In the third album of the Albion trilogy, Songs from Albion III, Johnson and Dunning weave a Celtic knot of rich, ethereal sounds. Layers of Irish influence and traditional folk sounds are intermingled with contemporary instrumentation and styling. Electric guitars, keyboards, and drums join melodically with uilleann pipes, ebow, tablas, and vocals.
The opening track, "The Endless Knot" sets an expectant and rejoicing mood. Dunning's flute work is excellent, and, when paired with Derri Daugherty's electric guitar work, is pure magic. The production is crystal clear, and the music is a masterful blend of the ancient and the modern.
"I Will Find You" is the second cut. With a sound somewhat like a combination of Vangelis and Enya, it evokes somber but beautiful moods, the keyboard lifting the listener to new auditory heights while delving deeper into one's own soul. Daugherty and Brian Willis polish it off with guitar and drum work that drives home the strength of the title's statement.
"Bright Fire" is eerie and foreboding. A wonderful flute and guitar melody, it yields feelings of hope lined with awe. Words straight from the books which inspired the album aid in making this song a refreshing shower of joy for the soul.
The project ends with "The Enduring Story," a short track (as far as this album goes) that holds remembrances of the rest of the project, some subdued, some jovial. All in all an excellent conclusion to the emotional story woven by these musicians.
For those that have read the books by Stephen R. Lawhead, this disc holds enormous power to rekindle the emotional and spiritual joy that Lawhead's books possessed. The joy of listening to the music, like reading the books, is endless.
More from Jeff Johnson
1996Psalmus
2003Patrick
1990Similitudes
1989Pilgrimage
2002The Memory Tree
2005Vespers -- light into Light
