This site too slow? Try a mirror  --  Subscribe to the Guide  --  Find artist:
the Ectophiles' Guide: * Guide Home* What's new* * Alphabetical* Genre* Commentator* Location* Random artist* Search* Contact the editors* Credits

Laurel MacDonald


Country of origin:

Canada

Type of music generally:

Ambient experimental pop often based on traditional songs/sounds

Status:

Most recent release, Luscinia's Lullaby (2005)

See also:

Laurel MacDonald's site

Comparisons:

Mouth Music Meredith Monk, Sara Ayers

Covers/own material:

Own, often tradition-based

General comments:

Mostly sound-songs, a mix of traditional sounds and electronics. A little like Meredith Monk or Sara Ayers. (Neile)

Laurel McDonald has a small, sometimes harsh voice, but she can do amazing things with it. She deserves an award for doing the most with what God gave her. She is a Canadian who leans toward world music, Irish music, and uses ectoish vocal and instrumental techniques. (lyle_howard@hotmail.com)

Recommended first album:

Any

Recordings:

  • Kiss Closed My Eyes (1995)
  • Chroma (1999)
  • Wingspan EP (1999)
  • Stars & Elements (seasonal ep, 2000)
  • Luscinia's Lullaby (2005)

Chroma

Release info:

1999—BMG/Wicklow—09026-63270-2

Availability:

Wide on release

Ecto priority:

Highly recommended for fans of more exerimental music

Group members:

Laurel MacDonald—vocals, bowed guitar, finger-picked guitar, bell, slide guitar, ebow, prepared guitar, flutter guitar, tremolo guitar, bodhrán, vacuvox, guitar, whirligig

Guest artists:

John Gzowski—lead guitar (1), ambient guitar (2), electric bowed dowel (6), infinite guitar (6), guitars (8)
David Woodhead—bass (1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9)
Paul Brennan—drums (1, 6)
Philip Strong—percussion (1, 2, 6, 9), rhythm guitar (1, 2), drums (2), toob (2, 4, 6), hand drums (4), shaker (4), prepared piano (5), keyboard (8, 9)
Rob Pitch—ambient guitar (2), lead guitar (3), pedal steel (3), guitars (9)
Patrick O'Gorman—uillean pipes (5), whistle (5)
David Travers-Smith—trumpet (8, 9)
Mark Duggan—moringa (clay pot) (9)

Produced by:

Philip Strong

Comments:

From the very start of this, you get pulled in: "A Wing and a Prayer" is experimental but also melodic and irresistable. While it's all beautiful and intriguing, I appreciate the lively tracks more. (Neile)

Wingspan EP

Release info:

1999—BMG Classics/RCA

Comments:

This is a cd of six mixes of a song titled "A Wing and a Prayer" [from Chroma]. It is a good song. I have heard the Bill Laswell mix and it is strong. Other mixers: Transglobal Underground, Richard Horowitz, and Plunderphonics. Right now, some guitar player seems to be channeling the soul of Kevin Bartlett. (lyle_howard@hotmail.com)

Why the ads?
the Ectophiles' Guide: * Guide Home* What's new* * Alphabetical* Genre* Commentator* Location* Random artist* Search* Contact the editors* Credits

DISCLAIMER: Comments and reviews in the Ectophiles' Guide are excerpted from the ecto mailing list or volunteered by members of the list. They are the opinions of music enthusiasts, not professional music critics.

Entry last updated 2016-08-28 15:21:56.
Please request permission if you wish to
reproduce any of the comments in the
Ectophiles' Guide in any context.

The Ectophiles' Guide to Good Music is copyright © 1996-2004 by the editors.
Individual comments are copyright © by their authors.
Web site design and programming copyright © 1998-2004 usrbin design + programming.
All rights reserved.