BWitched (CD - 1998)

Additional personnel: Martin "Wildman" Brannigan, Erwin Keiles (guitar); Daniel Collier (fiddle); Chris "Snake" Davis (tin whistle); Ray "Madman" Hedges (vocoder); Richard Cottle (Hammond); Tracy Ackerman, Andy Caine (background vocals).

This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files.

Personnel: Erwin Keiles, Martin Brannigan (guitar); Daniel Collier (fiddle); Snake Davis (tin whistle); Richard Cottle (organ); Ray Hedges (vocoder); Andy Caine, Tracie Ackerman (background vocals).

Arranger: Ray Hedges.

The Dublin-based teen quartet B*Witched often comes off like a junior Spice Girls with its bouncy beats, singalong tunes and chipper attitude on its self-titled debut album. And with songs that span the Spicy gamut from starry-eyed ballads ("To You I Belong") to radio-ready pop ("Blame It On the Weatherman"), plus the fact that they all dress like Sporty Spice, make it difficult to think of them as anything but teenaged Spice knock-offs. Yet, the Celtic influences (like fiddles and tin whistles) reflect their Irish heritage, allowing some individuality to seep in, even though they're often drowned in an ocean of gloss. The best songs here -- "C'est La Vie" and "Rollercoaster" -- are still able to yield sugary pop morsels fit to chew on for a few minutes. ~ Michael Gallucci

Sinead, Lindsay and twin sisters Edele and Keavy make up the bubbly Irish pop group B*Witched. Hailing from Dublin, the girls exercise an irresistible brand of popcraft reminiscent of England's Spice Girls--these teens display youth, charm, soul and sweetness that can charm even the most resolute curmudgeon. Let's face it-they're just downright cute. The contagious single "C'est La Vie" offers an exuberance that's all about being joyful and young at heart. The girls' flirtatious warbles fly over funky guitar, slippery turntable scratches, cheerful keyboard chords and a thumping beat that culminate in a soaring fiddle jig, giving the music a modern buoyancy with a touch of traditional flavor. This is the kind of contagious fun that charts across oceans. minimize