Celtic Raven CD Reviews

An album to stir the soul

‘ CELTIC  RAVEN ’ ... by Raven Lamont Rated:   * * * * ... Don’t miss it
HARPRESS Raven Lamont  titles her debut album after one of her favorite songs ‘ Raven in the Storm ’.

“The raven is the seer watching over an endless time,” she says. “Born to fly free, soaring over the beautiful earth, she cleans the bones of the ancient past in order to re-create anew, the never ending cycle of life”.

The voice - the harp - takes flight and thus weaves the raven’s song. Raven’s harp and strong, pure voice - take flight on `Celtic Raven’. 

Fourteen tracks of traditional and not-so-traditional Irish folk songs showcase her considerable talent and adroit finger work beautifully.

From the stirring harmonies of the opening `Bedlam Boys’, the sweet soulfulness of such unaccompanied tunes as `Velvet Waters’ to the quietly magical and hypnotic pace of Mary Trup’s pagan anthem `Weave & Mend’, this is Celtic music at its finest, unadorned by complicated over production, allowed to speak in its true raw form.

Standout tracks include the earthy and evocative `Raven in the Storm’ and a rendition of the Sting song `Fields of Gold’ that delivers a powerful and bittersweet emotional pull; as she sings...     “You’ll forget the sun in his jealous sky, as we walk in fields of gold” you will feel shivers run down your spine.

Lamont’s music speaks of lives changing, of precious moments come and gone, of the intrinsic link between past and the future.  With `Celtic Raven’ she has given us an album to stir the soul.

Tracey Jackson... Bay of Plenty Times, New Zealand

MUSIC REVIEW

Feed Your Soul ... Rainbow News ...  

Celtic Raven ...   by   Raven Lamont is one of those folk-styled albums you just have to hear for yourselves.

This ex-Tauranga (now resides in Brisbane), Singer/Harpress has a distinctive and natural quality that thankfully has been recorded and produced by Peter Hodge of 4 Winds Recordings.

There is something raw and yet elemental about these recordings (some were captured while Raven was in concert) and may well deserve the comparison made between her and Enya as far as multi-layering of her strong vocal voice on such tracks as my favorite `A Women’s Heart’. No musical instrument is needed to accompany this uplifting tune, and I could imagine this being a great sing-along anthem at any healing gathering.

There are stories to be shared here on such tracks as the almost `Stairway to Heaven’ inspired piece `Raven in the Storm’, and `Burning Times’, a powerful tale of spiritual women of old who have been put to the fires for being marked as witches.

Her Celtic pedigree has stood her well, also in the local community having performed for a wide cross-section of the community, as well as playing support to Dame Melvina Major. 

Review by Anne Hayes... Illustrator, Designer, Visual Artist ...

Raven has a very light touch on the instrument and conveys a feeling of being in a dream-like state with her music. There is a strong celtic/Irish sound running through all the tracks on the CD. Listen for the lovely accompaniment by flute and other instruments which all work together beautifully with the harp.

The songs are soulful, yearning and sad, yet softly sung by Raven. She sings with feeling and emotion. This is a CD to set the mood for relaxing, sitting in a comfy chair and enjoying a glass of wine with someone special.