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| Putumayo World Music Presents: Celtic Crossroads |
Putumayo presents a new collection of Celtic music, returning to a genre that has
generated some of the label’s best-selling titles. Celtic Crossroads provides a
glimpse of exciting new directions in music from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France
and Eastern Canada.
The roots of contemporary Celtic culture stretch back thousands of years. Modern
Celtic music maintains a deep connection to this distant past, with many of today’
s Celtic musicians combining haunting medieval melodies, rustic folk songs and
traditional Gaelic lyrics with electronic beats, rock, reggae and other modern
elements. Indeed, this juxtaposition of past and present, tradition and modernity
has helped keep Celtic music thriving and relevant to new generations.
In the 1990s, Celtic music experienced a worldwide surge in popularity thanks to
Enya, Loreena McKennitt, Clannad and others who updated traditional Celtic
music. As the songs on Celtic Crossroads reveal, inventive artists have created a
second wave of boundary-crossing music that appeals to fans of both traditional
and popular music.
Celtic Crossroads features the enchanting voice of Sinèad O’Connor, the
controversial pop star who recently returned to her traditional Irish music roots,
and Emer Kenny, whose wistful voice and atmospheric style have earned her
comparisons to Enya and Björk. Young up-and-coming vocalists Cara Dillon from
Ireland and Welsh discovery Gwenno also contribute captivating performances.
Virtuoso musicians such as Ireland’s wooden flute master Michael McGoldrick,
Cape Breton violinist extraordinaire Ashley MacIsaac (in a duet with fellow
Canadian Mary Jane Lamond) and gifted accordionist Mick McAuley, a
member of leading Celtic band Solas, are all featured on Celtic Crossroads.
The collection also highlights cutting-edge bands like Scotland’s Capercaillie,
Peatbog Faeries and Keltik Elektrik, all of whom have stretched the boundaries
of traditional Celtic music and helped it cross over to more mainstream audiences.
Veteran Breton harpist Alan Stivell shows that even old-timers can be innovators,
as he blends hip-hop beats and turntablism with ancient Celtic melodies.
generated some of the label’s best-selling titles. Celtic Crossroads provides a
glimpse of exciting new directions in music from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France
and Eastern Canada.
The roots of contemporary Celtic culture stretch back thousands of years. Modern
Celtic music maintains a deep connection to this distant past, with many of today’
s Celtic musicians combining haunting medieval melodies, rustic folk songs and
traditional Gaelic lyrics with electronic beats, rock, reggae and other modern
elements. Indeed, this juxtaposition of past and present, tradition and modernity
has helped keep Celtic music thriving and relevant to new generations.
In the 1990s, Celtic music experienced a worldwide surge in popularity thanks to
Enya, Loreena McKennitt, Clannad and others who updated traditional Celtic
music. As the songs on Celtic Crossroads reveal, inventive artists have created a
second wave of boundary-crossing music that appeals to fans of both traditional
and popular music.
Celtic Crossroads features the enchanting voice of Sinèad O’Connor, the
controversial pop star who recently returned to her traditional Irish music roots,
and Emer Kenny, whose wistful voice and atmospheric style have earned her
comparisons to Enya and Björk. Young up-and-coming vocalists Cara Dillon from
Ireland and Welsh discovery Gwenno also contribute captivating performances.
Virtuoso musicians such as Ireland’s wooden flute master Michael McGoldrick,
Cape Breton violinist extraordinaire Ashley MacIsaac (in a duet with fellow
Canadian Mary Jane Lamond) and gifted accordionist Mick McAuley, a
member of leading Celtic band Solas, are all featured on Celtic Crossroads.
The collection also highlights cutting-edge bands like Scotland’s Capercaillie,
Peatbog Faeries and Keltik Elektrik, all of whom have stretched the boundaries
of traditional Celtic music and helped it cross over to more mainstream audiences.
Veteran Breton harpist Alan Stivell shows that even old-timers can be innovators,
as he blends hip-hop beats and turntablism with ancient Celtic melodies.