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Lovers of Celtic music will find much to adore in Raven's appropriately (if not creatively) named A Christmas Album. This cheery CD embraces twelve tracks; eight are ancient holiday pieces, five of which are well-familiar, and four are creative originals that fit naturally with the rest. Raven consists of four marvelous musicians: Rob Barrick (bass guitar, bagpipes, shuttle pipes, percussion), Laurie Byers (vocals, guitars), Thom Dudley (vocals, guitars), and Dan Compton (violin, guitar, button accordion). The music has a gentle purity, but also possesses a genuine and robust quality that often makes it difficult to sit motionless while listening.

The Raven casts a graceful wing over each piece. The album opens with the sweet simplicity of "Christ Child Lullabye;" Byers' lilting (and uplifting) voice immediately grabs the listeners' attention at the start, then moves fluidly through some of the warmest harmonies (with Dudley) in memory. Gorgeous. Of the original numbers, I particularly liked Dudley's "Winter Song #2," a moody ballad with lovely lyrics ("Blow, north wind, blow / over my soul") that won me over the first time I heard it.

A Christmas Album is more than just sweet singing and mournful ballads. It has several first-class instrumentals, including the bagpipes droning "O Come All Ye Faithful" and a razor-sharp "Dans Plinn-Rince Nollag." There's some kickin' fiddlin' going on, too, and celebratory songs (like "Parting Glass & Christmas Eve") to warm the heart on a frigid December night.

My favorite track? It has to be the magical "Coventry Carol," with the muffled (almost spooky) bells as a lead-in, and Byers' crystalline, a cappella vocal providing the rest. Perfection.

Aye, this Christmas Album be a fine, fine holiday offering indeed. Draw close, pull up a stool, have a fresh mug o' mead, and listen closely for the Raven.

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2005)

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From the liner notes:

Musicians:
Rob Barrick, Laurie Byers, Dan Compton, Thom Dudley

Mastered by MO at Super Digital
Recorded at Barbarrick Studio, Portland, Oregon
Engineer: Rob Barrick

All tracks arranged by Raven (2002).
Tracks 2, 5 & 9 by Thom Dudley (2002).
Track 3, Rince Nollag by Dan Compton (2002).

From the Web site:

Rob Barrick (bass guitar, bagpipes, shuttle pipes, percussion) is: A versatile musician drawing from a traditional Celtic background, Rob played with the City of Victoria Pipe Band (who recorded two albums and three times placed in the top six in the World Pipe Band Championships). A founding member of Full Shilling (the Celtic fusion quartet whose guest artists have included Johnny Cunningham and Kevin Burke), Rob is also featured on the groundbreaking Highland Dance music CD, "Strictly Time."

Laurie Byers (vocals, guitars) is: With years of experience in American folk, Laurie is an accomplished singer who has performed solo and backup in coffeehouses, pubs, and venues from Washington to New Jersey. Her love of Celtic music can be traced to her Scottish roots (her father played the highland bagpipes). Also a visual artist, she illustrated the cover of the first CD.

Dan Compton (violin, guitar, button accordion) is: Dan has composed music for film and theatre as well as performed and recorded with numerous Celtic and folk groups in the Northwest. He has published a book of fiddle tunes which feature styles from Ireland, Quebec and Appalachia. Dan also has a Masters Degree in classical guitar.

Thom Dudley (vocals, guitars) is: A long-time player in the Northwest Celtic music scene, Thom has also performed elsewhere in the U.S., as well as Scotland and Ireland. A prolific songwriter and accomplished instrumentalist, he has enriched many Raven performances (as well as these recordings) with his original compositions.

Raven

A Christmas Album

Artist link

Track List