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On paper, Rosheen sounds amazing.  Seven French-Canadians who cut their teeth on jazz and chamber music branching out into Celtic, even singing one of the songs, “Roisin Dubh” in French on this, their debut album, Musique Celtique.

On technical aspects alone, Rosheen is certainly passable as a Celtic band. My only criticism on that count is that vocalist and band founder Lynn Vallieres tends to under-emphasize the last syllable of her words.  She has a pleasant voice which I believe would be accentuated if she finished a bit more crisp.  The musicians are skilled in their instruments as they demonstrate in such songs as the violin-driven and aptly titled “Taming the Steed” and “Suite De Polkas.”  I was also pleasantly surprised to hear piano and guitar solos, which are few and far between in Celtic music, in “Star of the County Down” and some fine violin and flute improvisations in “The Crossing.”

I believe their production is what needs the most work.  The album begins with three straight slow songs and it suffers from what I can only describe as a tinny ambience throughout.  I prefer production values on Celtic albums that give you the feeling you’re listening to the band either in a pub or sitting outdoors on green hills.  I would also have preferred some bagpipes and perhaps a soprano counterpoint to Vallieres’ alto.  Like almost any Celtic album, Musique Celtique makes for good background music, but weighted within the genre, I have to place it below center-mass.

Dan Singleton
May 21, 2005