posted
I was listening to the LoTR soundtrack (a great work, get the whole thing...now), when I realized that two of the segments that I loved most were both done by the same person: Enya.
So I looked and downloaded a ton of her work. Besides for "Only Time," I like none of it! *sigh*
The miss the same power that her singing in Isengard Unleashed and The Council of Elrong have.
Now here's the kicker: Those two segements are like perfect. They are the most touching, beautiful pieces I've heard in a long time.
posted
My sister listens to a lot of Enya. Her music is beautiful. She got me hooked on it when she took me on a trip with her to Oklahoma and played the CDs all the way down..
posted
I like Enya's older albums best. I don't know if you'll find what you're looking for though.
Now, you might try the group Clannad which is fronted by Enya's sister -- same beautiful voice IMHO and the music is less pop-sounding. It's more to the side of traditional Irish/Celtic music.
Posts: 22497 | Registered: Sep 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
Loreena McKennitt is a wonderful singer. I'd suggest either "The Book of Secrets," "The Mask and the Mirror," or "The Visit."
Posts: 2849 | Registered: Feb 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
I admit my sapness. I really like Enya. I think her Watermark album is the best, the title track of which can turn me into a liquid.
Posts: 8504 | Registered: Aug 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Try Blackbirds and Thrushes by Niamh Parsons, or something by Altan or Deanta. If you like the style and want to hear a wonderful male voice, check out Danu (I suggest Think Before you Think ).
quote: Now, you might try the group Clannad which is fronted by Enya's sister
Clannad's not just fronted by Enya's sister - the whole group is a family endeavor, I believe. Her brother and a couple of uncles are in it.
I can't really suggest anyone who hasn't already been mentioned. But I will second Annie's recommendation of Watermark, I love that album.
Posts: 959 | Registered: Jan 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
I bought a Clannad album because it had the song "Harry's Game" that I loved, but nothing else on the CD was remotely like it.
I can also recommend Azam Ali for... whatever that groove is that Enya's FOTR songs have. Her album Portals of Grace is all medieval tunes in assorted languages and is very very cool. I don't think I have any other music in Gallician.
Posts: 8504 | Registered: Aug 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Thanks for the suggestions *goes to check out.*
What I'm looking for is the same beautiful, spiritual voice -- preferably not speaking English -- to the same kind of music. Just listen to the two songs I've indicated, and it should be a little clearer.
Posts: 3060 | Registered: Nov 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
Enya's first 3 albums are very good, Shepard Moons being the highlight. Good vocals, good compositions. Excellent style. It's afterwards that it goes down.. She gets boring after Shepard Moons. There's the same parterns and lyrically it's just not interesting. Incidently, Liz Fraser, formally of the Cocteau Twins sang on the song where that elf got hit on the head because he wasn't wearing a helmet and she sang in the part where they head into Lothlorien. Songs by Cocteau Twins that will knock your eyes out- High Monkey Monk Three Swept Theft and Wandering lost and so many others.
Then you have people like Happy Rhodes with a five octave voice. Ditto on Clannad. I got into them in Jr high school and Enya.
Edited to add- I am an EXPERT on ethereal music. You need to hear stuff like- Dead Can Dance, tribal and beautiful Akino Arai's Ai no Ondo will make you see stars. Omega Blue by Yoko Kanno will have you seeing GOD! In fact... I could totally send you just about my entire collection of ethereal beautiful songs for free or for a really cool hat.
Also, Bel Canto can be pretty cool. Annelli Dreker has such a lovely voice... Miranda Sex Garden is awesome... And I recently heard some great celtic music too...
posted
I like her first one best (think it's just called "Enya") -- if I remember right, the music was originally composed for a BBC special on Celts, and so it's an interesting collection of short and long mood pieces. (Her regular songs don't seem to work as well for me, seems then she's trying to figure out how to fill up a 4- minute song with more regular structure.)
Posts: 2911 | Registered: Aug 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
I'd also suggest looking for music by Connie Dover. I believe she used to perform with a group called Scartaglen but has been solo for a number of years.
Edit to add that there is a celtic jazz group by the name of Nightnoise that has some beautiful gaelic mouth music that is particularly haunting. The song I really loved is off an album called Shadow of Time and the title is Fionnghuala.
posted
I would suggest Paint the Sky With Stars . It's pretty much a "best of" CD, with one or two new tracks.
Posts: 4174 | Registered: Sep 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
Have you heard Caribbean Blue and Afer Ventus? Those are my favourite Enya songs. And then there is I want Tomorrow
Posts: 9942 | Registered: Mar 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
Another vote for Watermark. Enya absolutely sends me to other places. I also love Tangerine Dream, but their works range from ethereal to rather tecno in nature. My favorite of their work is from the movie Legend. That stuff brings out the wood elf in me.
Posts: 392 | Registered: Aug 2004
| IP: Logged |
quote: I'd also suggest looking for music by Connie Dover. I believe she used to perform with a group called Scartaglen but has been solo for a number of years.
I love Connie Dover! I listened to Somebody (one of my absolute favorite CDs for years) on repeat while I was in labor.
Posts: 21182 | Registered: Sep 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
People already told you about her, but try Loreena Mckennitt. It's one of the most amazing singers I've ever seen.
Posts: 1785 | Registered: Oct 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
Here are the Enya albums that I know of in the order of my favorites:
1. The Celts 2. Memory of Trees 3. Shepherd Moons/A Day Without Rain (it's a tie!) 5. Watermark
I think I just have a lot of memories tied up to those favorites. As a music major, I have to hide the fact that I like Enya (and Yanni), but sometimes I just need some music to sit to. You know? As an introvert.
I will definitely check out Lorena M. and Clannad as well, thanks for the suggestions!
Posts: 6415 | Registered: Jul 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
Yay! I like this thread. I don't really have anything to add, since I agree that Loreena McKennitt is awesome, as are Enya and Clannad... but I thought I'd pop in and say thanks for the other suggestions!
Posts: 3420 | Registered: Jun 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
Every time I listen to Enya The Celts, I am taken back to the summer that I read about 100 Asimov books.
Similarly, every time I listen to Depeche Mode Violator, I am taken back to Middle Earth, especially with the fellowship trying to make it over the mountains.
Posts: 16551 | Registered: Feb 2003
| IP: Logged |
You need to click on the little disk thingy to download it. Or you can stream it. [/shameless self promotion]
Posts: 407 | Registered: Jul 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
If that's your song... you've got some ****ing awesome talent! Much more than many of the popular stuff out there...
Posts: 3060 | Registered: Nov 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
So, I was feeling ethereal and Irish the other day and I read this thread and ran to the store to pick some of this stuff up. I had trouble picking a Loreena McKennitt album (because they're all so pretty!), and I grabbed...I can't even remember the name. It's the one with "Lady of Shalott" on it. Anyway, I found that I really love her voice. It's not in the Enya style, she does more folky, song stuff, instead of ambience music. It's good stuff though, I'm going to get the winter one next.
I also picked up the best of Clannad. Yeesh. That was interesting. Is it just me, or do they seem like an Irish ABBA? Yeah, I didn't get at all what I expected and I'm not sure what to do with this CD now.
Keep the suggestions coming, I really love the Celtic thing. More Celtic suggestions???
Posts: 6415 | Registered: Jul 2000
| IP: Logged |
John McCusker was my first crush and also happens to be an incredible fiddler. I especially enjoy "Yella Hoose"; check him out for incredible instrumental music.
Also, I'd recommend almost anything on the Green Linnet label. Happy listening!
Posts: 21182 | Registered: Sep 2004
| IP: Logged |