Search - Waterboys :: Universal Hall

Simply beautiful!

Matthew J. Harris | 06/24/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Universal Hall is almost the complete musical antithesis to the last Waterboys CD (Rock in a weary land). Where 'Weary Land' was mostly angry, electric, dramatic and sometimes sounding like it was "recorded in Hell", "Hall" is gentle, melodic and positive (the track "seek the light" is the musical exception, but the message still fits with the rest of this CD).Universal Hall finds Mike Scott at peace, and in the same Findhorn environment which brought the muscially similar "Bring 'Em All In". However, where that disk contained questions and cries for help ("Columba heal my back heart", "what do you want me to do?" etc.), Universal Hall provides answers.The beauty of Mike's words and melodies is found in standouts like "The Christ in You", "Every Breath is Yours", and the sublime "Peace of Iona". Also, the return of Steve Wickham is magical - he has never sounded better, and his tune "Dance at the Crossroads" would not be out of place if heard in The Green Dragon in Bywater!As always, the sound of the Waterboys has progressed - this is not "Fisherman's Blues", or "This Is the Sea", but it is equally fabulous."

Pure Magic

jbstar2 | 12/16/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Mike Scott (guitars, Vocal , Richard Niaff (keys) and Steve Wickham (fiddle) have been together just 3 or so years (Scott is the Waterboys with whomever he wishes to work with) and this is the first waterboys album to feature all 3. Magnificient. A truly remarkeable record, where Scott manages to reveal his soul bare and write songs to inspire and move. Written out of a unique profound faith, he twists and restles with his love for faith. Universal Hall the title track is a dreamy story of sending light upon people and land. The track takes its name from a Spiritual santuary for all believers in Northern Scotland. It is a hall in the Findhorn Foundations centre at Findhorn Bay a place where Scott calls his Spiritual home and the place where the record was recorded. The music is intricate yet very simple, and always uplifting. I find it hard to imagine any listener comming away after a listen feeling anything but joy.
One other point. This is a group that must be experienced live, seek them out, you will not regret it."

To those on a similar spiritual journey...

Richard Magee | Abingdon, Maryland USA | 04/24/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"... this cd helps light the way. If you follow Mike Scott into his love of CS Lewis, Eileen Caddy, and the spritual journey ("Been a long way to the Light" as he sang on a previous album," this CD makes perfect sense. Many of the songs are mantras/meditations accompanied by ethereal fiddle playing which, along with the words, lift the listener who is open to epiphany. As for the "oooeeooo" which seemed to bother reviewer Jim so much, I believe this is an example of using sound (as in "OM," to produce spiritual and physical efeects in the singer and listener. Having read numerous books on the subject of the healing power of music, I have to say this is the most uplifting, comforting, invigorating cd in my collection. I love a Waterboys rock-out as much as the next fan, but this collection of songs is extra special. Not music to dance to, so much as music to connect to God with. Definately not for those who eschew the spiritual side of music, but an absolute treat for those of us who do. Mike Scott has been far truer to his religious muse than Dylan or Van Morrison, who after a brief burst of spiritual creativity seem to have returned to other, more secular interests. Also, while Morriosn and Dylan spent a couple years playing only the new spiritual material, Mike Scott has mixed the new with the old in his live shows. Following a UNIVERSAL HALL song with "The Pan WIthin" or "I Know She's in the Building" show that Mike Scott hasn't abandoned his past work, only added to it, and that he sees that the scared and the physically passionate are not mutually exclusive."