Laurel MacDonald
Country of origin:
Canada
Type of music generally:
Ambient experimental pop often based on traditional songs/sounds
Status:
Most recent release, Luscinia's Lullaby (2005)
See also:
Laurel MacDonald's site
Comparisons:
Mouth Music Meredith Monk, Sara Ayers
Covers/own material:
Own, often tradition-based
General comments:
Mostly sound-songs, a mix of traditional sounds and electronics. A little like Meredith Monk or Sara Ayers. (Neile)Laurel McDonald has a small, sometimes harsh voice, but she can do amazing things with it. She deserves an award for doing the most with what God gave her. She is a Canadian who leans toward world music, Irish music, and uses ectoish vocal and instrumental techniques. (lyle_howard@hotmail.com)
Recommended first album:
Any
Recordings:
- Kiss Closed My Eyes (1995)
- Chroma (1999)
- Wingspan EP (1999)
- Stars & Elements (seasonal ep, 2000)
- Luscinia's Lullaby (2005)
Chroma
Release info:
1999—BMG/Wicklow—09026-63270-2
Availability:
Wide on release
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended for fans of more exerimental music
Group members:
Laurel MacDonald—vocals, bowed guitar, finger-picked guitar, bell, slide guitar, ebow, prepared guitar, flutter guitar, tremolo guitar, bodhrán, vacuvox, guitar, whirligig
Guest artists:
John Gzowski—lead guitar (1), ambient guitar (2), electric bowed dowel (6), infinite guitar (6), guitars (8)
David Woodhead—bass (1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9)
Paul Brennan—drums (1, 6)
Philip Strong—percussion (1, 2, 6, 9), rhythm guitar (1, 2), drums (2), toob (2, 4, 6), hand drums (4), shaker (4), prepared piano (5), keyboard (8, 9)
Rob Pitch—ambient guitar (2), lead guitar (3), pedal steel (3), guitars (9)
Patrick O'Gorman—uillean pipes (5), whistle (5)
David Travers-Smith—trumpet (8, 9)
Mark Duggan—moringa (clay pot) (9)
Produced by:
Philip Strong
Comments:
From the very start of this, you get pulled in: "A Wing and a Prayer" is experimental but also melodic and irresistable. While it's all beautiful and intriguing, I appreciate the lively tracks more. (Neile)
Wingspan EP
Release info:
1999—BMG Classics/RCA
Comments:
This is a cd of six mixes of a song titled "A Wing and a Prayer" [from Chroma]. It is a good song. I have heard the Bill Laswell mix and it is strong. Other mixers: Transglobal Underground, Richard Horowitz, and Plunderphonics. Right now, some guitar player seems to be channeling the soul of Kevin Bartlett. (lyle_howard@hotmail.com)
