Track Listing

1. The Hanover Reel / John James’ Reel / The Copperplate
2. The Silver Dagger
3. Tom Sullivan’s / Mick’s Polka / The Newmarket Polka
4. On a Sea of Fleur de Lis
5. The Night Visit
6. The Coconut Dog / Morning Dew
7. Doireann’s Waltz
8. Lowground
9. The Ballerina Jig
10. Erin
11. The Ploughman
12. Steven Campbell’s / The Road to Ringussoon / The Bag of Beer
13. Mi Pequena Estrella (Little Star)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #141829 in Music
• Released on: 2005-02-22
• Number of discs: 1

Album Description
Waiting For An Echo, Solas seventh Shanachie CD, was recorded in a number of locations including Seamus’ home studio in Philadelphia and on the road in Germany. "We did what we call guerilla recording," laughs Seamus Egan. "We recorded everywhere we could, backstage at concerts, in hotel rooms and wherever it made sense using a Mac G4 and my mobile recording unit." In typical Solas fashion, the band has crafted a thrilling mix of traditional gems, jigs, polkas, reels, contemporary material and originals. Their use of counterpoint and driving syncopation pulsates throughout the CD.

Seamus Egan says, "From one project to the next, we never want to make the same record. This album is more than anything a snapshot of where we are musically. We’re a band that happens to have a strong grounding in a particular tradition. But the way we look at it, that tradition allows itself to be played with a little bit; it’s malleable enough and strong enough to allow that. I think it’s fundamentally impossible to play music any other way than being who you are and what you are. Irish traditional music is the first music I have any memory of; for a long time, I thought it’s all there was. But I never saw it as something old; it was always there in our lives, and always evolving."

Highlights on Waiting For An Echo include the Antje Duvekot song "Erin," featuring the vocals of Mick McAuley, the traditional song "The Silver Dagger" which showcases an imaginative revamped melody and altered arrangement by Winifred Horan and the Richard Shindell song "On a Sea of Fleur de Lis," featuring the angelic vocals of Deirdre Scanlan. Solas has long wanted to record this Shindell song and finally does it on Waiting For An Echo.

Also included is "The Coconut Dog Morning Dew," two reels, the first penned by Eagan and the latter a traditional number arranged by the band. "The Coconut Dog" unites Solas with renowned Spanish bagpiper Carlos Nunez who has recorded with and is currently on tour with the Chieftains. The band recently had a chance to meet up with Nunez while on tour in Germany October and November of 2004.

Amazon.com
While Waiting For An Echo was recorded in hotel rooms, dressing rooms, and studios on two continents, the album sounds sonically cohesive with an emphasis on instrumentals. Stylistically, however, the quintet of top-flight musicians is all over the place. There's a bushel of Irish traditionals that come in shape of reels and jigs strung together (the even-keeled "Steven Campbell's/The Road Ringussoon/The Bag Of Beer" is a highlight); but the band also dives into folk-pop balladry on "The Silver Dagger" and "Erin," conjures a little country twang on "Lowground" and "On A Sea Of Fleur de Lis." A handful of guests further diversify things, but one thing about Celtic musicians is their thirst for jamming, so in way this is a more realistic look at a band than some of its Celtic music-leaning fans may be willing to allow. Nevertheless, there is enough here to keep them placated, unless you're fan of singer Patricia Scanlon, who contributions are limited to a few songs. – Tad Hendrickson

People Magazine
"One of the best Celtic bands around."

Customer Reviews

Eh...
This album is definitely continuing in the downswing that Solas has been experiencing in recent years. Although the number of tunes has increased including some very nice sets (which is why I'm giving it a 3 and not lower), most of the songs are just uninteresting to me.

Better...
I'm a traditional Irish musician and Solas' first two albums are definitely on my top ten list and always will be. However, every time a band member swaps out and every time Seamus Egan finds a new way to over-produce traditional music, I lose a bit more interest in this band.

Unless you're looking for new-agey, rock-influenced folk music, stay away from any of their albums past Sunny Spells and Scattered Showers. Although they may be playing traditional music in a technical sense, there's so much percussion and amplified instruments on their new tracks as to make it completely buried. The same goes for Seamus Egan's recent solo work.

However, with this album it's a bit of a welcome return to form. Granted, without John Williams, Karen Casey and John Doyle, they'll never approach the great sound they had a decade ago, but at least this album has actual TUNES. There aren't many of them compared to the songs (seems to be the general trend in traditional bands trying to branch out), but at least the album isn't made up of "pieces".

I have my usual complaints about the album--it sounds over-produced, over-arranged, and over-dubbed. Win Horan still hasn't gotten past her classical past, apparently. Who uses vibrato on reels, anyway? Her playing often reminds me of classical players new to Irish music who lack the subtelty and style needed for traditional music. And it's a shame that one of this generation's most talented musicians, Seamus Egan, seems to have been stricken with chronic bad taste.

In general, if you're looking for a good intro to Irish music, don't start here. Danu, Flook, Dervish and Slide are the big names now. For solo work, check out former member John Williams' album, "Steam", and the latest from Liz Carroll and John Doyle. And don't ever get those 4 or so albums Solas recorded during their "experimental" (read: "selling out") stage. Try the first 2 and stop or you'll risk being very disappointed.

i heart solas
hi guys- i love solas and i think they are an awesomely cool group of wicked good musicans. so about this newish cd, it was good but i think some of the songs were kinda pop ish. like the ones with the guy singing it was not really what they used 2 do. i think compared to the edge of silence cd it was not as good, but edge of silence was the best.. buy it if u dont have it!!! also see this band in concert cause they r amazing!! get up and dance- it makes it way cooler!
love u guys!(solas i mean) bye-