The Celts

by Enya

Overview

Initially released simply as Enya, The Celts shows that the style she became famous for on Watermark was already well under way. With production and lyrical help fully in place thanks to her husband-and-wife gurus Nicky and Roma Ryan, Enya's combination of Celtic traditionalism and distinctly modern approach finds lush flower here. All the elements that characterize her music -- open, clear nods to her Irish heritage, any number of vocal overdubs to create an echoing, haunting feeling, and layers of synth and electronic percussion -- can be found almost track for track. The flip side is that those who find such a combination to be gloopy mush won't be at all convinced further by her work here. It's understandable why folk music traditionalists and anti-mainstream types would get the hives, but those not coming from that angle will find much that's rewarding. Given that The Celts is a commissioned piece of work, it actually stands on its own quite well. The charging surge of the title track functions both as a fine introduction and its own stirring, quietly powerful anthem, a good sign for the rest of the album. There are a couple of slight missteps -- an electric guitar solo disrupts the string-and-vocal flow of the truly lovely "I Want Tomorrow," for instance. Generally, though, her musical instincts serve her very well, with many striking highlights. The appropriately three-part "Triad" showcases her ear for vocal work excellently, while both versions of "To Go Beyond," especially the second, which closes the disc with an exquisite extra string part, also are worthy of note. ~ Ned Raggett

Product Details

Release Date:	06/27/1995
Label:	Reprise / Warner Bros.
UPC:	0093624568124

Tracks

1. Celts
2. Aldebaran
3. I Want Tomorrow
4. March of the Celts
5. Deireadh an Tuath
6. The Sun in the Stream
7. To Go Beyond, Pt. 1
8. Fairytale
9. Epona
10. Triad: St. Patrick/C¿¿ Chulainn/Oisin
11. Portrait (Out of the Blue)
12. Boadicea
13. Bard Dance
14. Dan y Dwr
15. To Go Beyond, Pt. 2

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Enya   Primary Artist,Piano,Vocals,Synthesizer
Liam O'Flynn   Guest Artist,Pipe
Arty McGlynn   Guest Artist,Guitar (Electric)
Liam O'Flionn   Uillean Pipes,Pipe
Patrick Halling   Violin

Technical Credits

Roma Ryan   Composer
Nicky Ryan   Arranger,Composer,Engineer,Producer
Nigel Reid   Engineer
Bruce Talbot   Executive Producer
Enya   Arranger,Composer
Arun   Mastering
Nigel Read   Engineer
David Scheinmann   Photography
Sooky Choi   Design