Search - Liz Carroll :: Lake Effect

The "New" Traditional music

Darin Kelly | Philadelphia, PA USA | 08/29/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Most casual listeners and even more seasoned enthusiasts of Traditional Irish music operate under the assumption, an altogether understandable one, that the catalog of Irish tunes is finite, and that every venerable melody heard in pubs and sessions across the globe is at least centuries old. In fact, the process of composing Irish tunes is an ongoing one. Many reels, jigs, and the like composed within the last half century have already entered the standard repertoire. If she hasn't done so already, Chicago fiddle icon Liz Carroll is sure to ultimately take her rightful place in the pantheon of music, not just by virtue of her stunning artistry as an instrumentalist, but as quite possibly today's leading composer of tunes. Her latest Green Linnet release, Lake Effect, is chock full of catchy melodies, rich harmonies, and dramatic texture. And though the disc brims forth with timeless elegance... surprise! All but 3 of the album's 28 tunes are newly composed by Carroll herself. Continuing the driving, rhythmic sound so well established by her last offering, Lost in the Loop, Carroll and her mates play with an infectious sense of energy and drama. Starting with her frequent collaborator (and here co-producer) guitarist John Doyle, Carroll has assembled a group of players who in every way complement her own playing, and who make it easy for Carroll to maintain her title as Greatest Living Irish-American Fiddler. Especially notable are the opening set, "The Rock Reel/Morning Dew/Reeling on the Box", which immediately sets the high energy tone with sassy flavoring enhanced with added percussion; "Oh Bedad/For the Love of Music", teeming with bubbling rhythm and startingly unexpected harmonies; and most enticingly with "Catherine Kellys/Lake Effect", featuring a guest turn by the Turtle Island String Quartet in a picture-perfect illustration of what a cross-disciplined collaboration should be. Down the road, it's hard to imagine if Liz Carroll will be revered more as a legendary fiddler or as a refreshingly creative composer of Traditional tunes. But if Lost in the Loop firmly established the former, Lake Effect is sure to make Traditional purists (read:anachronisms) sit up quicky and take notice of the latter."

Raises New Standards of Irish Fiddle Playing

shoutgrace | Charleston, WV United States | 06/27/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Liz Carroll's 'Lake Effect' is the CD to be had. It's a fine one at that. 'Lake Effect' has moved to a higher parallel from her last album 'Lost in the Loop.' 'Loop' that became a smash hit is another fine album to listen to. In other words, both are a superfine tour de force. Reason I say this is that both albums were named by Irish Echo as "Traditional Artist of the Year" in 2000 and 2001, respectively. Founding member of "Cherish the Ladies," the Chicago-born Carroll has on her own done well for herself on a more adventurous solo undertaking. After some hiatus, Carroll's comeback produced a more freedom and style and much deeper tone and dynamic slides that not to far from dazzling traditonal dance rhythms. The pitch and tempo are graceful and dead-on riveting. Those who accompany Carroll are Solas guitarist John Doyle and Galway's own accordion player Máirtín O'Connor and Turtle Island String Quartet. Carroll does a stunning work-of-art of new mastering on an old tradition. 'Lake Effect' is sure to take Irish music by storm. This is a must own for those who appreciate a little different from the traditional to a new standard of Irish fiddle music."

Bland Liz

J. TIMMERMAN | Lawson, NSW Australia | 04/21/2005

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Liz Carroll is a wonderful fiddler and a generally fine composer of Celtic tunes, but I don't think she's at her best on this album. There's just something missing here, it's all rather bland, with each track sounding pretty much the same as the next. If you want more variety, my suggestion is to leave this one, perhaps try her "Lost In The Loop" album. I think it's much better. Or for very creative other modern day Celtic fiddling, try Catriona MacDonald "Bold" or Eileen Ivers' earlier albums (before she got a bit too rocky)."