There is a current resurgence in solo female artists making chilled out atmospheric music, Dido obviously springs to mind amongst others. What we should not forget is that it is a style that has always been in evidence and one of the best innovators of the genre is Enya. What you first notice about the music is its haunting quality and the use of vocals as much as an instrument as to deliver specific lyrics. About half the tracks are instrumental and of the others, many are not in English; Latin, Spanish and Gaelic are all used. This is not as off putting as it may seem as this is not the sort of album you would sing along to. The words blend in to be more part of the music than something that sits on top. It is very much a back ground sound and creates a soft and relaxing vibe. Even though it contains the single Anywhere Is, its not really an album where individual tracks matter, only the overall feel of the piece. Where as the current queen of chill out pop Dido seems to stick to a formula, and produce music that is all very much in the same vein, Enya is a master of the craft and weaves together many different styles and feelings to create unique body of work. This is all the more impressive when you realise that all instruments are played by the lady herself. Reminiscent of Clannad (she is related to them and has appeared on some of their albums) as well as parts of Sinead O`Connors "Lion and the Cobra" debut album, this album shows Enya to be the high-priestess of chilled mood music, long may she reign.
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To many people, Enya has become synonymous with new age music. Her haunting voice, clear ... more
and crisp above richly woven musical arrangements and adaptations, represents some of the best in the genre. Her performances on The Memory of Trees justify the Ce...
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Advantages: If you hadn't heard her before, you would enjoy her soothing vocals and relaxing tunes. Heals the heart, cultivates the soul. Disadvantages: For those who know Enya well enough, the album can be a disappointment as she has offered nothing new. Her faster tunes are missing the magic of Orinoco Flow and Anywhere Is.
Advantages: Everything we have come to expect from an Enya album, technically flawless Disadvantages: After 12 years, it's losing its appeal. More invention needed. The pristine production now seems more cloying than ever. And it's only 37 minutes long (including FOUR instrumentals)
EnglishPatient 19.02.2001 (19.02.2001)
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