Canada:
"Lamond's voice is pure and clear, infused with a stream
of life experience
that gives character to every song. Like the peat and the
heather that gives
the highland water its flavour."
The Daily News
"Lamond remains the most innovative and exciting Celtic
artist. She continues to fuse the ancient language and its
beats with a modern interpretation that is all her own. The
group vocals and rhythms reflect the origins of the songs,
found in the daily rituals of women's work. Then, Lamond
adds just that bit of modern influence to make these tunes
alive in this day."
New Brunswick Reader
"In every culture there are those who preserve the
language, song and traditions. Mary Jane Lamond is one of
those people. This is evident in her most recent CD, Storas
(Gaelic meaning "a treasure"). This is exactly what our
traditions are...they are our treasures."
Celtic Connection
United States:
"Lamond’s interpretations are conscientious and articulate, giving each song its most lucid and truest expression. The arrangements are traditional and played on acoustic instruments, recorded with great attention to detail that result in an intimate mood." - Dirty Linen
"Storas flows with centuries-old tunes brought to life by Lamond’s soaring acoustic band and her masterful weaving of understood emotion layered through sparkling nuances. Lamond glides from milling songs to laments to jaunty dance numbers… all retain a glimmer of melancholy, resonating long after they’re over." - Illinois Entertainer
"She wraps traditional Gaelic songs in contemporary treatments, a veritable postmodern pastiche. - Sing Out Magazine
"Lamond’s use of modern instrumentation and arrangements
provides a beautiful framework for these treasures, but it
is her vocal performance and delivery that makes these
selections truly come. "
MusicTrax
"A marvelous collection of milling songs, laments, reels
and love airs. With text and tunes spanning more than three
centuries, its success is largely due to the varied
arrangements that surround Lamond’s warm, diction-delectable
voice."
JWR Reviews
"…it possesses a character all its own, and an
adventurous and engaging spirit."
Dirty Linen
United Kingdom:
"There’s life and emotion in all of these songs – and the
consistently tasteful arrangements ensure satisfying shifts
in both temp and mood. Instrumentally sparkling, the
recording captures a rich, traditional acoustic sound."
The Living Tradition
"Lamond’s haunting precious vocals, the focal point from
start to finish.."
PopMatters
Òrain Ghàidhlig
Canada:
" . . . a devoted and pure
love letter to the island’s storied settlers’ heritage".
Chronicle Herald
"Stirring and refreshingly
raw, this disc is clearly a labour of love ... the tradition
of the Cape Breton Gaels is in safe, compassionate hands ...
strips songs to their tender, moving, mournful, joyful.
Penguin Eggs
United States:
" . . . a completely
unmediated homage to the [Cape Breton] island’s traditional
music . . . this CD peels bacfk the layers of her previous
work and introduces her source material."
Maine Times
Làn Dùil
Canada:
"…another masterpiece of
Gaelic songs and traditional stylings like reels mixed with
various modern signatures. With guests like Cape Bretoners
Gordie Sampson and Ashley MacIsaac, Lamond again shows she’s
one of the country’s premier vocalists."
Chapters Online
"…exotic in its exploratory
melding of Inverness County tales, modern rhythms and live
playing. Lamond sings with zeal, keeping the Gaelic language
vibrant and current."
Toronto Star
"Lamond has become one of the
top Celtic traditional acts in Canada…"
The Guardian
"With the release of her third
CD Lamond continues her artful marrying of tradition and
experimentation."
The Monitor
"…there’s something about Mary
Jane…it must be her voice."
New Brunswick Reader
"Lamond’s new offering
enchants…"
Bridgetown Monitor
United States:
"There’s no question she’s one
of the finest Gaelic singers around today…"
Dirty Linen
"Lamond does a lovely job of
singing the Gaelic, clearly expressing the joy and sorrow of
these ancient songs."
Eugene Weekly
"…Lamond is a splendid
interpreter of challenging material."
Chicago Tribune
Suas e!
Canada:
". . impressive talent . . .
hypnotic rock arrangements . . . soaring voice . .
.rhythmically stirring whole . . "
Macleans
". . . astonishing and
uniquely moving collection . . . watch for Lamond to clean
up at next year’s nominations for Juno and East Coast Music
Awards."
Toronto Sun
"Her hypnotic, word-tumbling
style is a wicked delight, even if you don’t understand a
word."
Saturday Night
". . . a refreshing balance
between modern and ancient. . ."
The Globe & Mail
"Celtic and contemporary make
magical mix."
The Georgia Strait
"Suas e! is a delightful
listen . . . what the heck is in that Cape Breton water,
anyway?"
NOW Magazine
"I know in my heart that no
matter what I say about Mary Jane’s stunning second record,
Suas e! I won’t be able to do proper justice to her talent,
the creative production, or the feelings her music
engenders."
Chronicle Herald
"Aside from her wonderful
voice and different collection of songs, Lamond will
envelope you in an unknown world of spoken word that is at
the same time familiar and welcoming."
Pulse Niagara
United States:
"Mary Jane Lamond has one of
those angelic voices that makes her sound like a star in the
making."
Los Angeles Times
"The sultry Mary Jane Lamond .
. ."
Boston Globe
"the powerful vocal talent of
Mary Jane Lamond"
Frontiers Newsmagazine
". . . soothing vocals of Mary
Jane Lamond emits musical magic."
Virtually Alternative
". . .eerie Gaelic crooning. .
."
Heatstroke
"…she is one of the best women
performers singing today."
Irish Edition
"The lure here is almost
solely Lamond’s voice, an instrument of crystalline
perfection that infuses fresh life into this old, old
music."
Mountain Express
"…every song is full of the
harmony and emotion that makes them understandable even to
people who don’t speak Gaelic."
Friday Morning
"…her blend of traditional
Celtic with pop and funk is delicious and stirring."
Napra Review
"…luring the listener,
blissfully, unconscious, to the rocks."
SoundStone.com
"…incendiary sets startlingly
melded her teenage punk roots with her ancestral Cape Breton
ones."
What In The World
"…the band’s edgy, insistent
sound and Lamond’s soulful singing more than filled the
intimate Great American Music Hall."
The Gael
"Quite simply she is
extraordinary…"
Times Record
"…captivating Gaelic singer
with a sinewy pop and world-beat groove…"
Boston Globe
"She sings with a clarity and
honesty which demonstrate an innate understanding of this
timeless material."
The Herald
"…Lamond’s voice, an
instrument of crystalline perfection that infuses fresh life
into this old, old music…a latter-day Gaelic diva."
Mountain Express
"Lamond is among the leaders
of this movement."
Salt Lake Tribune
"The Record of the Month Award
has to go to Mary Jane Lamond…a star is born."
Seattle Rocket
United Kingdom:
" . . . this is a remarkable
beast . . . pushing into new waters so cleverly and
beautifully . . ."
FolkRoots
". . . moving and always
statuesque. . ."
The Guardian Review
". . .casts a spell over those
who hear her voice . . ."
Irish Post
". . . excellent track
selection, beautifully accompanied."
TOP
"An album of unexpected warmth
and variety…an album of the rarest kind, sounding both
authentically old and excitingly modern."
Mojo
"This CD marks an important
new high in the burgeoning ‘Celtic’ musical and cultural
revival…it’s a collection that will come as a surprise and a
delight to lovers of Gaelic song in Ireland and Britain."
Irish Music
Bho Thir Nan Craobh
"Strong, complex, beautiful
young voice…diction gorgeous, Gaelic exquisite to the ear."
Sing Out
"Mary Jane stunned traditional
music enthusiasts with her subtle, expert readings of Gaelic
folk songs on her debut album."
United Press Intl
"Mary Jane has great clarity
and an impressive command of Gaelic."
BBC
"… at once splendid and
haunting…"
The Scots Magazine
"Clear-voiced and passionate, Mary Jane conveys a solid
sense of the Gaelic culture."
The Cape Bretoner
"Every once in a while a voice
just grabs you. Mary Jane Lamond has one of those voices,
rich, low, and clear."
Yorkton This Week
Performance
"One doesn’t attend one of her performances and walk away
unaffected; she’s riveting."
The Brunswickan
"Seeing Mary Jane Lamond and
her crack band is a treasure, a life-time memory, an ‘I Was
There’ moment."
The Coast
"Celtic roots and a strong,
pure voice spell divadom for Mary Jane Lamond."
Toronto Life Fashion
"Celtic queen. If you want the
Gaelic goods, forget about Ashley and The Rankins, Mary Jane
Lamond’s who you’re looking for."
Daily News
". . . alternately soothing
and commanding performances .. ."
NOW Magazine
"She set a formidable
standard."
Celtic Connections
"Hypnotic, haunting and so
completely different."
Niagara Fall Review
"She has remarkable range and
power, and a wide array of emotions she easily projects in a
song."
The Star
"Canada goes gaga for Gaelic
girl...the riveting Mary Jane Lamond."
The Edmonton Sun
"Lamond is indeed a treasure."
Ottawa Citizen
"The glorious Gaelic vocals of
Mary Jane Lamond."
What! A magazine
"Outstanding vocalist."
Winnipeg Free Press
". . . immaculate vocals that
just send the listener into bliss . . her caressing voices
takes command. She illustrates why the human voice is
considered a noteworthy instrument."
San Jose Mercury News
". . . haunting vocals . . ."
Press-Telegram (CA)
" . . . ethereal female vocal
. . ."
Advocate (CA)
"Vocalist Mary Jane Lamond can
handle any material . . ."
Fantastic Voyage
"Lamond can certainly - and
does - reduce the stately Princess of Wales Theatre to a
community hall in the best sense of the word."
The Toronto Sun (Needfire)
"A rich and compelling,
capable voice."
Times Globe
"…exceptional talent…"
Ottawa Sun
"Effortlessly picking precise
notes from the air, Lamond enchants listeners."
Pulse Niagara
". . . impressive talent . . .
hypnotic rock arrangements . . .soaring voice . . .
rhythmically stirring whole . . ."
Maclean’s
"Seeing Mary Jane and her
crack band is a treasure, a life-time memory, an ‘I Was
There’ moment."
The Coast
"I know in my heart that no matter what I say about Mary Jane’s stunning second record, Suas e! I won’t be able to do proper justice to her talent, the creative production, or the feelings her music engenders." The Chronicle Herald
" . . astonishing and uniquely
moving collection . . ." Toronto Sun
"Hypnotic, haunting and so completely different." Niagara
Fall Review
"Celtic roots and a strong, pure voice spell divadom for
Mary Jane Lamond."
Toronto Life Fashion
"Watch for Lamond to clean up
at next year’s nominations for Juno and East Coast Music
Awards." Toronto Sun
"Impressively, her voice is able to create a full landscape
for songs without instrumentation."
FFWD
"Celtic queen. If you want the
Gaelic goods, forget about Ashley and The Rankins, Mary Jane
Lamond’s who you’re looking for." Daily News
". . . find a refreshing balance between modern and ancient
. . ."
The Globe & Mail
"Effortlessly picking precise
notes from the air, Lamond enchants listeners."
Niagara Weekly
"Her hypnotic, word-tumbling
style is a wicked delight, even if you don’t understand a
word."
Saturday Night
"Aside from her wonderful
voice and different collection of songs, Lamond will
envelope you in an unknown world of spoken word that is at
the same time familiar and welcoming."
Pulse Niagara
"Celtic and contemporary make
magical mix."
The Georgia Straight
". . . Lamond’s alternately soothing and commanding
performances."
NOW
