Mortal Daze
Shenanigan
Independent
2001
17 tracks
Mortal Daze is a party on a disc. Here's mostly traditional, mostly Irish Celtic music coloured by flashes of jazz, tango, polka, and bits and pieces of other musical styles including some of that good old hoedown music I remember from the barn dances of my childhood. This is a rollicking album from a big band that seems never to take itself too seriously.
With six full-time members and two guest artists, Shenanigan is a band that would pack any stage and their music reach into the furthest corners of any room. Large band or small, this is bright music that would be at home in the local Irish pub, on the concert stage, at a big barn dance, or in the jam at a backyard party.
There's good programming here too, with a nicely balanced selection of fast numbers and slow, cheerful and more sombre. There's a flow that pulls the listener through an emotional gamut that proves the power of music to move the human heart. It's clear that a great deal of thought went into the selection and sequence of songs on this release.
What draws me most to this release, and what most raises it above the average album of traditional music, is the enchanting voice of Clare Brett. Brett's calming vocals bring home the deeper emotion of the lyrics she sings, making all the more believable the stories they tell. This is one of the finest voices I've heard in a long time.
One of my favourite pieces on this release is Brett's heartfelt interpretation of "Carrickfergus" with a simplified instrumental backing that beautifully supports her vocal. The song is sweet and moving at any time, but Brett brings a new richness to this sorrowful tale.
Carefully blend two parts lively French Canadian fiddle music with one part spritely Irish sparkle and you get a wonderful medley of hoedown music that's sure to wake up any audience. Close your eyes during the medley "Le Violin Accorde Comme Une Viole/La Bastringue/Spootiskeery" and you can feel the couples swinging 'round, their feet barely touching the dance floor.
"Last Tango in Tipperary" stands out among the mostly traditional Celtic numbers on this release. While very much a tango in the best tradition, there are bits in this number that are pure jazz, others that sound more gypsy than anything, and through it all a certain inescapable Celtic feel. This number is a wonderful musical juggling act carried off admirably.
Counting individual and medley selections, the seventeen tracks on this release include thirty-three songs. Of these songs, six are not traditional numbers but are written by either Clare Brett or Graham Carver. That these songs fit into this set as though they too were traditional only serves to underline the love these writers have for this music and their attention to the form.
Mortal Daze offers an hour and a quarter of traditional and not so traditional music with interesting arrangements performed by musicians who have both talent and an understanding of the music they're performing. This is excellent entertainment value from the British Columbia band Shenanigan.
Discover the Canadian Celtic band Shenanigan and listen to clips of a half dozen of the songs on their Mortal Daze CD at shenaniganbc.com.
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Review written: March 6, 2005
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