English Garden

The Morrigan : Hidden Agenda (UK,2002)***'
The Morrigan's evolution puzzled me sometimes, wondering if I should be disappointed by some details or not,
for the production is heading often towards a turbo boosted sound, a sound which can also be heard during a live concert sometimes but which seems to be trickery in a studio recorded CD.
This "dynamic approach" on the first track "Swallows Tail" makes that particular track sound unnecessarily "thick". Besides there are banal straight chords, and an emphasis on the jig/reel, a genre which I prefer not to be too doodling. These thick melodic layers makes the first listen difficult to fully appreciate.
The second track "In the End" is more in balance with the English progressive folk style which The Morrigan started so originally. The melodic element is skilfully played with electric guitars. "Volia / Basse Danse / Volia" recalls medieval England. It is nicely played with lots of flutes and hand percussion. The second part of it is a very good electric medieval folkrock interpretation from that same melody. The Irish ? traditional "South Australia" is easily appreciated for its more popular sounding folkrock. "A night to remember" is more folk rock inspired neo progressive rock, with full (live) show-effects, skilfully played, with the beautiful and unique voice of Cathy Alexander, with some additional male vocals, and some classical arrangements at the end, as a careful interwoven set of musical ideas. Track 6 and 8 are both reels finely interpreted like only The Morrigan do it. On "Joe Cooley's reel" it sounds even more rock oriented in interpretation. "The other" is The Morrigan in a balance
I like most : with equal voice and instrumentation, both as much interwoven in layers and with similar sound colours. What else could end this CD better than a farewell song, with simple arrangements. There I can say again : Oh, I do like Cathy's voice..
This latest release has much talent in evidence. The production is untypical for folk music, but is more likely for a neo progressive rock band. The Morrigan balances between the two genres, but still succeeds in creating its own particular place and (unique) sound.
From The Morrigan I still look back with admiration towards earlier works like
"Wreckers" ***° where all instrumental parts and beautiful vocals are in balance and with its full potential realised. Also the solo album from Colin Mason ***° has much qualities, both in guitar style as in the multi layered instrumental composition, as again for the nice vocals by Cathy Alexander. This work is a bit Mike Oldfield related.
Both other mentioned works are still good starters for The Morrigan and a recommended listen.