O'r Mabinogi
Named after the Celtic goddess of inspiration, the duo of Renée Gray and Andrew Fryer that is Ceredwen debuts with a CD that is at once energetic, introspective, and ethereal. Inspired by themabinogior oral stories passed down from ancient Celtic tribes, Ceredwen interestingly mesh the modern sounds of keyboards, drum machines, and heavily processed vocals with piano, pennywhistle, and percussion to bring forth a unique, rhythmic brand of Celtic music. Gray sings in Welsh, which gives the songs a timeless flavor, though on some tunes ("Fel Yr Eira" or "Like the Snow") the heavy effects detract from her pretty voice. There are also a few songs that take a little too long in getting going, but overall the album will well please fans of Enigma or modern Celtic music.--Karen Karleski