Deep Dead Blue

Deep Dead Blue

Written by Elvis Costello for the group, the title track is an intriguing, distinctive and intensely engaging piece. It has an eerie, almost icy undertone to the main solo melody, enhanced further by the chorus harmonies. At times a distant almost submerged feeling is created - a desolate, peculiar stillness and melancholy.

Nobilis Humilis

A personal favourite, dating from the Orkney islands in the 13th century, Nobilis is a haunting, solemn, and rather hypnotic piece. It features a few simple harmonies repeating - at first alternating between the male and female lines, which by the end have merged to create a truly magnificent sound with the soprano voices soaring high with effortless clarity up in the air. It leaves the listener soothed and exhilarated, drifting dreamily.

Dicant Nunc

Marvellously performed by just the guys of Anuna, Dicant is an extremely rhythmic piece, enhanced by the addition of percussion. A 12th century Latin Chant, the opening section is thunderous, demanding, thrilling and enticing. The piece then settles out, the voices soften slightly but it loses none of its edge, flair and relish.

Blackthorn

Based on 17th century text, Blackthorn is a dreamy, solemn and reflective piece. It features a beautiful, radiant and tender central soprano solo, with supporting chorus harmonies curling around it and is sung in both English and Irish Gaelic.

Kyrie

A simple, yet hugely effective piece and yet another exquisite example of a breath-taking soprano solo soaring high over beautiful rumbling chorus harmonies.

Ther is no Ros

A Superb arrangement and rendition of this well-known traditional English piece from the 15th century with a tenor and soprano duet featured for each of the verses.

The Green Laurel

Again a superb arrangement and adaptation of this traditional 17th century Irish piece. It features a similar set up to blackthorn with a charming and mellifluous central soprano solo, supported by delicate and uplifting harmonies from the chorus.

Island

Another personal favourite from the album. Opening with the eerie, glittering melody of a lone Irish harp and the soft lingering drone of the chorus it immediately creates an atmosphere of shimmering mystique. It features an evocative male solo, surrounded by a swirling mass of enticing chorus harmonies - creeping into and invading every nook and cranny of the piece. I can imagine the piece set at a sparkling twilight hour - the fading sunlight gleaming off the wet sand on the sea shore.

Sliabh Geal Gcua

Again, another splendid rendition of this traditional Irish piece.

The Fisher King

Definitely another favourite from this album, Fisher King is composed and performed beautifully by John McGlynn. The guitar featured in this piece definitely gives it a fresh and different feel to the other pieces, but at the same maintains the overall flow and mood of the cd. The tingling warmth of the guitar tones mingled with the cool ghostly and haunting choral sections, together with John's main solo make for a truly charming and magical combination. The song lyrics for this are especially delightful.

Quem Queritis

A magnificent arrangement and performance of a Latin text from 14th Century Ireland. A profound and intensely stirring piece, it alternates between the piercing, haunting clarity of the sopranos, and solemn serenity of the male chorus. It also features a exceptional and breath-taking alto solo by Miriam Blennerhassett

The Sea

A masterful composition. Featuring the stunning tones of golden flute in addition to the choir, it really is a startlingly beautiful piece of music and truly transports you. The melody and rhythm of the chorus harmonies rises and falls slowly and steadily and you can really feel the movement of the ocean in it. Again, the radiant serene tones of a soprano soar over the surface of the piece, echoed by the flute. At times the main chorus falls away to leave a lingering and dazzling union of soprano and flute, leaving you floating, drifting helplessly high up in the air. A truly liberating piece.

When I was In My Prime

A delightful arrangement set to an 18th century text ("Seeds Of Love") it features another gorgeous soprano solo, innocent and playful with a startling purity.

The songs in Deep Dead Blue are a mixture, including some traditional Irish, some sacred, and some original work. Anuna has a unique style, quite ethereal and a little other worldly. Their use of harmony is far from conventional, and seems to owe a little to Debussy as well as traditional Irish music. Each track seems to share in the harmonic style, but different moods are created in Sleabh Gael Gcua by leading with high female voices giving a very light feel, and The Fisher King, which is more male dominated and darker.

I found this CD very enjoyable to listen to, although I can imagine that it wouldn't suit all tastes. My particular favourite tracks were the title track, for its dissonances and for the male vocal, and Ther Is No Ros, because it's good to hear a new setting of the Christmas carol which I previously knew from settings by Benjamin Britten and John Joubert.