Mouth Music
Country of origin:
Scotland
Type of music generally:
Updated Celtic traditional world music
Status:
Most recent release, The Order of Things (2005)
See also:
Mouth Music's site
Comparisons:
Talitha MacKenzie's solo work; Capercaillie's occasional updated versions of traditional songs
Covers/own material:
Mix of traditional and original material
General comments:
Fantastic Gaelic-African-Folk-Funk-Rock. (welsh@epcc.ed.ac.uk)I do like it a lot. It should appeal to any Zap Mama fans who like Celtic music. (cos@wbrs.org)
Shorelife is my fav of their albums. The best sort of world-celt with creative techno elements. Very highly recommended. Great female lead vocals. (myszor@pavilion.co.uk)
Ah yes, Mouth Music! Traditional Celtic music meets completely contemporary dance rhythms and instrumentation, with always interesting female vocals. The first vocalist, Talitha MacKenzie, now has solo albums out on Shanachie. I'm afraid I can't recall the name of the current vocalist, though... the constant member of the group is Martin Swan. (meth@moe.org)
Their music began as a world sound based on traditional material and has gotten more pop with subsequent albums. I love the first album, which really leans on the Celtic tradition. Others here disagree with me, but I found both Mo-Di and Shorelife way too world-pop could-be-anyone sounding for me. This is partly because I love Celtic music and am not a big pop or world pop fan, but still... (Neile)
Comments about live performance:
This is the best live band in the world. (welsh@epcc.ed.ac.uk)
Recommended first album:
Mouth Music for those interested in a slightly more traditional sound; mo-di or Shorelife for those who are more interested in world pop. (Neile)
Recordings:
- Mouth Music (1991)
- Blue Door Green Sea (EP, 1992)
- Mo-Di (1993)
- Move On (EP, 1994)
- Shorelife (1995)
- Sefaring Man (2001)
- The Scrape (2003)
- The Order of Things (2005)
Mouth Music
Release info:
1991—Rykodisc U.S. and U.K.—RCD 10196
Availability:
Wide on release
Ecto priority:
Must have for lovers of Celtic-influenced music
Group members:
Talitha MacKenzie—vocals
Martin Swan—instruments and arrangements
Produced by:
Martin Swan and Chic Medley
Comments:
This is a wonderful Celtic-influenced combination of vocals and electronic music. There's a folky, Celtic edge to this that I love. (Neile)And I definitely agree that the first, self-titled Mouth Music disc should be in every music collection. It's splendiferous. (neal)
mo-di
Release info:
1993—Rykodisc U.S. and U.K.—RCD 10242
Availability:
Wide on release
Ecto priority:
Recommended for lovers of world pop music
Group members:
Martin Swan
Jackie Joyce—vocals
Thorburn Shields
Comments:
I'd recommend Mo Di, rather than Mouth Music. They're very different albums really, almost but not quite a totally different line-up. For me Jackie Joyce "makes" Mouth Music, especially live. I saw them at the Fleadh ("Merry Making" in Irish Gaelic) in Glasgow last weekend. WHAT A BAND!!! (welsh@epcc.ed.ac.uk) I greatly prefer the first album. This one is missing that edge and seems more mainstream world pop, less distinctive. (Neile)A good mix of the ethnic sounds from the 1st cd mixed w/ some energy heard in Bel Canto, etc. I was somehow reminded of Dead Can Dance (keep in mind that I have but 2 fo their discs). I also found it a bit more 'listenable' than the 1st 1, which fit some neat moods, while this makes some neat moods. (zzkwhite@ktwu.wuacc.edu)
Shorelife
Release info:
1995
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Recommended for lovers of world pop music
Group members:
Martin Swan
Jackie Joyce—vocals
Michaela Rowan—vocals
Jeremy Black—percussion
Quee McArthur—bass
Willie Macdonald—vocals
Comments:
I have Mouth Music Shorelife and am less than enthused. I have the cut Seinn O from a sampler and *love* it. (zzkwhite@ktwu.wuacc.edu)Shorelife is VERY Ecto. (cstack@ix.netcom.com)
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