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 Lone Raven Music http://www.loneraven.com Cool, autumn winds blow in from the crimson, mahogany and ancient ivory-yellow dotted heartland. The sound of tribal rhythms whisper across the painted forests. At first, the tones are barely audible, then growing more potent with every passing moment, reaching the crescendo. A sound that flows with multi-textured layers, fiddle, guitar, piano, Uilleann pipes, rolling over the hills like a Bardic troupe on parade. Lone Raven hail from Columbus, Ohio and are one of the most talented Celtic/World Folk band that you will ever encounter. Their record, Bridges of Time, is one of the more enjoyable records to come up the pike in some time. Incorporating the talents of Craig Markley (piano, woodwinds, Uilleann pipes, etc), daughter Kara Markley (fiddle, flute, harp vocals), Beckie Boger (flute, tin whistle, vocals), Sid Omasta (bass, guitar, mandolin) and Robb Jarrett (percussion), Lone Raven are an amalgam of musical influences. Innuendoes of these musical influences abound on this record. Gathered from around the world and from a multitude of different eras the music speaks to an aching 21st century soul like a tall glass of cold, ice water to a parched traveler. Hints of Clannad and Loreena McKennitt lurk throughout their music, but so do strains of utter simplistic, originally. From fierce, battle-tinged Irish Reels to vagabond Gypsy fiddle tunes from Romania, Bridges of Time possesses a rich texture full of verve and depth. Traditional tunes such as “Greensleeves” and the splendid “The Brown Thorn” to the timeless “Once Upon a Winter Moon” and the haunting “The Lone Raven” make this record special. Its pure, undiluted music! A couple of ‘hidden’ gems on this album are the luminous instrumental “Round The Horn” and the rich folk original, “Maud”. Both songs display the diversity and talent of Lone Raven. Their musical heritage touches the shore of a thousand nations but it is the Celtic Isles; Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Isle of Man and Cape Breton where they find their brightest muse. On the traditional song, “Shivna” the vocals of Kara Markley shine brilliantly, resonating with potency. The Gaelic phrasing adds to the Celtic inflection of the song. Bridges of Time is one of the better independently produced Celtic/World Folk records you will purchase this year. |
