LLoreena McKennitt
I have very quickly fallen in love with Loreena McKennitt's exquisite voice and ethereal melodies. These two CDs are the ones currently featured on CelticMelt. The law limits me to the number of tracks per artist I can have in my show. Some CDs make it quite easy I must admit. Not those two, as they were definitely among the the most difficult to edit down. Every piece is close to perfect in moods, emotions, layers and production values. I intend to pack as much Loreena McKennitt into the show as I can get away with!
CelticMelt features the songs : Annachie Gordon, Breaking the Silence, Moon Cradle, Mummer's Dance and my favorite, the dark and mysterious Night Ride Across the Caucasus.
"Loreena McKennitt is one of my favorite artists. "The Book of Secrets" is a wonderful variety of sounds from the haunting strains of "Prologue" to the irresistibly rhythmic "Marco Polo." All of the tracks are well-constructed musically, and the Middle Eastern influence gives her Celtic-inspired music a special flair. I particularly enjoyed "The Mummers' Dance" and the heartbreaking story of the wandering monk set to the soul-deep music of "Skellig." "Dante's Prayer" is such a beautiful piece; the first time I heard it, it moved me to tears."
Parallel Dreams captures harpist/vocalist Loreena McKennitt at her absolute finest. Fully immersed in the Celtic style, this London, Ontario, performer's voice is lush and layered in warm harmonies, soaring overtop equally beautiful instrumentation. Flowing between traditional ("Annachie Gordon") and original ("Dickens' Dublin") fare, McKennitt slows down time and relaxes furrowed brows on this disc by staying true to her red-headed roots. Subsequent discs tend to experiment more with tangos and uptempo melodies; Parallel Dreams, however, is one long, luscious lullaby. --Denise Sheppard, Amazon Review
