmerizes. It does the heart a world of good to listen to Eilis Kennedy wail out Gaelic soul.This disc transports you to the coastal cliffs of Ireland in deep contemplation of the gift of sound itself. Don't pass it by.
Tremendous power and beauty in this timeless voice
author: Rich Stebor, FloridaThe most beautiful instrument on planet earth is the female voice in song, and this CD testifies to that ancient truth. Captivating, enchanting, and music that mesmerizes. It does the heart a world of good to listen to Eilis Kennedy wail out Gaelic soul.This disc transports you to the coastal cliffs of Ireland in deep contemplation of the gift of sound itself. Don't pass it by.
changes rain into sunshine
author: Bruno from FranceAbsolutely enrapturing, beuatifully sung and haunting ambiance. How did we manage to live without this cd until now ?
Superb voice , classic Gaelic
author: Dot LeonardMs Kennedy presents traditional Gaelic music with dedication and a clear beautiful voice.
Great music
author: John GregoryI love the cd, CD Baby is cool to have such great artists listed. Very deep and peaceful voice, great playing. Crazy man Michael is haunting and awesome. Factory Girl is fresh and fun! Great cd, all around good music.
- author: CD Baby
A gorgeous bridge between Irish traditional music and modern day female folk pop. With the light-hearted lilting of jigs and the warmth of western pop, Ellis Kennedy captures a thrilling fusion of backgrounds, colors and visions. A definite must-hear.