• New Life From Ruins, 2003
• Creator of the Tides, 2002
• The Land I Call My Home, 2001
• Caim: Sung prayers in the Celtic tradition, 1999

New Life From Ruins, 2003 Clunie Music

This CD is a blend of Celtic Christian and Buddhist contemplative music. I have serious concerns about this mix. Christianity and Buddhism are two very different religions, and by trying to mix them they are true to neither. As a Christian it bothers me that they try to mix the truth of the Word of God with the false teachings of Buddhism. I think rather it is degrading and insinuates that what we believe is not important. The Bible presents absolute truth, and we ought to stand for that truth in the music we listen to.

Musically, the blend of styles of Celtic Christian and Zen Buddhism seems to wander aimlessly. It relies heavily on the bamboo flute which I don't care for personally. The CD loses most of it's Celtic feel when it abandons the traditional Celtic instruments for the bamboo flute. The CD still has a bit of a Celtic flavor, but as they tried to blend Christianity with Buddhism and Celtic music with the Zen Buddhist style, the Christian and Celtic influences were all but lost completely.

This recording can be purchased at Clunie Music.

--Melany Williams for CelticChristianTunes.com

EDITOR'S NOTE: While the reviewer makes some valid points in the review above, I would like to provide an alternate viewpoint. I found that musically, the flute mixed very well with Caim's distinctive vocal style. While I share her concerns with this recording's attempt to blend philosophies, the readings contained in the album would probably be considered fairly tame by most Christians. While they hint at an almost Gaian viewpoint on nature, they don't quite go all the way. Most tracks in fact are not really a blend, but rather two separate philosophies sharing space on the same disc--some tracks being Christian, others not. Nonetheless, it is probably enough to make conservative Christians uncomfortable. --Cory C. Engel

Creator of the Tides, 2002 Clunie Music

Caim's newest recording, while not departing from the tone of their previous album under the name Caim, has produced a work that is in improvement musically. Like Sung Prayers, Creator of the Tides is a collection of musical images, this time with a theme of the sea.

Though the musicians are not novices, this recording sounds more rehearsed and precise than their last two offerings.

Two tracks from the album, "Bride's Song and Story" and "Ag Criost an Siol & Seal Story" contain both enchanting melodies and haunting tales. The first is a story of three young orphans who ride a coracle on the outgoing tide at night; the second is a story of a selkie, a seal person who is torn between her existence as a seal and her human family. (Those unfamiliar with this mythical creature may learn more about them--and be entertained at the same time--by viewing the feature film The Secret of Roan Inish.) "Seal Story" is written and hauntingly told by David Adam.

I found one track in particular, "Laoidh Mara", a pure joy to listen to. Accompanied solely by piano, this tune, "A Hymn of the Sea", is just that. A rough translation:

It was God who built and launched on the vast ocean our boat
It was kind God who gave us every treasure from Mary's store

Oh Father of the great waves carry us to the shelter fo your haven
Oh Son of the stars give us guidance in your sun and in your moon
Oh Spirit of the wind fill our lives with your strength
Oh saintly Trinity of the power, victories and virtues

The only elements that detract from this recording for me are two or three songs which include didgeridoo and Arabian influences. Neither of these suit my tastes, but I suspect many Celtic listeners would have a different opinion. Overall, it is well worth a listen.

This recording can be sampled at Clunie Music.

--Cory C. Engel, CelticChristianTunes.com

The Land I Call My Home, 2001 Innes & Hamill

The full title of this recording is The Land I Call My Home: Scottish & Irish Folk, and appropriately so, for the title may refer to the recording's folk music from both Scotland and Ireland, or from the "Scottish and Irish folk" who performed it. Heather Innes and Jacynth Hamill published this work under their real names rather than the group name "Caim". It reflects their respective roots.

Though the vocal style is unmistakable, there is an audible contrast between this recording and the artists' first, Caim. These folk tunes have a much more traditional structure and feel, and with a few exceptions, do not have the spiritual emphasis that Caim carries. Two-thirds of the CD's 18 tracks are traditional tunes, including "The Highland Widow's Lament", "Bonnie Glenshee", and "Aililiu na Gamhna".

Innes' and Hamill's smooth vocals are rounded out by musicians Ciaran Dorris and Derek Richardson, who lend whistles, small pipes, mandola, mandocello, bodhran, and guitar to the set.

This lovely recording can be sampled at Clunie Music.

--Cory C. Engel, CelticChristianTunes.com

Caim: Sung prayers in the Celtic tradition, 1999 Innes, Hamill, Hannigan & Tomkins

Caim is the name adopted by the duo of Heather Innes of Scotland and Jacynth Hamill of Northern Ireland. Caim, the recording, is an assembly of 22 sung prayers, some traditional, others written by Rev David Adam of Lindisfarne. They are set to music both ancient and modern, all of which are performed in a unique vocal style. Innes' and Hamill's voices form a suitable smooth blend, often in unison, for this collection of offerings to God.

Listeners should note that this recording is very aptly named. Several tracks are better described as "prayers" than "songs" in the sense to which modern ears have become accustomed. Each prayer is set to music and has a poetry all its own. The tracks written by David Adam give me the impression that they are substantially unchanged from the original writings, which were published in book form and were apparently intended to be read rather than sung. As a result, I suspect that Caim has, whether intentionally or not, provided a recording that is less contemporary, and more a reflection of bardic traditions.

In the liner notes, Adam writes: "'Caim' expresses the encircling of God. Words and Music seek to make us aware of the presense and the enfolding of His love. Each item seeks to rejoice in the abiding presense and the deep peace of God." The first prayer, the artists' flagship track "Caim", sets the tone for the recording, and foreshadows a later familiar prayer, "St. Patrick's Breastplate":

Circle me Lord, Keep protection near and danger afar
Circle me Lord, Keep hope within, keep doubt without
Circle me Lord, Keep light within and darkness afar
Circle me Lord, Keep peach within, keep evil out.

About half of the prayers in this collection are set to traditional tunes. One traditional track, "Christ Child's Lullaby", contains not only the familiar tune, but a lovely spoken telling of how the tune came to the Isles. It is a story of reconciliation that I'll let you hear for yourself, rather than quote here.

I encourage you to listen to this CD. While its unusual style may not appeal to all, I found the prayers to be inspiring and meditative. Clips may be found at Clunie Music.