Jim Kirkwood Twilight of the Celts Play: Lo-Fi   Mid-Fi   Hi-Fi   Download: Lo-Fi   Mid-Fi   Hi-Fi (Excerpt from track 'A Cauldron of Tears')

This album was one of the last Jim did under his own name and I don't think it has ever had an official release before though I do know he sent it to at least a couple of his fans before his long break.

The sound of sea birds and monks chanting are an appropriate beginning for a track called 'Iona'. Next time I go there I will have this playing on the walkman as it captures the peaceful beauty of the place magnificently. Personally some rather amazing coincidences happened to me there so this track has special meaning. 'Cuchulian' is the first of two twenty minuters on the album. We get straight into a very forceful and incredibly fast sequence. The rhythm is also very energetic providing a framework around which a number of fantastic lead lines soar. Air keyboard playing is compulsory and stopping your head nodding to the rhythm in close to impossible. This is all very intense stuff. At six minutes the tension is increased still further as a new optimistic melody is added and the sequences continue to drive the track forwards at break neck pace. Things then calm down to pastoral backing but only for a few seconds before we are careering over the hills yet again, which takes us to the short second part of the track called 'Exile to the Ninth wave'. Its full of misty atmospheric sounds but then we get back into exciting rhythmic form with high register lead lines burning over the top as we begin the final section 'Bhean Sidhe'. There are some superb melodies here, the sort that stick in the head . A signal can be heard from a distant hill then we get sawed string sounds as 'The Gates of Annwn' gets under way. The track chugs along at a stately pace as the lead line weaves round a twangy sequence and a relaxed loping rhythm.

Its all rather thoughtful and mystical. 'A Cauldron of Tears' is a melancholy interlude full of thick symphonic pads which swell and break under a lonesome melody. It's a very effective change of mood. Next we move into 'On the Wings of Lugh' which starts slowly with various echoing note droplets . A throb makes itself heard then a sequence joins it and we are back into faster driving territory. Demonic guitar type wails then rip over the top to be chased away by another bright lead line. 'Storms Over Erin' is suitably atmospheric with the sound of thunder in the background and animal noises over the top. Next we have the second twenty minuter, this time a four part number. We kick off with 'Tuatha De Danaan' which is another misty swampy dark passage acting as something of an introduction. Then we get the second part 'Emain Macha' and we switch back to sequencer mode, this time accompanied by a real blast from Jim's very distant past in the form on anvil type percussion. The lead lines, as is often the case with Jim's work, are dramatic and strident. The striking of a gong starts part three 'In the Halls of Manannan'. The feel is initially more like the first section- dark atmospheric and brooding. A drum beats out and then an absolutely superb lead issues forth. More drum patterns build underneath and we step up a gear, its just awesome- power with subtlety.