First Breeze

Appreciation of Celtic music spans the globe, and here's proof. Howling Wind is based in Raa, Helsingborg, Sweden, yet, by the shamrocks on their album cover, they hold Irish music dear to their hearts. This debut gives an distinctive Scandinavian take on the genre: "Jacobites By Name" shows their Swedish influence when the J in Jacobites becomes pronounced like a Y. It's an understandable regional difference, though, not a distraction. Listeners will become accustomed to the inflections, and it makes Howling Wind's versions more uniquely their own. They give an enjoyable performance of "I Wish I Was in England," and much of their work is equally gentle, lilting, and agreeable to the ear. On the other hand, they admit in their album notes that their version of "Whiskey in the Jar" is "raw," and the harshness of this performance is the one discordant place on the album. Still, it's the exception, not the rule. While they do a pleasant job on their traditional favorite selections like "Carrickfergus" and the wryly humorous "Lanigan's Ball," some of their more interesting songs are the more unusual ones they choose, like "The Missing Link (Between 40 and 65)." It's the tale of a middle-aged man up against hard times in the Depression, when he seeks work and finds only "young men wanted, that's all you hear today." "Only Our Rivers Run Free" is a lament written by Michael McConnell, for a land without freedom; and they do a melodious and soulful arrangement of it, too. "Donegal Danny" is a moving ballad that tells the tale of a fisherman who swears off sailing after a raging storm sinks his craft, and all his friends drown, trying to reach shore. Anyone who has fought the elements can empathize. So Howling Wind brings their audience lyrics that stir the emotions, as well as ear pleasing tunes. In all, it's an engaging debut, and one that adds its own international interpretation to Celtic music.