Mask And The Mirror, The - Loreena McKennitt > Reviews > Enchantress

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Groundbreaking
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
Value for Money

Advantages:	Globe - trotting experience in your living room, serenity at the touch of a button !
Disadvantages:	Perhaps not for everyone, but try it anyway .

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

March 16, 1993 – ‘Arrived tonight in Marrakesh and am staying on the edge of the market. It is Ramadan and there is heightened activity all round. I am struck by the hooded features of men as they pass through the lights and shadows: they look monk-like. Horses, carriages, cars, bicycles and thousands of people are embroiled in the activities of the night…a cacophony of sound. Many circles of people are scattered around the market involved in their own drama of music, storytelling, monkey’s on men’s shoulders, or cobras being coaxed to ‘dance’ on rugs, ‘magic’ concoctions of bone, seeds stones and spices are sold…women are veiled to a great degree. I am struck by the sense of intrigue the environment creates: as much is concealed as is revealed.’

Loreena McKennitt lives a truly extraordinary life: travelling around the dark, mysterious places of the world we would never get to see if it wasn’t through her eyes, and composing her music right on the doorstep of these places, capturing an amazing air of mystery that is let loose every time her music is played.

The broad range of instruments used for the purposes of her music is unbelievable. She incorporates the traditional instruments of each place and suffuses them with a twist of Celtic harmony, and her beautiful voice, and produces masterpieces that will have you entranced from the word go. It is quite difficult to classify her music as I don’t think a classification exists for music that I would use these words to describe: haunting, soul searching, melodious and just plain wonderful. A lesser known fact is that I live beneath a club DJ, who constantly bombards me with the latest ‘boom-boom’ club music, and when he heard this, he said, “She puts you in a trance.” Which, on second thought, is quite appropriate. Coming from someone who usually only gets excited by how many beats per minute are in a piece of music, I would have to say that Loreena’s job is done.

As with ‘Book of Secrets’, each place she visits, she composes a couple of new songs along the lines of the traditional music of the place. She also writes a diary entry, which can be found on the inside cover, along with the words to her songs. This album concentrates largely on the spiritual influences of each place, and it’s religions. To allow you a broader span of information, here is a taste of the track listing and the places her music is written:

THE MYSTIC’S DREAM – Granada, Spain. ‘Rambled around the Moorish section of the city: picked up a little gold mirror, an incence burner and a tiny bottle of perfume.’

THE BONNY SWANS – Annaghmakerrig, Ireland. ‘Set some traditional lyrics to music; I am drawn to the harp motif and the essence of a fable in which a girl, drowned by her jealous sister, returns first as a swan and then is transformed into a harp.’

MARRAKESH NIGHT MARKET – Marrakesh, Morrocco.

SANTIAGO – Galician area, Spain. ‘Clearly Celtic territory in the language and music.’

PROSPERO’S SPEECH – Stratford. ‘Once again, I am drawn to Shakespeare for insights into the human condition’.

Some of the instruments incorporated into her work is as follows: piano, harp, kanoun, accordion, cello, acoustic guitar, bodhran, Hurdy Gurdy, tabla drums, acoustic bass, and electric guitar. If it seems like mass confusion, just wait until you hear what she does with her arrangements. Not to mention her perfect, crystal voice, which ties it all together and allows you to be transported along the flow of sheer pleasure.
Perhaps slotted into the category of Easy Listening, or Female vocal, she does not sing sloppy love songs. This lady is the Thinking Man’s crumpet.

I would recommend this artist to anyone who is into all things new age, spiritual or just after some great relaxing music to calm the shattered nerves. I originally paid £16.99 for my copy of this album – not cheap as CD’s go, but I fear that she is considered well worth paying for. You may be luckier to find it cheaper on Amazon.com, but you may never find her in the bargain bin