Review: Jaiya – Beltane: Songs for the Green Time

I received this CD almost a month ago, but considering the subject matter I held off reviewing it till now. Considering my subcultural and musical preferences I decided that waiting till the summer half of the wheel would suit everyone better. If there was any time I was going to appreciate the spirit of the piece it would be on Beltane.

Jaiya are a three-piece band from Mayne Island in British Columbia. Their music is a mixture of Celtic, folk, classical, and jazz influences all expressed through a decidedly pagan and seasonal outlook. Jaiya’s first release “Firedance: Songs for the Winter Solstice”, a CD of songs inspired by the yuletide season, created the musical template that would serve them well on this latest release. A sound that swings from stylistic folk-fusions to careful reverent set pieces, all while expressing their joy at the season.

“Beltane: Songs for the Green Time”, is, as you would expect from the title, a tribute to the beginning of the summer half of the year, and a seasonal meditation on the holiday of Beltane. I can imagine that this release will save many ritual groups the trouble of making a mix-cd for the holiday; here you have an hour of holiday-appropriate music that can fade into the background or dominate the revels depending on your volume preferences. No doubt for that fact alone many will see this new work by Jaiya as a goddess-send.

So how does it sound? That depends on which Jaiya you are getting on a particular track. On the tracks that bring a more world-fusion sensibility to the fore they sound very much like an acoustic Clannad. “Beltane Night” and “The Bear” would be good examples of this sound, and they are two of my favorite tracks from the CD. The other Jaiya I encounter I would call their “classical” mode. This is when they stick to more traditional Celtic or classical structures on tracks like “Going Away Jig” or “Stillness”. The band is quite accomplished in both styles, but I think their more fusion-oriented pieces are the more interesting to my ears.

No matter the style, the CD has been blessed with two fine vocalists in Miranda Brown and Lael Whitehead. The vocals are strong and clear throughout the CD and enhance the emotions and impact of each song. This is a point on which many traditional “Pagan” bands trip up, and I’m glad to see the voice given so much care and attention in the arrangements.

Overall this is a fine release by the band. Not only is it a strong spiritual and artistic statement, but it shows a band that is growing and evolving in their art. If you are a fan of bands like Clannad, Enya, Renaissance, or early Fairport Convention you should find much to like here. A fitting release to kick off the Beltane season.

Tags: Paganism