In March 2008 one of Michelle McLaughlin’s dreams came true. She is of Irish ancestry, and for many years she wanted to go to Ireland. And last year the dream finally came true. A Celtic Dream, her tenth release, is a product of both the dream itself and the actual trip to Ireland.

We already know that Michelle McLaughlin is an incredible pianist and composer, and A Celtic Dream is yet another proof of this. A Celtic Dream has 15 tracks. Some have a dream like quality, gentle as the summer wind, while other are like big, powerful waves. Especially the song North Sea, track 8, has a lot of energy. I especially like the title track, where you really can sense the artist’s love for Ireland.

I must give Michelle McLaughlin credit for the great variation in sound . The atmosphere shifts totally from one track to the next, creating a very enjoyable listening experience. It is perhaps too much variation for it to be background music, but that is not a weakness. Not at all. This is an album you want to listen to actively, not hide in the background. The recording quality is very good, and the piano sounds warm and alive. On the cover are some very nice pictures taken by Michelle McLaughlin herself on her trip to Ireland.

If you want to drift away to a world of medieval castles and green fields, A Celtic Dream is your ticket.

Sample the album on CDBaby.