Thanks for your confidence, gentle reader. Back at Disc 24, when I had rolled a second Enya album, I appealed for calm, promising that the Odyssey would not be populated every 12th review with another Enya album.
This has borne out as true, and it is over 180 reviews later that the third Enya album finally makes an appearance.
Disc 205 is...Enya (Self-Titled)
Artist: Enya
Year of Release: 1986
What’s Up With The Cover?: Enya always looks good on her album covers (this comes from her innate advantage of being, you know, good looking). However, of all of them I like this one the best. She has a kind of art show punk look going on, which would never be replicated on later covers. After this, they all feature her in some combination of flowing velvet skirt, and wistful folk gaze. I like the edge on this one. Even the dogs work.
How I Came To Know It: It was 1991 and I had already purchased "Watermark" and "Shepherd Moons". This was a combination of me being interested in getting more Enya, and being advised by other Enya fans that this album was worth my time. Also, at the time it was the only other Enya album around.
How It Stacks Up: I still have five Enya albums, and this one holds up well. I'll put it 2nd.
Rating: 4 stars.
In previous reviews I've talked about Enya's style, which is new age, with Celtic folk inspirations. She comes by this naturally, getting started in her family's Celtic folk band, Clannad.
This is her first album, and of the five I have it is definitely the most mood-driven. The songs may not have the same range as we'll see on later albums, but they make up for that with a haunting moody feeling. All the songs are universally short, ranging from as little as 1:19 up to a long of 4:23, but they flow one to the next so seemlessly, the album at times seems like a single track.
As with most Enya albums, the lyrics are often in Gaelic, and when they're not, they're very basic - sometimes more than ooohs and aaahs.
The music has an unearthly quality; its hollow-sounding production makes Enya's already breathy voice even more ethereal. Using a technique for which she has made famous, she layers her own voice on top of itself over and over again, creating a kind of unearthly choir that makes you think her back up singers are a host of Elven spirits. If you're wondering what music you get to listen to when you're abducted by faeries, this would be a good guess.
The song titles evoke many Celtic legends, including one song called "Triad" that pays homage to early Celtic missionary St. Patrick, and mythical warrior poets Cu Chulainn and Oisin. There is also a separate song in honour of Celtic warrior queen and patriot Boadicea.
I admit that being a fan of Celtic Mythology, these song titles increase the album's coolness factor for me, but this record isn't about topic or lyrics as much as it is about capturing a simple yearning for a magical time long passed. It makes you want to find a comfortable patch of moss by a small stream in the woods, and just lie there, listen to the water and empty your mind of cares.
This is never more evident than in the instrumental, "The Sun In the Stream" featuring one of the more beautiful performances on the Uillean Pipes I've ever heard (and I've heard more than a few). Shout out to Uillean Pipes artist Liam Og O'Floinn.
This album won't blow you away, but it will quietly enchant you with its soothing grace.
Best tracks: The Celts, March of the Celts, Deireadhan Tuath, The Sun In the Stream, Triad, Boadicea, Bard Dance
This has borne out as true, and it is over 180 reviews later that the third Enya album finally makes an appearance.
Disc 205 is...Enya (Self-Titled)
Artist: EnyaYear of Release: 1986
What’s Up With The Cover?: Enya always looks good on her album covers (this comes from her innate advantage of being, you know, good looking). However, of all of them I like this one the best. She has a kind of art show punk look going on, which would never be replicated on later covers. After this, they all feature her in some combination of flowing velvet skirt, and wistful folk gaze. I like the edge on this one. Even the dogs work.
How I Came To Know It: It was 1991 and I had already purchased "Watermark" and "Shepherd Moons". This was a combination of me being interested in getting more Enya, and being advised by other Enya fans that this album was worth my time. Also, at the time it was the only other Enya album around.
How It Stacks Up: I still have five Enya albums, and this one holds up well. I'll put it 2nd.
Rating: 4 stars.
In previous reviews I've talked about Enya's style, which is new age, with Celtic folk inspirations. She comes by this naturally, getting started in her family's Celtic folk band, Clannad.
This is her first album, and of the five I have it is definitely the most mood-driven. The songs may not have the same range as we'll see on later albums, but they make up for that with a haunting moody feeling. All the songs are universally short, ranging from as little as 1:19 up to a long of 4:23, but they flow one to the next so seemlessly, the album at times seems like a single track.
As with most Enya albums, the lyrics are often in Gaelic, and when they're not, they're very basic - sometimes more than ooohs and aaahs.
The music has an unearthly quality; its hollow-sounding production makes Enya's already breathy voice even more ethereal. Using a technique for which she has made famous, she layers her own voice on top of itself over and over again, creating a kind of unearthly choir that makes you think her back up singers are a host of Elven spirits. If you're wondering what music you get to listen to when you're abducted by faeries, this would be a good guess.
The song titles evoke many Celtic legends, including one song called "Triad" that pays homage to early Celtic missionary St. Patrick, and mythical warrior poets Cu Chulainn and Oisin. There is also a separate song in honour of Celtic warrior queen and patriot Boadicea.
I admit that being a fan of Celtic Mythology, these song titles increase the album's coolness factor for me, but this record isn't about topic or lyrics as much as it is about capturing a simple yearning for a magical time long passed. It makes you want to find a comfortable patch of moss by a small stream in the woods, and just lie there, listen to the water and empty your mind of cares.
This is never more evident than in the instrumental, "The Sun In the Stream" featuring one of the more beautiful performances on the Uillean Pipes I've ever heard (and I've heard more than a few). Shout out to Uillean Pipes artist Liam Og O'Floinn.
This album won't blow you away, but it will quietly enchant you with its soothing grace.
Best tracks: The Celts, March of the Celts, Deireadhan Tuath, The Sun In the Stream, Triad, Boadicea, Bard Dance
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