Reviews
Leirmheasan | Reviews
4 Star Album Review: Joy Dunlop – Dusgadh/ Awakening
The Scotsman – By Norman Chalmers
Sradag Records SRM001
4 ****
Dancer, actor, broadcaster, Gaelic activist, teacher, journalist and choral conductor – this talented, ambitious young woman from Connel, near Oban, has found time to record and release a first “solo” album of Gaelic songs.
Nearly all from the tradition, and instrumentally arranged with admirable skill, taste and restraint, they showcase her high, clear, expressive vocals over thoughtful piano/guitar/bass with guest strings and percussion in a richly rewarding album.
Download this: Taighean Geala
*****
Album of the Month – The Scots Magazine
The Scots Magazine – July 2010
By Alasdair Maclean
Sradag Records SRM001
Dùsgadh (Awakening) is the debut release from Joy Dunlop, a power in the Gaelic arena, as a singer, lecturer, journalist, TV actor and even dancer. I feel oddly humbled about even opening my mouth abut such a paragon, and i can’t help thinking that some might feel that after such hype, any performance, no matter how good, must be a let-down. Well hard luck on the greetin’ faces, it isn’t: Joy tackles everything with assurance, confidence and elegance, backed up by a group of musicians of consumate skill. Gaelic learners will be heartened to find bilingual lyrics. Definitely one for everybody with even the slightest interest in the music of the Gael.
*****
Penguin Eggs Magazine Review
By Tim Readman
Dùsgadh (Awakening)
Joy Dunlop – Sradag Music
“I first heard Joy Dunlop perform at Celtic Colours festival in Cape Breton and loved it. She is a well respected singer and teacher of the Gaelic language, and in this collection of traditional Gaelic pieces she showcases her marvelous singing and wonderful ear for a good arrangement. The songs are given varied and interesting contemporary settings, hinting at all sorts of musical influences, without ever spoiling the purity of her vocals. Her delivery of the tragic ballads proves that music transcends language, as the intense feelings come across loud and clear, irrespective of the native language of the listener. On the more upbeat songs, the sprightly rhythmicity of her delivery is captivating and a true source of delight. Joy Dunlop has created an unassuming masterpiece which will get right through to the core of your soul. It’s hard to believe this is her debut recording.”
*****
Fatea Magazine Review
Joy Dunlop
Album:Dusgadh / Awakening
Label:Sradag Music
“When songs are performed in a language you are unfamiliar the ability of the voice to carry emotion and texture becomes paramount. Without that tonal quality it’s too easy for an album to become one dimensional, regardless of how beautiful the voice is. Gaelic presents additional challenges, particularly when sung by women as the language has become typecast as ‘generic fantasy’ by so many film and program makers. Fortunately Joy Dunlop avoids the pitfalls, “Dusgadh Awakening” is an album that is delivered with a real passion, real heart and spirit.”
*****
Joy Dunlop- Dùsgadh (Awakening) Album Review
By Lori Gordan
Joy Dunlop has been a strong advocate of the Gaelic language, both as a teacher and as a performer. Those roles continue on her debut release Dùsgadh (Awakening). Sung in Gaelic, with liner notes in Gaelic and English, Dùsgadh offers listeners a guided foray into the world of traditional Gaelic song.
Though the material is traditional, the delivery is fresh and vibrant, reminding the listener that this is indeed a living language. Sultry jazz grooves, string crescendos, luscious piano and even step dancing layer behind Joy’s crystalline voice. While the puirt a beul and upbeat songs are performed brilliantly, Joy’s real strength is in the songs of love and tragedy. Her voice beautifully transports us deep inside each story. We feel every nuance of love, wistfulness, despair and grief.
The standout song for me is the closing track, “Thig Am Bata”, a take on the Two Sisters tale. It is heartbreakingly poignant and left me breathless. I found it to be the perfect conclusion to this album.
Joy Dunlop’s Dùsgadh (Awakening) is an amazing debut that promises even greater things to come.
*****
Folk Radio UK Feature- Joy Dunlop – Dùsgadh Album Review & Interview
By Mike Wilson
Read the full length feature at Folk Radio UK
Joy Dunlop emerges from the Gaelic culture in which she has been immersed throughout her life to present her debut album, Dùsgadh (Awakening). Born and bred in the Argyll village of Connel, and educated at the Scottish Gaelic College, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Joy boasts an understanding of the Gaelic language and culture that is both instinctive and scholarly. Having spent her early years winning much acclaim at local Fèisean and Mòds, Joy has shown her appreciation to the Gaelic community with a commitment that has seen her involved in the teaching of both Gaelic language and song, bringing her youthful energy and zeal to the promotion and development of Gaelic culture, both at home and overseas…
…Particularly noticeable are the classy violin and viola arrangements performed by Patsy Reid, who deploys her classically trained sensibilities to stunning effect, lending a real depth and ensuring that the Dùsgadh stands out from the usual trad/folk sounds of the day. Joy’s brother, Andrew, adds piano and harp, and was instrumental in assisting Joy with some of the arrangements on Dùsgadh, demonstrated to particularly stunning effect on “Nochd Gun Chadal,” where the crystalline tones of Joy’s beautiful voice combine with Andrew’s gracious and elegant piano….The mix of styles certainly shines strongly throughout Dùsgadh, with Joy’s Gaelic song sounding equally at ease whether in more familiar surroundings, or being teased across sultry lounge-jazz arrangements, as on “Taighean Geala.”
…And in describing her culture, Joy also manages to describe the very personal qualities that she herself brings with Dùsgadh: a vibrant collection of material that showcases the spirit of a thriving, young generation who embrace their Gaelic culture with big hearts and open minds.
*****
The bright young folk Album Review
By Mike Hough
Dùsgadh (“Awakening”) is the debut album from Joy Dunlop. As befits the Gaelic development officer in Bute, Argyll and the Islands for The Gaelic Association, the lyrics for are performed entirely in that language.
The sparse instrumental accompaniments on the album are well judged as they allow Dunlop’s pure and powerful vocals to really shine through. The music is highly evocative, spiriting the listener away to the wild coastline and mountains of the islands that inspired it.
As a non-Gaelic speaking listener, I found it difficult to relate to the tales in these songs using the translated lyrics in the cover notes. A great strength of the album, however is that this doesn’t really matter – the vocals as music are clear, emotionally charged and allow the imagination free rein. From the strong opening of ‘Nach truagh leat mi ‘s tu ‘n’ Eirinn’ to the beautiful ‘Thig am bata’, this is an excellent piece of work throughout, and a fascinating introduction to traditional Gaelic music.
*****
FolkWorld CD Review
By Folk World CD
“Scots Gaelic singer Joy Dunlop is from the village of Connel in Argyll. Involved with Gaelic culture from an early age, she became a popular language teacher and a most promising performer of Gaelic balladry. She already recorded two songs on Scottish Harp player Rachel Hair’s “The Lucky Smile”. Now Joy’s debut album “Dùsgadh” offers 12 more tracks, featuring violin and viola player Patsy Reid and other guests. Joy’s awakening is introduced with “Nach Truagh Leat Mi ’s Tu ‘n Eirinn” (Pity You and I Were Not in Ireland), a bittersweet love song from the 1940s which I heard before from Christine Primrose. “A Mhairead nan cuiread” (O Wily Margaret) is a traditional waulking song. Even in this more merry genre Joy keeps a gentle pace, and I can’t escape a melancholic feel. However, next comes a set of Gaelic mouth music (puirt a beul), starting with a drunken Christmas night and finishing off with “Meal do Bhrogan” (Praise Your Shoes). It is jazzy and swinging at first, but then the hounds are loose. There’s more rather unfamiliar material, sourced from the Isle of Barra (”Oran na bantraich” – The Widow’s Song) up to Cape Breton (”Bithibh aotrom ’s togaibh fonn” – Be Merry and Raise a Tune). “Hi Horo ’s na Horo Eile” is a love song that goes with different tunes, I recall a version by Margaret Bennett.. “Thig am Bata” (The Boat Will Come) is a well-known murder tale. Joy has clear bright vocals, and she’s very good in carrying the emotion of each story, be it passion or pain. Entirely sung in Gaelic, the sleeve notes include lyrics, translations and background notes.”
*****
About Joy Dunlop
“Remember Joy Dunlop from the Royal National Mod? Her Gaelic singing was exquisite.”
BBC Shropshire
*****
“Joy Dunlop has a voice that will enthrall ANYONE! Yes…she is THAT good!”
IRFT Celtic Music Radio
*****
“Tha Joy Dunlop a’ cosnadh cliù dhi fhèin mar shàr sheinneadair Gàidhlig – Joy Dunlop is making a name for herself as a great Gaelic singer”
An Gàidheal Ùr
*****
“Joy Dunlop, was cited as an example of the benefits which the Mod can bring. She has developed into such an accomplished speaker that she has been put forward this year as one of the adjudicators for today’s competitions.”
The Scotsman
*****
“I am more enchanted by her voice every time that i hear her. A truly natural and wonderful talent”
ACG Manchester
*****
Press Articles
Joy Dunlop, the Golden Gael – Newsnet Scotland
Joy Dunlop–Gheibheadh i bonn òir son comasan còmhraidh – The Scotsman (Gaelic)
Joy Dunlop–A Powerful Marriage of Beautiful Tunes and Emotive Language – Folk Radio UK
In the Spotlight Interview – Gaelic Arts Portal (English)
In the Spotlight Interview – Gaelic Arts Portal (Gaelic)
Going Gaelic – Open to the World
Scottish Gaelic Speaker Coming to Cape Breton – The Chronicle Herald
*****
