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"Singer/songwriter Gerry O'Beirne (vocals, guitars, ukulele) from Co. Clare and American fiddler Rosie Shipley (fiddle, vocals) have been working together for years. . .. O'Beirne composed six of the 13 songs and tunes, put two poems to music, and they completed the program with five traditional sets. Patrick Kavanagh is the author of the beautiful poem 'Free Soul,' and O'Beirne added a melancholic tune played by guitar, fiddle, and Trevor Hutchinson on double bass; O'Beirne's tender singing is borne by Shipley's angelic background vocals. My favourite song is 'Black Water,' a kind of psychedelic folk song with hauntingly beautiful singing, hypnotic finger-picking, fine fiddling, and Hutchinson's terrific double bass. Traditional dance sets. . . include intoxicating jigs. reels, hornpipes, strathspeys and slides. Another highlight is 'American Tunes,' a set of two Appalachian traditionals. National steel guitar,fiddle, and acoustic guitar produce an unbelievable bluesy groove. Shipley's fiddling is awesome, and O'Beirne adds some virtuoso Bluegrass on ukulele. 'Alfred Hitchcock's Polkas' is an original set by O'Beirne starting with a melancholic slow polka and accelerating to a breathtaking speed polka. Two first class musicians hosting one of the best Irish double bass players have created an extraordinary album with innovative arrangements and hauntingly beautiful songs." © Adolf "gorhand" Goriup for Folk World. Used with permission.
"Yesterday I Saw the Earth Beautiful . . .is a sensory journey for the listener – akin to an impressionistic painting it provides all the necessary points, but leaves it to the listener to make the final connection. Filled with such varied emotion and intensity, from the serene to the energetic, the album grabs a hold of the listener's senses and takes them on a journey filled with many peaks and valleys. Yesterday I Saw the Earth Beautiful features three new songs penned by Gerry O'Beirne, two compositions composed to accompany poems written by Irish poets, and several traditional pieces, which are given a new voice through O'Beirne and Shipley's own interpretations and musical sensibility. The new songs, 'Black Water,' '1874,' and 'Song of an Actor,' introduce the topics of love, dependency, and loneliness. Painting the canvas for the listener, O'Beirne's driving guitar and skillful picking create the general shape, while Shipley's skillful control of her fiddle fleshes out the piece and adds great depth to it. At times, she can come across as light as a gentle caress and at others strong and forceful. In addition, the poetic composition of 'Labasheeda,' based off of the poem 'The Silken Bed' by Nuala Ni Dhomhnaill, is a fun, bright, and sensual piece that uses the land as a living body in an address to the lover. Filled with tactile and visual imagery, the music accents the playful nature of the poem. Meanwhile, the first song of the album, 'Free Soul,' is a quiet reflective piece that sets the stage for the journey. . .. Finally, Shipley's fiddle playing brings us back from the valleys to these gorgeous peaks with her wonderful interpretation of some traditional tunes like 'Tom Billy's,' 'Cape Breton Set,' and 'O'Carolan's Concerto.' However, it is not just these peaks that are important, but how each piece of the puzzle helps create the whole experience." ©Stephen McSweeney for Celtic Music Magazine. Used with permission.