Of Soul and Spirit
(Shanachie 97012)
- Not Alone for Mighty Empire
- In The Bleak Mid-Winter
- Be Thou My Vision/Amazing Grace
- Be Still, My Soul
- Fairest Lord Jesus
- Bring a Torch, Jeannette Isabella
- Irish Meditation
(Down By the Sally Gardens/the South Wind) - Away in a Manger
- Let Us Break Bread Together
(On Our Knees)/Kumbaya - In Christ there is no East or West/This
is
My Father's World - Irish Meditation ll (Gile Mear)
- Of The Father's Love Begotten
- O, For A Thousand Tongues/Praise to the Lord
- Onward, Christian Soldiers
- Irish Meditation lll
(Carolan's Farewell to Music)
What People Are saying About Of Soul and Spirit
This CD is lovely, very Martin Simpsonesque, with altered tunings, grace notes and long ringing drones and suspensions everywhere...Stripped of their sacred or secular words, these hymns and Irish meditations are revealed as splendid melodies that have stood the test of time, given the space to breathe through some very sympathetic fingerpicked guitar...Tuneful, relaxing with intelligently chosen material and fine playing.
Folk Roots (UK) (Alan Murray)
An album perfect for the peaceful twilight time of the day, it's one of the only discs that contain transcriptions of spiritual music for solo guitar...McMeen conveys his love of this music with sure fingers and beautifully simple arrangements that let the music speak without any artist ego getting in the way...
Laser Disc Gazette
Of all the world's music, church hymns and New Age stylings probably interest me the least. Yet, unaccountably, this little disc of hymns and Irish meditations played divinely on acoustic guitar grabbed my attention. While it's not New Age per se, it's got that peaceful, relaxing feel. What a pleasant surprise.
Utne Reader
Anyone who can transform the tired old singalong
"Kum Ba Yah" into a moment of musical transcendence has a rare musical gift at his disposal...a 20-track acoustic journey through foggy Scottish highlands and mystical medieval towns, castles and cathedrals...Pick this one up and put it on on a cold, rainy afternoon when you need some inspiration.
Sound Views (Kevin Roe)
