BARRY MC CABE: The Peace Within (European Import)

Barry Mc Cabe

The Peace Within (European Import)

© 2004 Barry Mc Cabe (634479115004)

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Barry Mc Cabe and Davy Spillane bring you "Celtic Blues" from Ireland. Davy has played with Van Morrison, Chris Rea, Bryan Adams and is the uilleann pipe player seen in RIVERDANCE.

notes

Because the music on this CD is 'somewhat' different than the live CDs - mixing Celtic music and blues together for the first time - it's probably a very good idea to listen to ALL THE SONGS. You'll get a MUCH BETTER idea of the CD by doing so.

The amazing Davy Spillane plays on seven songs (more than half the CD). So if you are a Davy fan then this CD is a must for your collection!
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Irish music is a wave that has broken on many shores, and has left its mark on many musical traditions. Resilient, adaptable and above all indurable, nowhere is this more obvious than in the music of Barry Mc Cabe.

After recording three live CD's with his group Albatross (recorded in Sweden, France and Norway respectively) this is in essence a debut album for Barry Mc Cabe. "The Peace Within" is the work of Barry Mc Cabe and the exceptionally talented uilleann pipe player Davy Spillane, the Sony Music recording artist who is world renowned from his appearance in RIVERDANCE.

Using their Irish heritage, and incorporating Barry's love of the blues, both he and Davy have managed to interweave Irish traditional music with the blues into a totally new and invigorating musical sound that could probably best be described as "CELTIC BLUES".

This exciting new collaboration takes all that is best from both the Irish traditional music and the blues and makes them ready for the 21st century. Their version of the Peter Green song "Oh Well" fully illustrates both the diversity and the power of these two musical collaborators and of these two musical styles, and will have Leprechauns reelin' and rockin' all over the world.

By mixing Irish traditional music with blues and rock in this unique way, Barry Mc Cabe and Davy Spillane have allowed this music form to once again adapt itself, from the kitchen floors and dance-halls of Ireland, to the international rock stadiums and a new age.

REVIEWS - REVIEWS - REVIEWS

www.bluesrockers.ws/bmcreview.html Review by Tom Branson

Barry Mc Cabe: The Peace Within

Writing a review of "The Peace Within" from Irish blues/rocker Barry McCabe has proven to be a difficult task. It has been difficult because I have struggled to find the proper words to adequately describe this work to you, and I only hope that this review does it justice. Like the tremendous "The Wilderness Years" CD from T.W. Henderson, this recording from McCabe stands uniquely apart from the mass of material that I review. It is neither a glorious display of some musician's extreme manual dexterity nor an exhibition of the mass production skills of some large record industry conglomerate.

It is rather a work of art, the brainchild of McCabe in conjunction with the reknown uilleann pipe player Davy Spillane. It is a marriage of Irish folk music and blues/rock, fused into a conceptual recording of sorts.

Though at first the partners in this marriage may appear a bit odd, their offspring is a beautiful child I have heard called "Celtic Blues". But these two forms of music are not alien one to the other. My regular readers know that I consider blues to be a specific form of folk music and the joining of it with Irish blues is a natural union, as well as being a stroke of genius on McCabe's part.

The material here varies from acoustic, Irish folk music punctuated by Spillane's marvelous pipes to blistering, guitar driven blues/rock. Though the majority of the songs are Barry McCabe originals, the set does include some well chosen covers, including Peter Green's "Oh Well", which is one of the highlights of the recording. The CD contains a short but powerfully beautiful Rory Gallagher tribute "The Emigrant", which is an acoustic guitar/uilleann pipe masterpiece. This great diversity of material makes this an impossible recording to categorize, but why does it matter? If you are looking for loud guitar based blues/rock to keep you awake late at night while driving along some narrow country road, look somewhere else. But, if you recall a day when recordings were made with purpose and with great love, then chances are you will enjoy this remarkable work.

My favorites here include the aforementioned "The Emigrant", the title track which is an electric slide laced blues/rock track and some of McCabe's finest lyrics, McCabe and company's thunderous cover of "Oh Well", and "One Of These Days", another example of McCabe's outstanding gift of song writing.

The blues/rock tunes are first rate, and the acoustic guitar/uilleann pipe tracks are absolutely a thing of beauty, as is this recording in general.
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Reviewer: Robert from Utah, USA
I was really surprised when I heard the Peace for the first time. Spillane, the master, is rockin'. This really sounds more like his time with Moving Hearts than some of his latter stuff. I like it! This has real kick to it. I don't know if it was himself, or the band he's playing with, who is responsible for this. Some of Davy's playing here, especially on the blues stuff, is unbelievable. He has improved so much since "Landsdowne Blues" on Atlantic Bridge.

reviews

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  • author: Reinhold Scheidler

    There is not much to say about the music of Barry. I'm still waiting to get the chance to see him live but it does'nt stop me to love his music. I'm a big fan.

  • Another gem of a cd.
    author: Paul Howard

    Another gem of a cd. All this & Davy Spillane too. I was drawn to this by the inclusion of 'Pick a bale of Cotton' a number I used to do in my days as the singer (under a different name!)in a rock 'n' roll group (late 50's/early 60's). To my delight the arrangement was almost identical, bringing back happy memories! As for the album as a whole, it's all very must-have. A classic in the making.

  • Davy spillane is great on this....
    author: Talbert St. Claire

    I know Davy, personally. I have had many conversations with Davy. His influence on me as a "New Age" Low Whistle player has been enormous. I came across his music some years ago in the 90's. He told me that doing this album with Barry was very interesting. Barry's playing was exceptional to say the least! As I listened to Davy's Low Whistle playing on this cd I can remember him telling me always to focus when you play, but more importantly, have something to say when you play. His word's always ring through me when I hear his music! Track 5 is the best playing ever! His new agey bluesy style really comes across well and Barry's guitar is so hypnotic along with Davy's Whistle! I am not crazy about the overall album only because I do not care to much for the rock influences. But, the blues here has a real beauty to it that comes across wonderfully! I would say that it is a must for real blues fans!!!

  • Great mix of Celtic and Rock
    author: Rolf Lanig

    I`ve never heard such a terrific version of those well-known songs such as Oh Well, One Of These Days etc. A great mix of traditional Celtic Music and Rock Music.Very recommendable. The Germans say Absolute Spitze.

  • author: Ray Cadorette

    Awsome cd! Looking forward to seeing Barry in person in Ireland at the Rory Gallagher Tribute Festival.

  • Awesome.
    author: A.Ludmerer

    Great disc. Very original. Great playing and Tones.......more Blues than Celtic. Rory would be very proud............

  • Intriguing (and excellent) mix of Celtic and blues
    author: blackfire

    This is a wonderful CD for anyone who likes Celtic music and blues. I never though of the two together but here you go...and the combination is worth the funny look people give you when you say Celtic blues. The blues is real down home rocky blues, and the Celtic is heart-pounding. Both mixed...you get I don't know what but it is good.

  • Loved it- am listening right now!
    author: Felicity

    Quality of CD is fabulous and the speed to which it came to me was awesome. Great company, thank you for being here. I am always on the lookout for hard to find CD's and will check back with you frequently.

  • Beautiful Genre Blending
    author: Richard Amery Kenora Daily Miner and News

    Ireland’s answer to George Thorogood and Jeff Healey, Barry McCabe has has taken the unique step of blending traditional Celtic music and the blues. And while we’re blending genres, why not add a little rapping as well? Done and done on Pick a Bale of Cotton. The Peace Within is a must hear, if only to hear how he and piper Davy Spillane jump genres. Basically guitarist/ vocalist McCabe and Spilane trade solos. It is brilliant. A mournful pipe intro perhaps recorded with with the ghost of unsung guitar god Rory Gallagher in mind who passed on just before the CD was recorded, sets a captivating tone for the entire CD. Pipes add ambience to a number of haunting tunes and come to the fore in a couple of solos, especially on a stunning version of Fleetwood Mack guitarist Peter Green’s Oh Well. It is sweet. The Jeff Healey and George Thorogood influence prevail on the rest of the CD especially on McCabe’s scorching slide powered anti-war anthem The Peace Within, featuring an ear-catching Memphis style riff. It’ll make you think and possibly cry. Very cool.

  • Very unique!
    author: bluesman

    I have been listening to this cd now for awhile and want to say that it is now one of my favs. You might not get everything the first time you listen to it. It's a 'grower', but in my opinion well worth the wait. I have everything that Davy Spillane has ever played on and he sounds very focused here. The blues he plays here is better than on his own Atlantic Bridge cd, probably because he's playing with a blues man. I hope they release another cd like this soon.

  • author: groenewegen

    The sound of guitar and uilleann pipes is special on the CD The Peace within. The tracks The Emigrant in memory for the great Rory Gallagher,Nobody's hero and Oh Well writen by the great Peter Green are good, the rest is less.

  • Here's what happens when great musicians make great music.
    author: Russell Shaddox

    Superb and refreshing work from a very talented guitarist, songwriter and vocalist. The diverse music weaves together the rocking blues of Rory, Stevie Ray, or the Allmans, with the electro-trad infusion of Horslips and Moving Hearts, and a bit of the spare, atmospheric quality of late-70's Clannad. Barry McCabe is an excellent songwriter with a deft touch for heartfelt lyrics. The production is excellent -- lots of range and a crisp sound, yet with an unmistakable onstage quality. The musicianship -- precise yet intense -- makes it clear these guys are a blast to see live. Davy Spillane is a pleasure to hear as always, and obviously knows what musicians are worth hanging out with.

  • This CD is the ultimate mix of Celtic and Blues.
    author: Elizabeth Reed

    Two totally different musical genres come together to create another dimension. The melancholy heart wrenching Celtic refrains weave their magic around hard driving, soulful, down and dirty blues. The result is definitely musical genius. Unforgettable.

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