REVIEWS
From the other end of Canada comes the Vancouver sextet Shenanigan whose debut CD Mortal Daze features a straightforward collection of Irish-style jigs, reels, airs and polkas, coupled with new and old songs, from an ensemble built around fiddle, flute and tenor banjo. The four original songs on the disc are too mythology/fantasy-oriented for my tastes, but Clare Brett is a sweet voiced singer who does a fine job on trad material like "She Moved Through the Fair".
Tom Nelligan - Dirty Linen, February/March '02 #98
You can't go wrong with Mortal Daze, from Shenanigan. The melody instruments... are smoothly energetic, pushed along by guitar, bass and percussion. Clare Brett is a heart-breaking singer.. As for the band's weak points, well, I don't think I noticed any. This is a group to watch.
Green Man Review Full Review
There isn't a throwaway track to be found in nearly 90 minutes' of music. Mortal Daze is a keeper, and Shenanigan will hopefully be back in the studio soon to produce a sequel..
Tom Knapp, Rambles, Cultural Arts Magazine. Full Review
The music transcends a range of Celtic styles with echoes of Silly Wizard, De Dannan, Bullywee Band and The Bothy Band to name but a few. Shenanigan do, however, defy all attempts to pigeon-hole. The sound is all their own – great at first hearing – then it grows on you to the extent that I’ve played the album at least twice a day for the last four weeks. This is one of the best arranged and engineered folk albums I’ve heard in a long time..
Kevin FitzGerald, Durty Linen. Full Review
This is an album of outstanding beauty, both in its musical content and in the skills of the musicians....
Carrickfergus,
sung by Clare Brett, is so beautifully performed that for a moment I thought I had died and gone to heaven.....
Mortal Daze shouts - superb quality from the time you press the play button......
.... this is one album I will be playing over and over again..
The Editor Irish Bands Live UK Full Review
..... we are playing your CD on our Radio Shows here in Winnipeg. ......it is a fantastic CD.
Tom Jeffers. Prairie Ceihlidh Show
For a debut CD, "Mortal Daze" is a nice collection and well-put together...
No need to skip any tracks here, and with
17 tracks, it's almost an hour and a half in length, which is refreshing to see these days! It's a wonderful CD..
Kimberley, The Celtic Cafe Canada. Full Review
Well I am definitely not a expert, but I know what I like. If I were describing your group & CD to a friend, I would say that some extremely talented individuals got together and and formed a group called Shenanigan. And that their style on the old traditional ballads and songs are beautiful and refreshing. And I found two of the songs on their CD Mortal Daze The Long Road Home and The Dragon and the Phoenix to have became my favorites. The vocals on The Dragon and the Phoenix are so hauntingly beautiful as to be beyond description, and must be heard to be believed..
John Spreckelmeyer (On-line buyer)
For a debut CD, this release is good. The instrumentation shown by all of the members is strong. ....Mortal Daze combines both intense tunes and slower laments to fine effect..
Daniel Sanford, CanEHdian.com 2001 Full Review
One benefit of the CD being a decent length is the full range of the bands style are given a decent airing, here are included a reasonable scattering of Polkas, Airs, Reels, Tango's, Songs and Jigs. All performed well and with energy. Generally speaking its hard to find fault with this album, and plenty to find right with it....
Folk and Roots. Full Review