Songs from the Heart
is the fifth offering from the
Celtic Woman
quintet. With some alternating membership, it sticks close to producer and arranger
David Downes
' (of Riverdance fame) vision/formula: these women sing contemporary and traditional Celtic songs and well-known standards backed by a choir, Celtic folk instruments (bodhran, fiddle, Uilleann pipes, and bagpipes), a full backing band, and an orchestra.
Lisa Kelly
does a tender reading of of
Sting
's
"Fields of Gold,"
as an opener, while the entire group participates in an overblown version of "Amazing Grace," complete with bagpipes. There is a lovely version of the traditional ballad
"Nil Se'n La"
once more sung by the quintet with killer bodhran playing by
Ray Fean
. The song selection here is somewhat more eclectic than on previous albums, as evidenced by a complex, spit-shined, and polished take on the
Phil Collins
-penned
Disney
tune
"You'll Be in My Heart"
for an
Alex Sharpe
solo, the British Isles standard
"My Lagan Love,"
and even
Dvorak
"Non C'e Piu."
[A version of the album with two live tracks was released in 2010.] ~ Thom Jurek