Imeall
Imeall | ||||
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Genre | ||||
Length | 57:25 | |||
Label | Moon[nb 1] (ref.: Moon1) | |||
Producer | Manus Lunny Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh | |||
String Sisters chronology | ||||
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T with the Maggies chronology | ||||
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Na Mooneys chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
The Irish Times | [1] |
Hot Press | [2] |
UK Folk Music | favourable[3] |
The Irish Echo | very favourable[4] |
Trad' Mag[citation needed] | |
Last Night's Fun (blog) | very favourable[5] |
Imeall (
History
Imeall was recorded in 2007/08 in Stiúidió na Mara ("Seafront Studio") (An Bhráid, Tír Chonaill, County Donegal, Ireland), the home studio of Ní Mhaonaigh's friend and musician/producer Manus Lunny, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and Donegal mountains and islands.
The album features many of Mairéad's friends and regular collaborators including Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill and Dónal Lunny. It also includes Manchester-born piper and flute player Michael McGoldrick and Annbjørg Lien, a member of String Sisters, with whom Mairéad plays fiddle and sings.
Release
Only 3000 (handwritten numbered) physical copies of Imeall were pressed. The physical album is now sold out but a digital edition is available (as a downloadable mp3 album) directly from Mairéad's webstore.[7]
Critical reception
Imeall received a four star album review (out of 5) from The Irish Times' journalist and Irish music critic Siobhan Long, stating: "There's a huge sense of exploring new pastures on Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh's solo debut. A limited edition, lovingly produced by Mairéad and Manus Lunny, with a bespoke design quality, Imeall is exactly that: a snapshot of an artist on the brink of something new, of terrain yet to be travelled."[1]
Ní Mhaonaigh's debut album received a seven-star album review (out of 10) from Hot Press's music critic Niall Stokes, stating: "From the first [track], you feel that you're in the midst of something intimate and enveloping. ... It's a feeling that persists throughout a record full of beautiful melodies, fine singing, wonderfully sensitive playing and great tunes. Co-producer Manus Lunny set out with Mairéad to create a sound that would be different to Altan's, with whom Mairéad is the celebrated singer. The result is a collection of 14 tracks that manages to be both vibrantly contemporary in its colourings and yet deeply rooted in the tradition. ... The production is exemplary. ... This is Mairéad's masterpiece. ... There's a purity of purpose throughout that should be a lesson to musicians of a more venal disposition. This is music made for the sake of the art, for the magic of being in the moment making an unforgettable noise or for the sheer pleasure of telling a story eloquently through song. [...] Imeall is a very beautiful thing. Which is no surprise at all, when you think about it."[2]
Imeall received a rather positive review from UK Folk Music website's critic Pete Fyfe, stating: "There are [here] spirited renditions of the Gaelic song "Gardaí 'n Rí" with its riff and percussion driven sound and the fiddle led instrumental set-piece "Highlands / Red Crow" for those wishing a quick jig around the table in Pat Cohen's pub from The Quiet Man. ... All-in-all, this is a very nice CD to chill-out to."[3]
In the May–June 2009 issue of (French magazine) Trad' Mag, folk critic Philippe Cousin awarded Imeall full marks (giving the album a "Bravo!!!" award), calling it a "superb album" and stating: ""Imeall" means "threshold" or "edge" in
In June 2009, Ní Mhaonaigh's debut album, Imeall, received a warm review from The Irish Echo's website, stating: "Mairead's composition in memory of her father, "An Fidleoir," conveys tender emotion through subtle ornamentation. ... Two songs were written outright by Mairead: "A Óganaigh Óig" and "Mo Níon Ó," the latter a lullaby for her daughter, Nia. Each testifies to her growing proficiency at songcraft. And on the album's last track, "An Dro / Imeall," Mairead's musical edginess sharpens in the plaintive singing of her own lyrics in Irish laid over the undulating dance rhythm of a Breton an dro. She adds fiddle to that track, accompanied by Manus Lunny, Michael McGoldrick, Jim Higgins, and Graham Henderson. ... Imeall brings out the best in Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh."[4]
On 8 September 2016, Imeall received a warm review from the Last Night's Fun blog.[5][8]
Live performances
It is known that Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh played live at her 2008–2012 solo shows (at least one time) the following tracks: "Gardaí 'n Rí", "An Fidleoir", "Néillí Bhán",[9] "Mazurkas", "Mo Níon Ó".[10] She also sang live many times "Mo Níon Ó" as the lead singer during Altan's extensive 2009–2011 Celebrating the 25th anniversary tour.
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "A Óganaigh Óig" | An Dro / Imeall" | Trad. Arr. Ní Mhaonaigh / Lunny; lyrics – Ní Mhaonaigh | 4:08 |
About the tracks
The tune/song "Dobbin's Flowery Vale" has become synonymous with
Personnel
- Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh – vocals; Irish fiddle; Hardanger fiddle (on "Mazurkas")
- Manus Lunny – bouzouki; programming; vocals; guitar
- Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill – piano
- Dónal Lunny – bodhrán (on "Girseachaí an Phointe / Port Chití Rua")
- Michael McGoldrick – flute (on "Aige Bruach Dhún Réimhe"; "An Dro / Imeall"); uilleann pipes (on "Gardaí 'n Rí")
- Jim Higgins – percussion (on "A Óganaigh Óig"; "Gardaí 'n Rí"; "Highlands / Red Crow"; "Mo Níon Ó"; "Néillí Bhán"; "An Dro / Imeall"); bodhrán (on "Méillte Cheann Dubhráin / The Twenty One Highland / The Four Mile Stone"; "The Pigeon on the Gate / The Convenience / The Highlandman Who Kissed His Granny")
- Graham Henderson – keyboards (on "A Óganaigh Óig"; "Gardaí 'n Rí"; "Aige Bruach Dhún Réimhe"; "An Dro / Imeall"); bodhrán
- Annbjørg Lien – Hardanger fiddle (on "Mazurkas"; "Is Fada Ó Bhaile")
- Tim Edey – Guitar (on "An Fidleoir"; "Highlands / Red Crow"; "The Pigeon on the Gate / The Convenience / The Highlandman Who Kissed His Granny")
Production
- Manus Lunny – engineer
- Mairéad Ní Mhaonaig – producer
- Manus Lunny – producer
- Trond Engebresten – additional engineering (tracks 3 & 4)
- Ian McNulty – additional engineering
- O'Donnell – sleeve design, photography
- Colm Hogan – photography
- Anna Lethard – Nia photo
- Mairéad – Francie drawing
Release history
Release Date | Country |
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28 December 2008 | Gaoth Dobhair (Gweedore), County Donegal, Ireland (only available during the Frankie Kennedy Winter Music School )
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12 February 2009 | Worldwide (general release) |
Notes
- ^ Moon is the name of Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh's own label.
References
- ^ a b "Traditional – Imeall (review by Siobhan Long)". The Irish Times. 20 February 2009. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
- ^ a b "Imeall – Impressive debut solo offering from altan co-founder (review by Niall Stokes)". Hot Press. 27 February 2009. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
- ^ a b "Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh – Imeall (Moon1)". ukfolkmusic.co.uk. Archived from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
- ^ a b "Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh displays her "edge"". The Irish Echo (Oldest Irish American Newspaper in USA, established in 1928). 10 June 2009. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
- ^ a b "Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh's Imeall review". lastnightsfun.wordpress.com. 8 September 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
- ^ "Imeall (2009)". mairead.ie. 2009. Archived from the original on 2 March 2016. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
- ^ "Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh Official website / Store". Archived from the original on 10 April 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
- ^ "Sometimes someone understands!". Facebook. 8 September 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
- ^ "naiadeproductions.com / Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, Voix d'Irlande". Archived from the original on 13 January 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
- Dún Lúiche), Ireland
External links
- Official website – Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh
- Imeall – album pages