This is a review of Maeve Gilchrist Trio's album Reaching Me.
If you don't pay attention on the exact sound color, you could think it's a guitar. No way, it's a harp. It seems anything that can be played with a guitar, Maeve Gilchrist can play with her harp. That big, clumsy thing is now turned into a nimble and lithe device. Her voice is dark and her vocal interpretation is strong, building contrast for the bright harp sound. Andres Rotmistrovsky's bass adds musical ideas and goes low at moments to see the size of your speakers. Marcelo Woloski's percussions play light, airy and colorful. Some guest instruments appear, but not prominently.

The music moves around jazz, Celtic and Latin styles in a vivid mood most of the time. It's rich in details and the more you concentrate in listening, the more you enjoy it. Indeed, the harp, the vocals and the bass adds up to three melodic instruments. The sound quality is very good.

Rattling Roaring Willy is a traditional song where a remarkable speed of vocal output is needed. The song has an exaggerated momentum supported by the vigorously walking bass pattern at moments. Try to find Gustav Holz' Second Suite for Military Band in F, listen to Fantasia on the Dargason; anything to do with Willy?

The mood of Nightcrawlers, despite of its name, is not spooky, just excited and stealthy. This instrumental tune contains Maeve's instrumental vocals, too: no lyrics, no leading part, but supporting the musical secret foray. Absolutely fun piece to listen.

Follow The Heron Home is a gently swaying waltz with a lovely melody. The song that I first heard in the radio and had to find out, who is making this music. A guest accordion does the job usually appointed to a synth: humming softly at the background.

Marni Swanson Of The Grey Coast surprises with an obvious Lapland influence, I can't get rid of this idea. Where did Andy Thorburn get his inspiration. Whatever, it's one of my favorites. During the intro some low harp strings can be heard, a deep, soft sound different from the bass. A guest piano solo is naturally blended in the musical tapestry. This tune is followed by a rapid improvisational Morning.

Choro is a fast, instrumental tune. It seems even Maeve's skills may have some limits. I feel the edge of her beat is not perfectly crisp at moments. This said, I have never heard anybody else even trying this tune with a harp.Fortunately, this is hardly perceivable and does not hurt the joyously speeding tune.

She Moved Through The Fair is a different song in this collection. It must be understood through the lyrics rather than the music. Maeve strongly underlines the ominous aspect of the song. If your dead love comes to your dreams forecasting wedding in the near offing, it's not just good news.

Maeve's voice is warm and beautiful most of the time. However, sometimes her low tones turn gloomy. Beware of those tones. And sometimes the gloomy color is useful, when dealing with deceased lover's ghosts.

Would I change anything on this album. Well, the total playing time around 45 minutes could be longer. And yet, She Moved Through The Fair is a bit strange member in this company. Or perhaps, the change of mood from Twin Thing just is a bit too abrupt. To make this clear: there is nothing to change in She Moved, it's a strikingly strong expression as is. It's just how to fit it in with its surroundings. However, any criticism I have written about is not worth reducing the five stars. Most important is that the music has soul and heart and a good dose of fire in it.

This review was written during March...May 2007. The album was released 2006 .

That's how it goes sometimes: I heard Follow The Heron Home in the BBC Radio Scotland, had to see the play list, found Maeve Gilchrist's name, did some Google work, found her Myspace, played four songs and recorded them at once. On the third day I was still playing them, so I decided to purchase the album. No bad decision at all: I love it. Go to Cdbaby to hear samples and read reviews by other people. Some day, hopefully, they will have it in stock and you can get one in your possession. It seems I have got a rare item.

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This page set is about my paintings. Most of the text is in Finnish language, but ... just enjoy the pictures!
Risto Latva

Catalog of pages (a bit rough, but in English)

Start of the Paintings  (in Finnish)