Compelling and hypnotic, dark and haunting -- these are words repeatedly used to describe Elaine O'Rourke's debut CD, "No Beginning, No End."
Resonating with the spirit of her native Ireland, O’Rourke’s deceptively sweet and seductive voice and entrancing acoustic guitar style lure the listener to a mystical, ancient place. A tempting risk-taker, O’Rourke is an explorer who beckons you to wander, curious, beyond the expected, beyond the comfortable conventions of modern folk music.
No Beginning, No End marks O’Rourke’s recording debut, and it’s a strong one. Known to audiences in her adopted hometown of Gloucester, MA for her expressive live performances, O’Rourke assembled an impressive list of talent to get her unique musical vision down on tape. Co-produced by “Super Genius” singer/songwriter Michael Barry, No Beginning, No End features legendary English drummer (and Marblehead resident) David Mattacks on drums and keyboards. Mattacks, who has played with Richard Thompson, Rosanne Cash, and Mary Chapin Carpenter, says, “Mike, with whom I play in “Super Genius”, played some tracks for me, and I thought they were great. Elaine's music has a rare honesty – an authenticity. I very much enjoyed doing the record."
Joining Barry and Mattacks are Jim Lounsbury, Elaine’s frequent on-stage accompanist, who contributes standout violin passages, as well as piano, “Four Piece Suit” instrumentalists Dave Sholl and Milt Reder, playing Irish whistle and electric guitar, respectively, and “Whalebone Farmhouse” acoustic guitarist Rocky Kramm, who lends a nice touch to the CD’s closer, “Nighttime Shadows”. The record was mixed by Huck Bennert, who has mixed records for Lori McKenna, Carrie Rodriguez, Katie Curtis, and Dar Williams.
"She has a beautiful voice. The songs have wonderful lyrics and her voice is clear and resonant…the mood was very haunting and moody…I love that. She slipped easily from the Celtic folk sound to a more jazzy piece called 'Fly Baby Fly', to rock. The first time we played her CD in the store, two customers wanted to know who was singing.” -- Susan Emerson of Gloucester Music.
"She's just a fantastic spirit. Her vibe is going to sell her records. She's got a very unique style." -- Fly Amero of the band "Orleans".
"Ms. O’Rourke’s lovely and strategically deployed contralto is an integral addition to this versatile, largely folk-oriented collection of melodic ballads…There is a wistful, almost sentimental, quality to her voice which lends to even her most subtle tunes a timeless appeal…In a folk music marketplace glutted with sound-alikes and wannabes, this hauntingly original and remarkably assured debut CD is a keeper". -- Francis DiMenno, The Noise
No Beginning, No End is available at www.elaineorourke.com. Also visit her at www.myspace.com.elaineorourke
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