Eilis Kennedy
One Sweet Kiss
© 2005 Eilis Kennedy (5390108313467)
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A clear lyrical voice which sparkles on the lighter Gaelic songs and conveys the real emotion of the slower ballads, both in Gaelic and in English
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This is Eilis second CD. She sings some newer songs and gives older songs her own stamp of individuality. All the Gaelic songs have a translation on the cd booklet - she wants everyone to understand the words!This CD will not fail to keep you listening , time after time..
Press Reaction
The Living Tradition July/Aug 06
Eilis Kennedy has one of the loveliest voices to recently emerge in Irish singing. Accompanied by a plethora of talented musicians, Kennedy's second album is ten tracks of wonderfully sung and arranged songs.
Focusing heavily on a traditional repertoire, Kennedy sings in both English and Irish, choosing songs that highlight her pure voice.
Beginning with 'Go From My Window', the English songs go on to include the tragic 'Fair Helen of Kirkconnel' and the melancholy 'Farewell to Tarwathie'. But lest you think this album is a depressing collection of ballads. Kennedy spices things up with some Bob Dylan in the form of 'Boots of Spanish Leather', and some fantastic Irish-language tracks including 'Aillillin na Gamhna' and the rollicking 'An Paistin Fionn'. The latter has a great beat and Kennedy's voice lightly trips along the jaunty tune. Ending with The Parting Song', a gentle song of leaving, the album finishes on a beautiful note.
Although the lyrics are included for the Irish songs, they are only included in English, though none of the English songs include lyrics.
Eilis Kennedy has a very beautiful voice. Her singing is evocative and the album is a wonderfully cohesive collection of songs.
Eilis Kennedy's 'One Sweet Kiss' is a fantastic find and is very much recommended. Jean Price
Songlines June 2006 ***
Scots and Irish song, and a pair of Bob Dylan's boots
This album has a quiet, almost plaintive, feel about it, one rooted firmly in the Irish song tradition.
At its heart are four Irish-language songs, each exquisitely performed by Eilis Kennedy. One of the most memorable is 'Beauty Deas an Oileain'. So often in Celtic music, songs commemorating boatmanship have a special poignancy and Kennedy's vocals here are complemented superbly by viola, guitar and cello.
Other songs on the album allow individual instruments to stand out, including Jon Sanders' harmonium, Tim Edey's guitar, Barry Phillips's cello and Virginia McKee's clarinet. Kennedy also plays whistle on one track and flute on another, revealing considerable musical versatility.
'Aililiu na Gamhna', has a more contemporary ambience than the rest of the album - almost jazz at times.
There is no doubting the sheer quality of Kennedy's voice throughout the more conventional material. She also covers English and Scottish folk songs - 'Go from my Window' and 'Helen of Kirkonnell' respectively - as well as a Scottish 19th century song, 'Farewell to Tarwathie', poignantly expressing attachment to home. Thrown in unexpectedly is Bob Dylan's 'Boots of Spanish Leather', which suits Kennedy's voice and on which Edey demonstrates why he is one of Ireland's finest musicians.
Andy Jurgis
Taplas The Welsh Folk MAGAZINE April/May
Eilis Kennedy, from Dingle, Co. Kerry, on the other hand, continues to quietly impress with her second album, One Street Kiss. Her singing is less dramatic and more understated, but that seems to allow for much more subtlety, nuance and variety. Nor is this straight-down-trie-line traditional: The swing setting of Aillilliu na Gambna and An Paistin Fionn really impresses and there's a pleasing cover of Dylan's Spanish Boots of Spanish Leather.
But she really excels on the Irish language-songs, like A Óganaigh an Chuil Chraobhaigh and the beautiful Beauty Deas an Oileain.
Guest musicians include Tommy O'Sullivan (guitar), Paddy Keenan (pipes), Tim Edey (accordion and guitar), Maire Breatnach (viola) and Eoin Duigan (low whistle); but it's Eilis's fine singing that holds centre stage. Nick Passmore
www.netrhythms.com
This fine Kerry singer proved her credentials impeccably with her astonishingly good debut CD Time To Sail around four years ago, and here's its followup.
In terms of material, it's rather more traditionally-inclined than that debut than Time To Sail, but in terms of standard of performance, singing and musicianship One Sweet Kiss is every bit the equal of its predecessor.
Again I noted ÉilÃs's wonderful precision of diction and attack, her enticing communicative skill and her delicious lightness of touch in conveying the necessary expressive elements of each song she tackles. Her delivery is accessible and tasteful without falling in to the trap of being over-sweet in the matter of the all-too-important kiss - if you get my drift!
My favourite tracks on this new album tend to be those sung in Gaelic; some, like Aillilliú Na Gamhna (a version of a rural work-song) and An PáistÃn Fionn (what a gorgeous melody!) are spiced up with syncopated, very gently swinging jazzy treatments, but on the dreamy love-song A Ógánaigh An Chúil Chraobhaigh ÉilÃs' sean-nos stylings are blessed with a spare accompaniment of just harmonium and violin. Having said that, the telling power and control of ÉilÃs's vocal range is demonstrated especially persuasively on Helen Of Kirkonnell, and her more delicate shades of expression come into play when relating the tale of Dylan's Boots Of Spanish Leather. Finally, ÉilÃs's expansion of John Goodenough's Parting Song provides an apt closer to the album.
In only briefly alluding to the instrumental accompaniments earlier in this review, I don't feel I've done them justice, for their virtue lies in their sparse clarity; all credit to Máire Breatnach, Barry Phillips, Bruce Abraham and William Coulter (all re-engaged from ÉilÃs's debut CD), in addition to a small gallery of other instrumentalists including Jon Sanders, Tim Edey and Paddy Keenan. These musicians complement ÉilÃs's beautiful singing to perfection, together creating another record that (if there's any justice) will be destined to win numerous awards. David Kidman
www.liveIreland.com Awards "The Livvies"Female Vocalist of the Year--Eilis Kennedy
This Dingle, Co. Kerry singer has won this Award from us before. Small wonder. Her brand, brand new album made it to our desk just in time for this year's Awards. The new one is entitled, One Sweet Kiss. What a great title, because that is what the album is itself. A full, modern take on the tradition, at the same time featuring some gorgeous sean nos singing. There is no better singer in the tradition. Nor a nicer one. Eilis' voice is a universal gift, accessible to all. There are great songs here, many with a sea flavor, as to be expected from Dingle. Boat races, whaling, broken hearts, found loves----epochs we tells 'ya! Such wonderful side musicians are here, too. Who wouldn't want to be asked to play on the album? Eilis is just so special on so many levels. We have often remarked here about how hard it is to put into words what the ear hears. In the case of Eilis Kennedy, just close yo
reviews
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Lovely
author: david carothersGifted singer, excellent accompanying musicians. If you are ever near Dingle, don't miss a chance to see Eilis Kennedy at John Benny's.
One Sweet Kiss
author: Nancy McDonnellThe CD is wonderful; I bought one as a gift for a family member who was with me one night in Jon Benny's pub in Dingle, where a hush developed in the entire crowd with Ms Kennedy began to sing. AWESOME. Your service is excellent.
Arrived safely. Delighted with purchace.
author: Maurice KerwickVery fast delivery. Arrived in perfect condition. Enjoyed the CD very much. Maurice Kerwick, Rockhill, Bruree, Co, Limerick, Ireland.