Reviewed by Gareth Hills

Celtic music albums are often thought of as being the province of petrol station bargain bins, and it is fair to say that through myriad new-age fads (like many styles which lend themselves to reflection and meditation), it has been heavily commercialised over the years. It was a pleasant surprise then when I gave 'Heartcry', the first disc of this trilogy boxset, a spin, to discover musicians and songwriters who take Celtic music as seriously as it deserves to be. Husband and wife duo, Nick and Anita Haigh, have penned a fantastic collection of pieces exploring Celtic spirituality, which express "a fervent desire to encounter Christ in the ordinariness of everyday life". There is little that hasn't been covered by the individual reviews for the albums, which can also be found on this site, but when listening to the albums as a triptych, you can spot the growth, both in terms songwriting and arrangement as the albums progress. The first track of 'Homecoming' the second album has a confidence - not to mention a sublime vocal arrangement - that goes beyond what was expressed on the first album, and likewise, the third album feels the most mature and assured. Truly an ambitious project, and one which has not only succeeded, but grown with time, matching, perhaps the "journey through life's changing seasons" which Nick & Anita set out to capture.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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