Anthem A Review by Annie from Dublin When I talked to Ronan for this Celtic Cafe feature he spoke about wishing to develop an identifiable sound through his music. I believe that is something which has existed for a long time. I have listened to all his music that I could find repeatedly over the past several years --'Celtic Classics' I and II, 'Waterways', of course 'Lord of the Dance' and 'Feet of Flames', and 'Solas'. And I even have - quite by chance - on video the very first professionally commissioned theme which he composed for the 'My Riviera' TV documentary series. Every one of these is quite different from all the others, there is a diversity in his work which I love; yet there is an intangible something, a thread through all of them which is very much the 'Hardiman sound'. I have thought much about what is it that unites the music and cannot really explain it - and in a way that adds to the magic of it. However, as time goes on, if there is one element which comes out more and more it is an energy generated by the rhythm that is ever-present, whether the music be fast or slow, dramatic or melodic, and it is no surprise to know that in the past (long before Lord of the Dance) Ronan sat in Digges Lane dance studio fascinated by the rhythms of the dancers' taps. How little he knew then that he was preparing so perfectly for his future destiny! 'Solas' was the first album which gave Ronan Hardiman a totally free rein to compose exactly as he wished to compose, to his own brief and no-one else's. It was awaited and eagerly anticipated by all those who had come to know his music through the dance shows, and was both a surprise and recognizable -- full of melody and rhythm, and that energy that is so vital a part of his show scores. I have yet to meet anyone, no matter what their musical taste, who has heard it and does not love it. The music successfully pulls together many strands, classical, New Age, rock-pop, with touches of spirituality and Ronan's own Celtic roots. The 'Irishness' of the sound is more a feeling than anything concrete; there is that haunting, underlying sad beauty that characterizes all our finest slow airs, yet also a sense of promise. The new album, 'Anthem', is the second Ronan Hardiman solo album, and although a conscious follow-up to 'Solas', is once again different. The tracks vary radically in character, and this time there are full songs, 'That place in your heart' and 'Heaven' - the latter having featured in quite different form on 'Solas', featuring the distinctive sweet voice of Leslie Dowdall, whose website is: www.lesliedowdall.com. The music is if anything even more melodic than on 'Solas', and the atmospheric settings are stronger, more evocative. The opening track, 'Anthem', is one of the most surprising for me. I don't know quite what I did expect - I should have known Ronan's music would always surprise me! Perhaps the name suggested something much more solemn and serious, but this anthem is a joyful, ultramodern celebration, a beautiful blend of electronic sound and sweet soprano, all bound together by the very pretty and catching melody and a rhythm that insists the listener respond to it in some way. No-one could be static listening to this lovely piece of music or could fail to feel a smile inside. The spirituality that was present on 'Solas' but not dominant is heightened on 'Anthem', emphasized by Leslie's pure, clear voice, both in the new lyric of the final track, 'Heaven,' and in the second track, 'That place in your Heart'. "Thank you for the excellent presentation of your latest music. Thank you for being you, as a wonderful leader." -Your friend Blue Moon Dennis Seattle, Washington Ronan says he is not a lyricist and the lyrics on 'Anthem' are credited to Frank Musker, but I wonder what input Ronan had in what he wanted the lyric to express, for similar emotion runs through them all and echoes to perfection the aura of all his music - one of seeking, wondering and believing. The lyrics of his songs are the eternal call of the modern world in 'A Place in your Heart' as they ask why people cannot live in harmony and why do they hurt each other, they echo today's positive thinkers holding hard to belief in the future and eternity in 'Heaven', and even when not full verses they celebrate life as in the title track 'Anthem.' If the spiritual voice of the past's formal church sound fails to reach across today's generations this is a universal sound of the soul that seems to touch everyone in a very individual way. 'Run away' offers a lilting invitation to follow the rainbow, with Leslie's distinctive tone in the lyric and a sweet choral backing, and an upbeat rhythm that evokes the movement of travel over distance. It is a perfect track to follow on from the deep message of the previous song. 'Ready for Life' continues this feeling of movement and 'life-promise'. It has a lovely keyboard melody, and again that energizing rhythm mixed in with the ethereal choral section. 'Salve' is the most deliberately choral track, with strongly religious flavored vocals from the same male voices that featured as the High Priests in Feet of Flames. Later the soprano choral sound takes the lead to sweeten the sound. The setting of 'Salve' is almost symphonic in the opening bars, but in the beat and accompaniment it is very much belonging to the new century. 'Never' in its opening notes and melody echoes the 'Solas' sound the most perhaps. The tune is 'sung' alternately by the keyboard and the soprano backing chorus. It is another 'song of praise' for the modern age. This is one of my favorites (in as much as I can choose!). 'Worlds apart' follows 'Never' like a sequel track, with similar hauntingly pretty melody picked out by the piano and taken up by the vocals and futuristic electronic sound creations to produce a sense of timelessness. I like that there are two of these tracks back-to-back so the atmosphere they set lasts, a pleasant indulgence as well as ensuring the impact in the contrast of the next track, 'Ancient Lands'. 'Ancient Lands' is perhaps my very favorite track. I am totally addicted to this one and have to run it on repeat to live it through again and again. It stands alone on the album as the most dramatic piece, highly visual from the first moments, its rhythm an impassioned rousing energy. The deep, male choral voices we first heard in 'Feet of Flames' chant to the beat against the building melody line that does indeed evoke an image of ancient landscape from prehistory. As I hear it I can see barren, wind-swept places and stone monuments like our own Irish cromlechs or the strange pillar shapes of Stonehenge, still radiating their mystery today. I also see moments from the Execution scene of 'Feet of Flames 2000' which are not ill-fitting to this setting. Thank goodness I have no recollection of ever seeing the television commercial Ronan told me this music was originally created for, so nothing interferes with its evocation in my mind's eye! If I need a soul-deep energy boost, this is my music! The order of the tracks is subtly effective too, as this piece of high drama is followed by delicate harp sounds at the beginning of 'Where are you now?' and its rhythm is calming after the strength of the previous beat yet still keeps the energy flowing as does the rippling, lilting melody and lyric. The haunting, yearning quality of 'Where are you now?' is particularly magnetic, with most unusual use of backing voices at one point that seem to call from far-off places like native cries from a foreign land. If not the spirits of the far-off ages in our own lands they might well echo from the sandy landscape featured on the album cover were it in fact the Sahara and not (as in reality) the coast of Ireland! And to add to the atmosphere, the track begins and ends with wonderful sounds of wind and water. The closing track is the re-mix of 'Heaven', and this ends the album on its most 'pop' orientated sound, a light, bright melodic sound with lyric full of promise. Rewrites of songs well established often do not work completely for me but this one has grown on me very quickly. I am not surprised the French listeners had the sense to put this in their Top Ten. 'Heaven' is a perfect song. This album is a 'must' for all who enjoyed 'Solas' and is a very successful progression from it. As its composer says he has still oceans of ideas to develop for future albums, happily this 'Hardiman sound' is here to stay, and I for one will always be eager to hear where it takes us next. Ronan says he wants his music to speak to those who listen to it. It always speaks beautifully to me and I can never have enough of it. I will have many hours of pleasure and fulfillment absorbing 'Anthem'. Thank you, Ronan; and here's to the next album! You can purchase Anthem for a special discounted price by clicking here. Check out the following works by Ronan Hardiman! Click on the image to order or get more information. 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