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Rating:
Loreena at the start was already a mature artist. Anyone approaching this debut album thinking they are dealing with a work (reasonably) flawed by inexperience is mistaken, and how mistaken they are! "Elemental," dated 1985, is the result of a week spent in southern Ontario, on a farm surrounded by sunflower fields, with a barn converted into a recording studio. And "Elemental" is indeed a product of the environment in which it was created: it is bare but alive, essential but intimate, homogeneous yet light and dreamy.
Since homogeneity is the main characteristic of the album, given the presence of few and simple instruments such as harp, accordion, guitar, and cello, discussing all the tracks in detail would be pointless and heavy. This little gem should be considered globally in its sparse and direct traditional character without too many frills. We can still mention the lively and cheerful "Blacksmith," a pure display of graceful and lively folk, and "Stolen Child," which presents a greater coordination in orchestrating the few available instruments and a pronounced sense for pathos (although here it can be measured drop by drop) which remains hidden under the veil of simplicity and immediacy.
"She Moved Through the Fair" is a classic, but so bare and singular that it stands out solemnly among all the other tracks on the CD: solely and exclusively Loreena standing amidst the birds' songs with her blemish-free voice; this track is a small and invaluable picture of idyllic grace. The absence of instruments helps give a serene and crystalline air to this lost corner of paradise that I will never tire of visiting.
Other noteworthy episodes are "Carrighfergus," where we see (hear) Cedric Smith in the role of singer, and the lullaby "Lullaby," where the sweet and creamy atmosphere is occasionally interrupted by the thunder of an impending storm, creating a significant contrast of emotions. "Kellswater," on the other hand, absorbs the listener in a fresh shower of cheerful and springlike notes that almost verge on the immediacy of pop; what simplicity of instrumentation does in this album!
You can say what you want, but I, despite my musical ignorance, have heard few debuts as mature and promising in their simplicity.
Loreena at the start was already a mature artist. All she needed was a train and an Alhambra to visit...
Tracklist Lyrics and Samples
01 Blacksmith (03:21)
A blacksmith courted me
Nine months and better
He fairly won my heart
Wrote me a letter
With his hammer in his hand
He looked quite clever
And if I was with my love
I'd live forever.
But where is my love gone
With his cheeks like roses
And his good black billycock on
Decked round with primroses
I'm afraid the scorching sun
Will shine and burn his beauty
And if I was with my love
I'd do my duty.
Strange news is coming to town
Strange news is carried
Strange news flies up and down
That my love is married.
I wish them both much joy
Though they can't hear me
And may God reward him well
For the slighting of me.
Don't you remember when
You lay beside me
And you said you'd marry me
And not deny me
If I said I'd marry you
It was only for to try you
So bring your witness love
And I'll not deny you.
No witness have I none
Save God Almighty
And may he reward you well
For the slighting of me
Her lips grew pale and wan
It made her poor heart tremble
To think she loved a one
And he proved deceitful.
A blacksmith courted me
Nine months and better
He fairly won my heart
Wrote me a letter
With his hammer in his hand
He looked quite clever
And if I was with my love
I'd live forever.
02 She Moved Through the Fair (04:05)
My love said to me
My mother won't mind
And me father won't slight you
For your lack of kind
Then she stepped away from me
And this she did say,
"It will not be long, love
Till our wedding day"
She stepped away from me
And she moved through the fair
And fondly I watched her
Move here and move there
And she went her way homeward
With one star awake
As the swans in the evening
Move over the lake
The people were saying
No two e'er were wed
But one has a sorrow
That never was said
And she smiled as she passed me
With her goods and her gear
And that was the last
That I saw of my dear.
I dreamed it last night
That my true love came in
So softly she entered
Her feet made no din
she came close beside me
And this she did say,
"It will not be long, love
Till our wedding day."
03 Stolen Child (05:07)
Where dips the rocky highland
Of Sleuth Wood in the lake
There lies a leafy island
Where flapping herons wake
The drowsy water-rats
There we've hid our fairy vats
Full of berries
And of reddest stolen cherries.
Chorus:
Come away, oh human child
To the waters and the wild
With a fairy hand in hand
For the world's more full of weeping
Than you can understand.
Where the wave of moonlight glosses
The dim grey sands with light
By far off furthest Rosses
We foot it all the night
Weaving olden dances
Mingling hands and mingling glances
Till the moon has taken flight
To and fro we leap
And chase the frothy bubbles
While the world is full of troubles
And is anxious in its sleep.
Chorus
Where the wandering water gushes
From the hills above Glen-Car
In pools among the rushes
That scarce could bathe a star
We seek for slumbering trout
And whispering in their ears
Give them unquiet dreams
Leaning softly out
From ferns that drop their tears
Over the young streams.
Chorus
Away with us he's going
The solemn-eyed
He'll hear no more the lowing
Of the calves on the warm hillside
Or the kettle on the hob
Sing peace into his breast
Or see the brown mice bob
Round and round the oatmeal chest.
For he comes, the human child
To the waters and the wild
With a fairy hand in hand
For the world's more full of weeping
Than you can understand.
04 The Lark in the Clear Air (02:07)
Dear thoughts are in my mind
And my soul soars enchanted
As I hear the sweet lark sing
In the clear air of the day.
For a tender beaming smile
To my hope has been granted
And tomorrow she shall hear
All my fond heart would say.
I shall tell her all my love
And my soul's adoration
And I think she will hear me
And will not say nay.
It is this that gives my soul
All its joyous elation
As I hear the sweet lark sing
In the clear air of the day.
05 Carrighfergus (03:27)
I wish I was in Carrighfergus,
Only for nights in Ballygrant
I would swim over the deepest ocean,
Only for nights in Ballygrant.
But the sea is wide, and I can't get over.
And neither have I wings to fly,
Or if I could find me a handsome boatsman
To ferry me over to my love and die.
Now in Kilkenny, it is reported,
They've marble stones there as black as ink
With gold and silver I would transport her
But I'll sing no more now, till I get a drink.
I'm drunk today, but then I'm seldom sober.
A handsome rover from town to town.
Ah, but I am sick now, my days are over,
Come all you young lads and lay me down.
I wish I was in Carrighfergus,
Only for nights in Ballygran.
06 Kellswater (05:17)
Here's a health to you bonny Kellswater
Where you get all the pleasures of life
Where you get all the fishing and fowling
And a bonny wee lass for your wife.
Oh it's down where yon waters run muddy
I'm afraid they will never run clear
And it's when I begin for to study
My mind is on him that's not here.
And it's this one and that one may court him
But if any one gets him but me
It's early and late I will curse them
The parting lovely Willie from me.
Oh a father he calls on his daughter
Two choices I'll give unto thee
Would you rather see Willie's ship a sailing
See him hung like a dog on yonder tree.
Oh father, dear father, I love him
I can no longer bide it from thee
Through an acre of fire I would travel
Along with the lovely Willie to be.
Oh hard was the heartbreak I'm finding
She took from her full heart's delight
May the chains of old Ireland come find them
And softly their pillows at night.
Oh yonder there's a ship on the ocean
And she does not know which way to steer
From the east and the west she's a-blowing
She reminds me of the charms of my dear.
Oh it's yonder my Willie will be coming
He said he'd be here in the spring
And it's down by yon green shades I'll meet him
And among wild roses we'll sing.
For a gold ring be placed on my finger
Saying love bear this in your mind
If ever I sail from old Ireland
You'll mind I'll not leave you behind.
Here's a health to you bonny Kellswater
Where you get all the pleasures of life
Where you get all the fishing and fowling
And a bonny wee lass for your wife.
07 Banks of Claudy (05:37)
As I walked out one morning
All in the month of May
Down by a flowery garden
I carelessly did stray
I overheard a young maid
In sorrow did complain,
All for her absent lover
Who plows the raging main.
I boldly stepped up to her
And put her in surprise.
I know she did not know me
I being in disguise.
I says, "Me charming creature,
My joy, my hearts delight,
How far have you to travel
This dark and dreary night?"
"I'm in search of a faithless young man.
Johnny is his name.
And along the Banks of Claudy
I'm told be does remain."
"This is the Banks of Claudy
Fair maid where on you stand.
But don't depend on Johnny
For he's a false young man.
Oh don't depend on Johnny
For he'll not meet you here.
But tarry with me in yon green woods
No danger need you fear
Oh it's six long weeks or better
Since Johnny left the shore
He's crossing the wild ocean
Where the foam and the billows roar
He's crossing the wild ocean
For honour and for fame.
But this I've beard, the ship was wrecked
All on the coast of Spain."
Oh it's when she heard this dreadful news
She flew into despair
By the wringing of her milk white hands
And the tearing of her hair.
Saying "If Johnny he is drowned
No man on earth I'll take,
But through lonesome groves and valleys
I'll wander for his sake."
Oh it's when he saw her loyalty
No longer could he stand
He flew into her arms saying
"Betsy I'm the man."
"Saying Betsy I'm the young man
The cause of all your pain
But since we've met on Claudy Banks
We'll never part again."
08 Come by the Hills (03:04)
Come by the hills to the land where fancy is free
And stand where the peaks meet the sky and the rocks reach the sea
Where the rivers run clear and the bracken is gold in the sun
And cares of tomorrow must wait till this day is done.
Come by the hills to the land where life is a song
And sing while the birds fill the air with their joy all day long
Where the trees sway in time, and even the wind sings in tune
And cares of tomorrow must wait till this day is done.
Come by the hills to the land where legend remains
Where stories of old stir the heart and may yet come again
Where the past has been lost and the future is still to be won
And cares of tomorrow must wait till the day is done.
Come by the hills to the land where fancy is free
And stand where the peaks meet the sky and the rocks reach the sea
Where the rivers run clear and the bracken is gold in the sun
And cares of tomorrow must wait till this day is done.
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