After listening to, and thoroughly enjoying, Enya’s ”A Day Without Rain”, her latest album which I purchased for my husband as a Christmas gift, I decided to raid his collection and listen to some other works by this Irish artist.
The only track that I recognized prior to listening to Enya’s 1988 release,”Watermark” was “Orinoco Flow”, a song that became popular at the time of its release as a single. However, upon listening to this CD, I recognized a number of other songs, not by name, but by sound. I believe this is because a number of songs from this album were used on the soundtracks for the movies“L.A. Story” and “Green Card”.
While musicians are generally termed as being “artists”, this definition seems more apt for Enya. Her music can be compared with a painted masterpiece. Whereas the painted work is a pleasure to the eyes of the viewer, the music of Enya is pleasureable to the ears of the listener.
Her music has a calming quality, soothing. If you were to close your eyes, feel yourself sink into the lush, green grass of an old English garden, the sun warming your skin, this would be the feel of the music of Enya.
But there is also an intensity, a passion, in the music of Enya. A number of tracks even have a haunting, or haunted, feel.
Watermark
At just over 2 minutes in length, this is one of the shorter tracks on the album. While it may lack length, it is a beautiful instrumental introduction to the album. The track builds in intensity slowly, almost telling a story simply through the music alone.
Cursum Perficio
With its almost menacing opening, this song is one of the more stoic inclusions on the album. The vocal chant provided by Enya are reminiscent of a chant performed by an ancient order of Monks. As the song progresses, the tone becomes a little softer, but never quite losing its menacing edge. The effect is intense, almost foreboding, warning of eminant danger.
On Your Shore
Strange how
my heart has to
To find myself upon your shore
Strange how
I still feel
My loss of comfort gone before
Even though I did not recognize this song by name, it had a familiar, and very comfortable feel. The lyrics, provided by Roma Ryan, read like a poem. Enya has provided the perfect accompanyment to this poem through her music and beautiful vocals. Even though the song has the feeling of saddness, of loss, there is a comfort found in the music. It is as if the song is a blanket, wrapping itself around the listener.
Storms in Africa
When I first heard this piece of music, it too had a familiar feel. I thought it may have been on the soundtrack to Green Card.
This is a beautiful and uplifting piece of music, and Enya’s vocals are an enchanting addition. The drum beat is strong and appropriate, adding intensity to the overall feel.
Exile
I remember first hearing this enchanting piece of music on the soundtrack to ”L.A. Story”. Even though I did not know the name of it at the time, nor the artist, I was as impressed by the music as I am now. The piece of music was well suited to the scene in which it plays during the movie.
Like many of her songs, there is a contrast in the music. Even though there is a saddness to the music, almost as if the artisit is in mourning, there is a comfort provided in the tune itself.
My light shall be the moon
and my path - the ocean.
My guide the morning star
as I sail home to you.
Miss Clare Remembers
This is the shortest piece on the album, just under two minutes in length. Coming in half way through the album, it acts almost as an instrumental intermission in the play list.
Orinoco Flow
This is perhaps the most recognizable of the songs on this album. It has are more upbeat feel than the other inclusions, yet, isn’t lacking in feeling and intensity. While most of the other songs on this album appeal to the mind, this song also appeals to the body, enticing the body of the listener to sway gently.
Evening Falls...
This song has a similar feel and flow to the earlier Exile. Like the previous song, the feel is haunted, yet comforting. Like the lyrics on this album, there is a depth to the music, a feeling, and this is the effect of this song.
River
Another instrumental piece, this music is similiar to the earlier Storms In Africa. Even though there is a familiarity in this piece of music because it is so like the earlier piece, it does not feel as though the music on this album is repititive.
The Longships
Enya’s vocals provide a sound that would be befitting a choir. This is most evident in pieces such as this, whereby Enya simply repeats a number of musical sounds, in this case:
Hi-ri-u
Ho-ro-ho
Ho-ri-u
Him-o-ro-ho
The effect is a very melodic and enchanting piece. The feel is soothing and calming.
Na Laetha Geal M’oige
Complete with foreign lyrics, the effect of this song is similar to the one above, very melodic and enchanting, soothing and calming. Enya plays all the instruments on this album, and throughout this song, the most powerful sound is of Irish Pipes.
Storms in Africa (Part II)
Though I walk through
warm sands in Africa
Winds will grow soon
to storms in Africa.
True to its title, this song is the next part to the earlier Storms In Africa. While it is not identical to the earlier inclusion, it is an obvious attachment. It has the similar drum beat, as well as a similar sound. But it is distinct enough that it does not give the album a repitious feel.
There is a flow to the album, as if a story is being told through the music contained on it.
While the music style of Enya is a contrast to the usual louder sounds of bands that I generally listen to, it is a welcome change. Her music has a wonderful, uplifting, and comforting feel. Though the tones are slow, they are far from boring, even when songs are almost repeated on the album.
While I enjoyed her latest release ”A Day Without Rain”, I love ”Watermark”.
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