Enya - Dark Sky Island [2015]
 

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Yes! I have been waiting for this for quite some time. I'm so, so so so so very happy with it. From start to finish it's a chill-inducing sensory pleasure, which I highly recommend. Unfortunately the album is not available to listen to on youtube yet, but there are a few tracks that were uploaded for promotion, as well as an album sampler, which I will post below.

It seems that after several years of inactivity and some albums that were leaning a little mainstream, Enya has finally gone back to her roots, or at least, her old self. If you liked "Orinoco Flow" or "Anywhere Is..." or "Marble Halls" and "China Roses," I think you will be happy with this latest release. I certainly am.

Enya already played a huge role in my childhood. Her soothing melodies, comforting tone, and optimistic themes are enough to motivate any 10 year old. Or at least any 10 year old with high emotional intelligence like me perhaps. Who is also a Pisces and dreamer who grew up in the woodland realms of Maine. Ok maybe her magic only works on me. Whatever.

Anyway, onto the album. Most notable is probably the title track, Dark Sky Island, which is the perfect blend of otherworldly, haunting, and romantic for me. It's the kind of music that truly transports me and leaves me feeling like I just woke up from the most deeply satisfying dream.

Another seriously magical work of art is Diamonds on the Water. Listening to it is like entering a sacred space or a zen garden or something. F, I love this song. It has so many layers and intriguing moments. So good.

My other favorites include the uplifting single Echoes in Rain, introductory track and spine shivery The Humming, and the tribal, moody, and atmospheric Loxian Gate.

All of those, and the rest, can be heard in this sampler:



As sampling these tracks could tell you, Enya is back to her old antics of throwing in something radio-friendly along with a few tracks that are either instrumental or in a non-existent language of chanted syllables. Yep, she does that.

Her radio-friendly track this time around seems to be Echoes in Rain, which definitely has the "Orinoco Flow" vibe. I super approve. At first I felt that the alleuia chorus was a bit repetitive and lazy, but it has grown on me so hardcore. I adore it.



She can be cheesy as hell, but Enya is so special. I mean she really does not give a **** about being cool or trendy or anything, and it's so obvious how much of her soul she bares to make this kind of music. I, for one, appreciate it immensely. Just sayin'.

This album gets a resounding 10/10 for me. Wouldn't change a thing.

Is Dark Sky Island a significant new experience for anyone who already has one or more Enya albums? I have not heard it, this is a genuine question.

My problem in the past with Enya is this: I bought Watermark when it was released, loved it to bits and still do. Over the years I have heard a few other tracks of Enya's, and at least one other album in full, and my reaction is always the same: it's Watermark part 2, part 3 or whatever. Everybody probably needs one Enya album in their life; whether you need more than one is a moot point.

Is DSI an exception to this rule? I would love to learn that it is.

The only two things I know about Enya is that she uses a Roland D-50 synthesizer on her earlier material (not sure if she still uses it now) and she likes to over-dub ... a lot. Oh a third, she's from Ireland. While I do like a few songs by her, I can't say I got into her music on an album-listening level. :/

Here's another thing to know: She sng the song "May It Be" in the first Lord of the Rings movie during the credits.

Sounds Good, i'll give it a listen!