Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com From the first blanket of choral voices awash in reverb, Amarantine is instantly recognizable as a product of Enya, the Irish chanteuse who has created a genre unto herself. Although it's been five years since her last CD, on Amarantine it's as if time stood still. The triumvirate of Enya, lyricist Roma Ryan, and producer Nicky Ryan work the formula they perfected on Watermark, layering her voice in lush choirs pushed along by pizzicato synth strings, swooning orchestral pads, and harpsichord arpeggios. On tracks like "Less Than a Pearl" and "Drifting," Enya flirts with a timeless sound born in gothic chants and hymns. The former is one of three songs that she sings in Roma Ryan's fictitious language of Loxian. It seems to free her, especially on "The River Sings," a veritable rave-up where she gets the tribal choir going in the style of Scottish mouth music. But to get there you have to slog through slo-mo ballads that manage to be dirge-like and singsong at the same time, like the Carpenters on Quaaludes. The relatively restrained arrangement of "It's in the Rain" almost attains a folk-like simplicity that Enya hasn't experienced since she sang with her siblings in Clannad a quarter-century ago. Amarantine sounds like it was born in cloistered solitude, self-referentially echoing Enya albums past. --John DilibertoMore Enya ![](images/P/B000002MSM.01.SWATCHZZ.jpg) The Celts | ![](images/P/B000002LRR.01.SWATCHZZ.jpg) Watermark | ![](images/P/B000002LRT.01.SWATCHZZ.jpg) Shepherd Moons | ![](images/P/B000002N3N.01.SWATCHZZ.jpg) The Memory of Trees | ![](images/P/B000050XEI.01.SWATCHZZ.jpg) A Day Without Rain | ![](images/P/B000002NJH.01.SWATCHZZ.jpg) Paint the Sky with Stars: The Best of Enya |
Album Description The first album in five years from Enya follows the biggest-selling album of her illustrious career, the six-times platinum A Day Without Rain, which transcended all commercial expectations. Having sold more than 50 million albums worldwide, Enya is one of the most successful female artists of all time and second only to U2 as the biggest selling Irish artist in history. |
Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
Don't Over Analyze just ENJOY!, Apr 26, 2023 I am not a music purist nor do I try to over-analyze every aspect of every piece of music in my collection. What I can boil it down to is "Do I enjoy this CD?", "Does It Make Me Feel Good?" "Would I recommend this to a friend?". It may seem simple, but I spend less time complaining about a particular CD's faults and more time listening to its strengths.
"Amarantine" does not disappoint. I soothes the soul and moves the heart just like Enya's music is supposed to do. Yes, it is familiar but Enya does what she does best and Amarantine is no exception, just an enjoyable CD from beginning to end. Enya flows well in my changer on shuffle along with Conjure One, Digital moodz, Enigma, Amethystium and Delerium.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
Enya - the everlasting flower, Apr 17, 2023 The "Amarantine" flower is a good metaphor for Enya's music, which seems to blossom eternally, and especially now. This new album brings the best from Enya: it is melodical, moving and touching, more than ever. The title song is truly addicting, and my other favorites are the emotional "If I Could Be Where You Are" and "Sumiregusa", the upbeat "Somebody Said Goodbye" and the instrumental "Drifting". All of the songs follow her soothing style, rich with voice harmonies sung by herself alone, angelic melodies, and an accompaniment consisting of synthesized textures together with string orchestra. And one final favorite of mine: if you like Enya's music, you will love Arye Geiman, a very romantic composer, whose music really awakens your imagination. You can listen to it at this web site: http://urlcut.com/geiman
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
A gorgeous album... again!, Apr 15, 2023 Okay, so Enya doesn't come out with an album every year. What she does is craft her CDs beautifully, taking much time and care. She doesn't try to be something she isn't, but then NO one can do what Enya does, and she does it miraculously. Wow.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
Now, I understand, Apr 10, 2023 I used to be continually frustrated waiting for Enya's next album to be released. Three albums back, I started ordering them before release. However, with the release of Amarantine, I changed my perspective. I'm now glad that she takes her time. I feel that, because of this trait, she has never isssued a false note, made a misstep in her career, and I love her all the more for it. Obviously, I own all of her albums and listen to her every day, however, I can say without qualm that I listen to her critically. So, I feel, must she. She must scrutinize everything that she releases- because it is as perfect as she can make it. I admire her dedication to her craft enormously.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Special voice, Apr 6, 2023 Enya has an amazing voice and each of her songs allows you to listen to how special her voice truely is. I had never bought any of Enya's music until about a year ago, and I was blown away when I listened to a little clip on Amazon.com the site suggested that due to my interests I might want it, and it was right. I have since asked for (and gotten) the large 4 CD set of her from my husband for my birthday back in Jan, and bring it in the car, to work and back home again.
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