Celtic Origins

by Greg PratoDuring the early 21st century, it certainly appeared as though quite a few notable artists broke through with a sound that contained traditional Celtic sounds - especially the Irish Tenors, and of course, you'd have to include Riverdance. And the next in line appears to be Anuna -- a multi member Irish choral group, which has been issuing albums on a regular basis since the early '90s. Having already built a sizeable following in their homeland and performed alongside such admirers as Sting, Barry Manilow, Elvis Costello, the Chieftains, and Sinead O'Connor, the group issued Celtic Origins in 2007. An amalgam of both pop and classical music, the album is full of gentle melodies and soothing harmonies, as evidenced by such re-worked traditional tunes as "Siúil a Rúin" and "Pie Jesu". Additionally, there are also other tunes that mix traditional text with original music penned by band leader/founder Michael McGlynn -- including such standouts as "Santus", and the vocal-only showcase, "Dúlamán". Released in conjunction with Celtic Origins is a companion DVD of live performances, which was aired extensively on PBS. Rich in vocal talent and tradition, Celtic Origins has poised Anuna for their stateside breakthrough.