毫无疑问的,爱尔兰美声天后绝对是当今世界歌坛之中最具代表性的居尔特民谣女歌手。曾被美国当代民谣才女Nanci Griffith形容是“足以令全天下女歌手汗颜、地球上硕果仅存的无瑕歌声”,朵萝莉斯 Dolores Keane可以说是当之无愧。
出生于音乐世家的她,祖母Rita Keane以及姨妈Sarah Keane都是著名的塞尔特音乐演唱家,五岁即开始随家人登台献艺,经过多年的磨练与努力,『朵萝莉斯』在家乡爱尔兰可以说是无人不知、无人不晓。后来,朵萝莉斯 Dolores Keane随着丈夫John Faulkner还有专属乐团移居英国,并为BBC广播公司录制了许多电视配乐,期间她也与知名乐团The Chieftains合作发表了专辑〈Bonapart's Retreat〉,获得极大的回响。九零年代初期,朵萝莉斯 Dolores Keane离开所属的乐团,随即展开个人演唱生涯,在此她参与筹划录制畅销合辑〈女人心〉一、二集,亮眼的销售成绩,让朵萝莉斯 Dolores Keane成功地登上了国际舞台。如日中天的知名度也让她多次受邀与Mary Black、Emmylou Harris、Bruce Sringsteen、Jackson Browne、Bonnie Raitt以及Judy Collins等重量级艺人同台合作。英国著名的音乐杂志Q Magazine是这样形容朵萝莉斯 Dolores Keane的:“她的歌声就如同提琴音韵般的典雅艳丽”。
本片是朵萝莉斯 Dolores Keane继畅销大碟〈潮汐国度〉之后的最新力作,与上一张专辑不同之处在于,这是一张以人性观感为出发点的唱片,专辑中散发出浓厚的省思色彩,少了一些男女爱恋的深刻描述,却多了几分对于历史文化的批判。难忘绝美的和谐音律,伴随着爱尔兰传统演奏,真是让人魂牵梦萦、倾心不已。值得一提的是,这张专辑的制作人是由朵萝莉斯 Dolores Keane的先生兼经纪人John Faulkner来担任,身为创作群之一的他,在片中同样负责吉他弹奏的部份。
本片在乐器使用上也是一大特色,丰富多元的配器呈献,将整张专辑点缀得如星空般的灿烂,钢琴、曼陀铃、直笛、大提琴、低音提琴、以及打击乐器等等,可以说是应有尽有,透过乐手们绝伦精湛的演奏技巧,彻底地将居尔特民谣发挥得淋漓尽致。十二首优雅悦耳的作品,藉由『朵萝莉斯』宛若沧桑的吟唱,以及丝丝入扣的感性诠释,令闻者莫不动容。
如果您已经听腻了时下那些喧嚣媚俗的流行歌曲,想找一张可以净化您心灵内在的优质音乐,请您一定要听听看这张〈夜莺 Night Owl〉,因为它清新甜美的感觉,会帮助您释放出心中的烦杂与压力;如果您是个爱尔兰音乐的爱好者,那您更不能错漏收藏这张深具聆赏价值的居尔特音乐,它的淡柔高雅,一定让您爱不释手、百听不厌;而如果您是个爱玩音响的发烧友,那么我也绝对要跟您大力推荐这张唱片,因为它严谨细致的超高水平录音,不仅直达示范级数,真实自然的醇美音色,相信更是让许多唱片公司所望而心叹、难以超越的。不信的话,就请您来试试看吧!
by Rick Anderson
Like Ralph Stanley and June Tabor, Dolores Keane is one of those rare singers whose voices mellow and improve rather than weaken with age. Also like June Tabor (though not like Ralph Stanley), she has broadened her stylistic range and her performing repertoire in recent years, still focusing on the traditional music of her native Ireland but also exploring themes from other cultures and tunes by modern songwriters. Night Owl opens on a somber note, with a despairing song apparently about the Northern Irish Troubles, and the mood is scarcely lightened at any point thereafter; there is a gorgeous rendition of the mournful "Wind that Shakes the Barley," one lament, two back-to-back farewells, a lover's plea, a tale of mass martyrdom, and a song inspired by the street urchins of Sao Paolo. By all rights this should be a terribly depressing album. But Keane's singing is such a joy, and the instrumental accompaniment so well arranged and expertly played, that every moment is a pleasure, if a bittersweet one. This is one of those albums you'll find yourself giving to friends as gifts.