CapercaillieCountry of origin:Scotland Type of music generally:Traditional Celtic folk/pop, world music, some mainstream pop in later work Status:Most recent album, At the Heart of It All (2013) See also:Capercaillie's site Comparisons:Clannad. (Dirk.Kastens@rz.Uni-Osnabrueck.DE) Covers/own material:Own songs and arrangements of traditional Scottish songs. General comments:Their early albums are quite traditional, later albums more pop. The lead singer has a powerful voice. I loved early Capercaillie—my favourite album of theirs is Sidewaulk, their second—and I like bits and pieces of the later discs, but they're now concentrating on writing their own songs mostly, and the songs that are their own compositions aren't nearly as strong as the traditional material. Other artists do better at writing interesting pop songs. I miss the old, lively traditional Capercaillie. (Neile) Comments about live performance:I've only heard them on samplers and watching the film Rob Roy, but have really enjoyed what I'd heard. Live, they were a very mixed bag. Like seeing Wolfstone at the festival a few years ago, I found that the progressive, plugged-in performers seemed derivative and weak after an afternoon of virtuoso traditional performances. They were having some sort of trouble with the fiddle, which may explain why it sounded shrill and effects-heavy. Whatever the cause, I found the sound thin and annoying, and the reels and jigs unimpressive. However, whenever the lead singer stepped up to the mic, the band soared. She has such an incredible voice! Soaring and beautiful in the classic Irish mode. Her songs in Gaelic, and her one piece of mouth music (interestingly a track on the first Mouth Music disc), were amazing. Her songs in English seemed too close to show tunes for me, and once in a while they whole band meandered into bland Clannad-land. Anything that wasn't purely traditional sounded shlocky. (neal) Recommended first album:Delirium. (Dirk.Kastens@rz.Uni-Osnabrueck.DE) Recordings:
CrosswindsRelease info:1987—Green Linnet Records (U.S. release)—GLCD 1077 Availability:May be hard to find, can mail order from label. (Neile) Ecto priority:Must have for lovers of Celtic folk. (Neile) Group members:Karen Matheson—lead vocals Comments:All songs are traditional arrangements. This is a wonderful album. Karen Matheson's voice is stunning. The songs are good, too. (Neile) The Blood is StrongMusic from the Grampian Television/Channel Four series on the Gaelic ScotsRelease info:1988—BMG (UK)—ZD74993 Availability:Only available in the UK Ecto priority:Recommended for those who love Celtic folk (Neile) Group members:Donald Show, Anton Kirkpatrick, Karen Matheson, Marc Duff, Charlie McKerron, John Saich Guest artists:Rhonda Mackay—harp Produced by:Capercaillie and Bernd Schultze Comments:This is a lovely soundtrack. Some repeats from other albums. (Neile) SidewaulkRelease info:1989—Green Linnet Records (U.S. release)—GLCD 1094 Availability:May be hard to find, can mail order from label. (Neile) Ecto priority:Absolute must have for lovers of Celtic folk. (Neile) Group members:Karen Matheson—lead vocals Produced by:Donal Lunny Comments:Own compositions, cover versions and traditional arrangements. (Dirk.Kastens@rz.Uni-Osnabrueck.DE) DeliriumRelease info:1991—Survival/BMG (Germany and U.K.)—ZD 75113; 1995—Green Linnet Records (U.S. release) Availability:Available in UK. Just released in U.S. by Green Linnet Records in U.S. Ecto priority:Highly recommended. (Dirk.Kastens@rz.Uni-Osnabrueck.DE) Group members:Karen Matheson—vocals Produced by:Donal Lunny Comments:Own compositions and traditional arrangements. (Dirk.Kastens@rz.Uni-Osnabrueck.DE) Get OutRelease info:1992—Survival/BMG (Germany) —74321115862 Availability:Hard to find at present. Ecto priority:Highly recommended. (Dirk.Kastens@rz.Uni-Osnabrueck.DE) Group members:Karen Matheson Comments:Special edition of live tracks and remixes. (Dirk.Kastens@rz.Uni-Osnabrueck.DE) Secret PeopleRelease info:1993—Arista BMG (U.K.)74321 16274-2; 1995—Green Linnet Records (U.S.) Availability:Can be found in UK and US Ecto priority:Recommended for those who love Celtic and world music. (Neile) Group members:Karen Matheson—vocals Guest artists:James Mackintosh—drums and percussion Produced by:Donal Lunny and Calum Malcolm Comments:This album surprised me—I thought I didn't like Capercaillie's newer work and I kept listening to this expecting not to like it, but I do. Yes, it's a little pop at times, but it's still a good collection. (Neile) CapercaillieRelease info:1994—European release—SURCD 018 Comments:U.K. pressing of rerecordings of songs from their Secret People album, and other songs, co-produced by Will Mowat of Soul II Soul...???! sounds a lot like live Mouth Music—more funky than their usual fare. some of the English-language songs are a bit pop-ish, but the Gaelic ones are great. (bossert@suddensound.com) To the MoonRelease info:1995—Survival Records Ltd. (Europe)—SURCD 019; 1997—Green Linnet Records (U.S.)—GLCD 3117 Group members:Karen Matheson—vocals Guest artists:Ray Fean—drums Produced by:Capercaillie Comments:I've never been a big fan but this CD is excellent. Same kind of music as usual, i.e. Celtic with sometimes ethereal vocals and at other times more rock. Quite close to Clannad. (Yves.Denneulin@imag.fr) Beautiful WastelandRelease info:1998—Survival Records—SURCD021 Group members:Karen Matheson—vocals Guest artists:Michael McGoldrick—flute, uilleann pipes, whistle Produced by:Capercaillie Comments:One of the best Capercaillie albums, especially the collaborations with the Spanish singers are excellent and worth getting the album for. (Dirk.Kastens@rz.uni-osnabrueck.de) NádurraRelease info:2000—Valley Availability:Wide Ecto priority:Recommended for fans only Group members:Donald Shaw—sartarelle accordion, Wurlitzer, piano, synth Produced by:Calum Malcolm and Capercaillie Comments:I have been less than star-struck by their last two, but hope springs eternal. I just got Nádurra and I'm a bit disappointed. There's not a single outstanding song. It's a good folk-pop album but not a must-have if you own other Capercaillie albums. (Dirk.Kastens@rz.uni-osnabrueck.de) Choice LanguageRelease info:2003—Vertical Records—06076-84629-2 Availability:Wide Ecto priority:Highly recommended Group members:Karen Matheson—vocals Produced by:Capercaillie Comments:With Choice Language, Capercaillie make a welcome move back to the more traditional sounds of their earlier releases such as Crosswinds and Sidewaulk while retaining some of the modern, even jazzy sensibilities from the later 'pop' albums. Their previous album, Nádurra, seemed a bit tired, as if the band were going through the motions. On Choice Language, the group has reclaimed its energy and has its sense of fun back, even finding inspiration for "Homer's Reel" in that cultural icon, Homer Simpson. The album contains a good mix of some fast paced reels and jigs, a few wonderful traditional 'waulking' or work songs sung in Gaelic, and a couple of English songs with political messages (one lamenting the death of Scottish politician John Smith, the other commenting on children's plight in Jerusalem). The set finishes with a lovely traditional ballad that shows off Karen Matheson's exquisitely beautiful voice. If you are a fan of the more 'world music' or 'pop' Capercaillie seen on To the Moon and Beautiful Wasteland, you may like this album. But those who liked the group's earlier albums, or just want to be exposed to some of the best Celtic music around, should find this album essential. (tpierceint@yahoo.com) Grace and Pride: The Anthology 2004–1984Release info:2004—Survival Records—VLT 15194 Availability:Wide Ecto priority:Highly recommended Group members:Karen Matheson—vocals (1984–) Guest artists:Ronnie Goodman—percussion and drums on "Delirium" Produced by:Capercaillie, Calum Malcolm, Donal Lunny, Bernd Schulze Comments:38 songs, 15 albums, 2 discs. Capercaillie's new anthology, flowing backwards seamlessly through their 20-year history, is a wonderful collection for casual fans like me who only own a few albums. Most of their albums are represented by at least 3 songs, and a lot of different material is covered—traditionals, originals, live songs, English and Gaelic lyrics, instrumentals, remixes, even their 1997 collaboration with Sibeba. It's easy to see why Capercaillie is one of the most enduring bands of our times and why Karen Matheson's voice has earned such praise. (JoAnn Whetsell) Roses and TearsRelease info:2008—Vertical Records/Compass Records—7 4477 2 Availability:Wide Ecto priority:Highly recommended Group members:Karen Matheson—vocal Guest artists:Signy Jacobsdottir—additional bells, gongs, and darabuka Produced by:Donald Shaw and Capercaillie Comments:This is their most compelling album since Beautiful Wasteland, the album that made me fall in love with them. (JoAnn Whetsell) At the Heart of It AllRelease info:2013—Vertical Records—7 4618 2 Availability:Wide Ecto priority:Highly recommended Group members:Karen Matheson—vocals Guest artists:James Mackintosh—percussion Comments:Capercaillie celebrated their 30th anniversary by collaborating with other artists for this wonderful and easy-going set of instrumental and vocal songs. An absolutely lovely album. (JoAnn Whetsell) Thanks to Jens P. Tagore Brage, Dirk Kastens, Art Liestman, sspan, and JoAnn Whetsell for work on this entry. Return to The Ectophiles' Guide to Good Music |
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