As each new Enya release has washed over all who have ears to hear, as
each heaven-touched work leaves admirers sitting speechless in
slack-jawed wonder, questions eventually come to mind: Might her
layered, choral-like approach gradually become predictable or stale?
Will she ever exhaust her deep reservoir of soul-stirring ideas?
Remarkably, A Day Without Rain, Enya's fourth release since her 1988
breakthrough, Watermark, establishes new artistic heights for the
gifted Irish vocalist and keyboardist. The project, polished and
refined over a five-year period in the company of longtime
collaborators Nicky Ryan (producer) and Roma Ryan (lyricist), may
qualify as her best yet--a radiant, beatific collection of works that
command attention with their cathedral-like resonance as they soothe
your spirit with some of Enya's loveliest, most graceful voicings ever.
The disc's opening three tracks (including the spellbinding "Only
Time") form a gorgeous trilogy that suggest Enya has deepened her focus
on the nexus where sophisticated pop and regal mysticism, the twin
rivers of her singular sound, form a seamless intersection. The disc's
gentle timbre is disturbed only once, and in memorable fashion, with
"Tempus Vernum," a marshalling of mythic sonic forces that brings to
mind the theme from the De Beers diamond commercial, but with a
Celtic/Goth edge. Additional highlights abound. The closing "Lazy Days"
will leave your soul dancing in a shower of flower petals and sunshine.
A wonderful recording.
Terry Wood - Amazon.com
Da jedes neue Enya-Werk bisher über alle, die da Ohren haben zu
hören, einher schwebte, da jedes von überirdischen
Kräften geprägte Werk Bewunderer mit weit aufgesperrtem Mund
sprachlos machte, gehen einem schließlich auch Fragen durch den
Kopf: Könnte es sein, dass ihr vielschichtiger,
choralähnlicher Gesang allmählich zur Routine wird oder
abgedroschen wirkt? Wird ihr tiefgründiges Reservoir von
gefühlsbewegenden Gedanken erschöpft sein? Auf bemerkenswerte
Weise erklimmt die so begabte Sängerin und Keyboardspielerin Enya
mit A Day Without Rain -- ihrem vierten Album seit ihrem Durchbruch
1988 mit Watermark -- neue künstlerische Höhen. Dieses
Projekt, das im Laufe von fünf Jahren immer wieder gemeinsam mit
ihren langjährigen Mitarbeitern Nicky Ryan (Produzent) und Roma
Ryan (Textschreiber) verbessert und überarbeitet wurde,
könnte sich als ihr bestes herausstellen -- eine strahlende,
glückselige Sammlung von Werken, die mit ihrem Nachhall wie in
einer Kathedrale Aufmerksamkeit erfordern, da sie den Geist mit einigen
der schönsten und graziösesten Gesänge von Enya
besänftigen. Die drei Tracks zu Beginn der Platte (zu denen auch
das bezaubernde "Only Time" gehört) bilden eine fantastische
Trilogie, die vermuten lassen, dass Enya sich stärker auf die
Schnittstelle zwischen kultiviertem, anspruchsvollem Pop und
würdevoller Mystik konzentrieren wird, da ja diese beiden
Strömungen ihren einzigartigen Sound ausmachen und einen nahtlosen
Übergang zueinander finden. Der sanfte Grundtenor wird nur ein
einziges Mal gestört, und dies in denkwürdiger Art mit
"Tempus Vernum", einer Anordnung von mythischen Klangkräften, die
einen an das Thema von De Beers Diamanten-Werbespot erinnert,
allerdings mit einem keltischen Einschlag. Highlights gibt es in
Hülle und Fülle. Das abschließende "Lazy Days" wird
Ihre Seele unter einem Blütenregen und Sonnenschein zum Tanzen
bringen. Eine wunderschöne Aufnahme.
Terry Wood - Amazon.de
With the blissfully beautiful A Day Without Rain -- Enya's first album
after a nearly five-year drought -- the entrancing Celtic chanteuse
builds on the uniquely melodic, ethereal groove that she conceived with
1988's chartbusting Watermark. A passionate perfectionist as well as a
gifted melodicist, Enya wraps her signature velvet vocals in
glistening, lusher-than-life productions. In these 11 songs, her
legendary voice meshes with gorgeous orchestral soundscapes, pizzicato
synth strings, and carefree, springy rhythmic currents. As on previous
albums, the lyrics by longtime Enya collaborator Roma Ryan dwell just
on the edge of comprehension -- an affect that adds to the otherwordly
mystique of the music. Delicate piano deposits a languid melody on the
title track, as Enya's multilayered vocals harmonize like a choir of
swooning angels. On "Wild Child" Enya builds a wall of jaunty plucked
strings while singing about enjoying life with the spirit of untamed
youth. In contrast, however, the ominous "Tempus Vernum" stalks
purposefully with pounding timpani, coming-to-get-you gongs, and
looming chanters. Like a Gaelic benediction, "Deora Ar Mo Chroi"
immediately follows with airy clouds of angelic vocals and soft
orchestral drones for Enya to float upon. And you'll hardly be able to
resist the impulse to skip across the meadow, flower basket in hand, to
the buoyant, slow-motion sway of strings and Enya's carefree vocalise
on "Flora's Secret." The whole program is short but rich, and these are
some of Enya's strongest melodies yet. So drink it all in, Enya fans,
and rejoice at the return of one of the most alluring voices on the
planet.
Carol Wright - Barnes & Noble
Enya's first full-length album of new material in five years (and her
fourth in 12 years) will have a familiar sound to the millions who have
followed her career so far. As usual, the slow songs sound like "Silent
Night" being performed in a cathedral, and the less slow songs are
paced by rhythm patterns that would be called pizzicato passages if
they were being played on real strings instead of string-like
synthesizers. Over the music, Enya sings in her multi-tracked, ethereal
voice, making Roma Ryan's lyrics, which are full of pastoral imagery
and abstract romantic sentiments, seem even more insubstantial than
they already are. In the press materials accompanying the release, Enya
explains why it took her five years to come up with less than 34 and a
half minutes of music that sounds like most of her earlier music by
noting that she plays all the instruments and does all the singing
herself without using samples. It might be more accurate to say that
there is no need for her to release albums any more frequently than she
does, since each one sells over a long period of time. And since her
listeners are more concerned with the mood she sets than with musical
content, the similarity to her other albums is a good thing. This is
music that works almost entirely as a surface pleasure; strip it of its
pretensions, and it's just contemporary easy listening music.
William Ruhlmann - All Music Guide
If Enya were a Pokemon, she'd be Jigglypuff, the little pink monster
who renders her opponents powerless by singing them to sleep. This
isn't a bad thing: We all need some rest. But after the course of
several albums, each like the one before, the Irish
multi-instrumentalist-singer-composer's skill at ephemeral sonic
watercolors has grown wearisome, like a relative who tells the same
stories every holiday. You'd think after taking stock of her career via
'97's best-of collection, and hearing her Celtic-New Age hybrid diluted
and overpopularized via Titanic, she'd try something different, like
trip-hop or trance or chamber music. Instead, her first album of new
material in five years retraces less than thirty-five minutes of
familiar steps. Swaying, swirling songs such as "Only Time" could have
appeared on any one of her albums, as the airy arrangements haven't
changed a single plink or plunk. Even Pokemon: The First Movie and
Pokemon: The Movie 2000 had slightly different plots.
Ever close your eyes
Ever stop and listen
Ever feel alive
And you've nothing missing
You don't need a reason
Let the day go on and on
Let the rain fall down
Everywhere around you
Give into it now
Let the day surround you
You don't need a reason
Let the rain go on and on
What a day
What a day to take to
What a way
What a way
To make it through
What a day
What a day to take to
A wild child
Only take the time
From the helter skelter
Every day you find
Everything's in kilter
You don't need a reason
Let the day go on and on
Every summer sun
Every winter evening
Every spring to come
Every autumn leaving
You don't need a reason
Let it all go on and on
What a day
What a day to take to
What a way
What a way
To make it through
What a day
What a day to take to
A wild child
What a day
what a day to take to
What a way
What a way
To make it through
What a day
What a day to take to
A wild child
What a day
What a day to take to
What a way
What a way
To make it through
What a day
What a day to take to
Da-da-da
Da-da-da-da-da-da
What a way
What a way
To make it through
Da-da-da
Da-da-da-da-da-da
Da-da-da
Da-da-da-da-da-da
What a way
What a way
To make it through
What a day
What a day to take to
A wild child
What a day
What a day to take to
A wild child
Only Time
Who can say where the road goes
Where the day flows, only time
And who can say if your love grows
As your heart chose, only time
Who can say why your heart sighs
As your love flies, only time
And who can say why your heart cries
When your love lies, only time
Who can say when the roads meet
That love might be in your heart
And who can say when the day sleeps
If the night keeps all your heart
Night keeps all your heart
Who can say if your love grows
As your heart chose
- Only time
And who can say where the road goes
Where the day flows, only time
Ergo, oceanus, maritimus
Opacare, matutinus
Septentrio, meridies
Occidens et orientis
Ergo, terra, stella, hiems et aestas,
Ergo, autumnus et tempus vernum,
Ergo, radius solis et umbra, ignis, aqua
Caelum, luna, terra, stella,
Hierns et aestas, autumnus et tempus vernum...
Tempus vernum.
[Translation]
Therefore, ocean, sea
Therefore, dusk, dawn
Therefore, north, south
Therefore, west and east
Therefore, ocean, sea
Dusk, dawn
North, South
West and East
Therefore, earth, star
Winter and summer
Therefore, autumn and spring time
Therefore, ray of the sun and shade, fire, water
Sky, moon, earth, sta,
Winter and summer,
Autumn and spring time...
Spring time.
Deora Ar Mo Chroi
Ba dheas an la go oiche
Na glortha binne i mo thaobh
'S aoibhneas i gach ait gan gruaim
Athas ar mo chroi go deo
He-a-ro
He-a-o-ro
Ma shiulaim o na laetha beo
An ghrian 's an ghealach ar mo chul
Nil uaim ach smaointe o mo shaoil
Deora ar mo chroi go bron
He-a-ro
He-a-ro
He-a-o-ro
[Translation]
It was beautiful all day
The sweet voices by my side
And beauty without dispair everywhere
Joy in my heart forever
He-a-ro
He-a-o-ro
If I walk from the alive days
The sun and the moon behind me
I'll only need thoughts from my life
Tears sorrowfully on my heart
He-a-ro
He-a-ro
He-a-o-ro
Flora's Secret
Lovers in the long grass
Look above them
Only they can see
Where the clouds are going
Only to discover
Dust and sunlight
Ever make the sky so blue
Afternoon is hazy
River flowing
All around the sounds
Moving closer to them
Telling them the story
Told by Flora
Dreams they never knew
Silver willows
Tears from Persia
Those who come
From a far-off island
Winter Chanterelle lies
Under cover
Glory-of-the-sun in blue
Some they know as passion
Some as freedom
Some they know as love
And the way it leaves them
Summer snowflake
For a season
When the sky above is blue
When the sky above is blue
Lying in the long grass
Close beside her
Giving her the name
Of the one the moon loves
This will be the day she
Will remember
When she knew his heart was
Loving in the long grass
Close beside her
Whispering of love
And the way it leaves them
Lying in the long grass
In the sunlight
They believe it's true love
And from all around them
Flora's secret
Telling them of love
And the way it breathes, and
Looking up from eyes of
Amaranthine ...
They can see the sky is blue
Knowing that their love is true
Dreams they never knew
And the sky above is blue
Fallen Embers
Once, as my heart remember,
All the stars were fallen embers.
Once, when night seemed forever
I was with you.
Once, in the care of morning
In the air was all belonging.
Once, when that day was dawning.
I was with you.
How far we are from morning
How far we are
And the stars shining through the darkness,
Falling in the air.
Once, as the night was leaving
Into us our dreams were weaving.
Once, all dreams were worth keeping.
I was with you.
Once, when our hearts were singing,
I was with you.
Silver Inches
[Instrumental]
Pilgrim
Pilgrim, how you journey
On the road you chose
To find out why the winds die
And where the stories go.
All days come from one day
That much you must know,
You cannot change what's over
But only where you go.
One way leads to diamonds,
One way leads to gold,
Another leads you only
To everything you're told.
In your heart you wonder
Which of these is true;
The road that leads to nowhere,
The road that leads to you.
Will you find the answer
In all you say and do?
Will you find the answer
In you?
Each heart is a pilgrim,
Each one wants to know
The reason why the winds die
And where the stories go.
Pilgrim, in your journey
You may travel far,
For pilgrim it's a long way
To find out who you are...
Pilgrim, it's a long way
To find out who you are...
Pilgrim, it's a long way
To find out who you are...
One By One
Here am I
Yet another goodbye!
He says Adios, says Adios,
And do you know why
She won't break down and cry?
- she says Adios, says Adios, Goodbye.
One by one my leaves fall.
One by one my tales are told.
It's no lie
She is yearning to fly.
She says Adios, says Adios,
And now you know why
He's a reason to sigh
- she says Adios, says Adios, Goodbye.
- she says Adios, says Adios, Goodbye.
One by one my leaves fall.
One by one my tales are told.
My, oh my!
She was aiming too high.
He says Adios, says Adios,
And now you know why
There's no moon in her sky
- he says Adios, says Adios, Goodbye.
No Goodbyes
For love brightens their eyes.
Don't say Adios, say Adios,
And do you know why
There's a love that won't die?
- don't say Adios, say Adios, Goodbye.
- don't say Adios, say Adios, Goodbye.
- don't say Adios, say Adios, Goodbye.
Lazy Days
Lazy old day
Rolling away
Dreaming the day away
Don't want to go
Now that I'm in the flow
Crazy amazing day
One red balloon
Floats to the moon
Just let it fly away
I only know
That I'm longing to go
Back to my lazy day
And how it sings and how it sighs
And how it never stays
And how it rings and how it cries
And how it sails away...
away... away....