 | | Reviews | | |  CAPERCAILLIE
Choice Language
Vertical Records VRTCD006
Following last year's Live In Concert album, Capercaillie have opted to tread the loops and beats route with their latest studio recording. On first listen, the decision to edge further into an ambient, groove-driven territory seems arguably a dumbing-down manoevre for a band whose flights of innovation and inspired crossover collaborations place them in a high-originality bracket. A more focused session under headphones, however, reveals enough ear-dazzling, breath-catching moments to suspend judgement for the duration …
Instrumental hotspots include a set of funky 'sort-of slides' from assorted band members and Homer's Reel, an unmistakeable Michael McGoldrick heart-soarer that's worth the price of the album alone. On the song front, the sublime vocals of Karen Matheson enwrap songs old and new, with particular yearning on Nuair a chì thu caileag bhòidheach (When you see a pretty girl. Elsewhere, the band reprise their knack of imbuing the most ancient waulking song or puirt-a-beul (mouth music) with a sizzling upbeat modernity without compromising its lifeline to Scotland's dark and mysterious past.
This juror's still out on whether Choice Language will be on the player quite as much as, say, 1997's exceptional Beautiful Wasteland but it's still a Class A bona fide production from Team Capercaillie - and that's always worth having.
Mel McClellan - June 2003
Have you listened to the album? Want to submit a review of your own?
Fill in the form below and tell us what you think. Please mention the album's name.
 This is the first album by Capercaillie I've listened to, and it has me spellbound from the opening track to very last. Choice Language has been inserted into the cd-drive a small week ago and has not yet left it.
Vera, the Netherlands
| | | | | | |  |
| | |
|
|
Folk & Acoustic
