The MacLean Sisters
From Middleton, NS.
They may not be Cape Bretoners but I can't hold that against them.
However, their dad is a MacLean from Cape Breton. He's a retired minister,
United Baptist, and the girls themselves are former choir members.
Over the course of the last year, I'd been hearing rumours about a new
musical family act coming out of the Annaoplis Valley, the MacLean Sisters.
Not being very mobile, I couldn't get out of town to see them at any
event and missed the few which were in Halifax. Luckily a friend (Margo
Carruthers), who arranged performers for the Helen Creighton Folklore Festival, put them on
the bill of performers! Lucky Me!!!!
The week before, I happened to stop in to Sam the Record Man store on
Barrington St, and found copies of their debut CD, Captured Time. Well!
The reports I had heard were very accurate as to their capabilities.
Family harmonies, beautiful singing voices are some of the descriptions
given of their singing. They're comparable to the Rankin Family or the
Rankin Sisters in harmonies. Well executed singing style which is sort of
a blend of pop and folk. It's hard to explain. There are some elements of
both within their songs. There are ten of them on the CD, all except for
one written by Rachel. She penned the music for all of them.
The list of songs are:
Tattered Years
- VERY sorrowful, and hauntingly beautiful about a man missing
his wife, but with his daughter. My personal favourite of the lot.
Think of Me
- A sentimental song which is getting some airplay about a person
missing another who is far away. In this day and age of
travelling about, very apropos.
No Place I'd Rather Be
- A look at the place you are, where you'd be, and whether you'd
be comfortable elsewhere. Excellent imagery
She Waited By the Cove
- Maritime Standard of sailors going away, women waiting on shore
and tragedy. Very plaintive.
Little Girl
- Remembrances of lost youth.
Red, Red Rose - Robert Burns
- This is a new musical treatment of an old standard. Very good
tune I think. Definitely a keeper.
Sail Away
- Another maritime tradition, singing of the water and taking
others away. Very up-lifting.
Dance
- More modern type of song, a man and wife after a number of years
of marriage. Re-evaluating their commitment.
Lullaby
- Another of my favourites on this recording. This is a lullaby
which people will be humming along for a long time. Catch it!
Valley Home
- Another Pride of Home song, which is very personal and loving
That's what makes it so great. It fits many regions, including
a friend's home, Vermont.
The performance last Saturday at the Citadel in Halifax was excellent.
Accompanied only by a piano player, Jeff Hennesey, they wow'd the audience
with their vocal range and abilities. Starting with a standard, Roll On
from Fred Lavery, they presented a program of diverse and interesting
music. Lenny Gallant's song, This Old House, was the next they featured.
All Around My Hat got everyone involved, clapping in time with this
wonderfully rousing tune. By this time, the entire audience was totally in
their hands.
One of Rachel's songs from their CD, She Waited By the Cove, was the next
giving the audience a taste of the original work being done by modern
authors. This is very much in the tradition of Helen Creighton, who loved
these original works, when she and others realized just how important they
were becoming to the region. Sail Away, also from the CD, followed this,
which allowed the audience some recovery from the sadness of the previous
song.
A rousing song, Watching the Apples Grow, from Stan Rogers, brought them
right up to speed. Following this with the Robert Burns song, Red, Red
Rose, with music written by Rachel herself, brought tears to my eyes They
finished off their half hour with, Think of Me, the second cut from the
CD. This song has been seeing some airplay in the province.
This pair of young ladies from Middleton, NS, deserves more attention
from people everywhere who are interested in good music. If you want to
know more about them, contact :
RLM Productions - Len Hawley
P.O. Box 1569
Middleton, NS. B0S 1P0
(902)-825-2645
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