BALANCE

Tempest has a new release; it's a Balance of the old and new. With modern sounds of progressive rock and traditional Celtic folk music, Tempest offers a wee bit of the past, and a plentiful helping of the new. It's all done Celtic style.

With the sweeping success of the stage play Riverdance, world-folk music became more acceptable, and popular. Groups like Tempest are now in perfect position to seize the moment. This group has been around for several years, and their music has been critically acclaimed, although not on large scale. It has, nevertheless, been recognized for its value and content. Perhaps now, after getting a few albums (3) under their belts with the progressive rock label Magna Carta, the name Tempest will become more recognizable on a world level, like they so richly deserve.

I could really see a balance between the old and the new on this CD, not specifically with genres, with several different aspects of the musical universe. I could see that by allowing themselves to take off on a musical departure, forgetting about the tale to tell, letting everyone in the group go on cruise control, and giving their astute musicianship a chance to shine, proved to be really good for the band. Some of the instrumentals are the result of this musical freedom. "Battle Mountain Breakdown" and "Royal Oak" (which is a medley of jigs) are real instrumental charms.

They really show all of their colors and hues as a complete group, with a horn-of-plenty made up of song and dance, to offer up the faithful. A live performance by this group must be a sight to behold. I think they have found the pot o' gold at the end of the rainbow. Get ready, because the journey has just started, and there are many more rainbows to be discovered. They stand as one with their music and heritage. They have readily established themselves as storytellers and prog rock-world music maestros. St. Patrick is smiling upon these lads. I just know it.