New Age music reviews

Awesome! Her best compilations. Use constantly for meditation, drifting off to sleep, and love-making. The combination of Celtic, Mediteranean, and Arabic instruments, themes, and melodies is sensational! Have given copies to siblings, off-spring, and close friends as gifts. All comment on their satisfaction. A must have for personal music libraries!

Loreena has a pure talent for weaving melody music and words together. Her song The Highwayman is absolutely astounding to be able to put the old poem into music melody and verse is quite amazing

The first time I heard Loreena's music I was with my best friend at the University, ten years ago, trying to escape from the burdens of the world. He gave me a copy of "The Visit" and I loved every song. I didn't hear from Loreena again until February 2001, when I came into a music store and, by instinct, I bought a copy of "Book of secrets". This gorgeous piece of art transported me to a magical and enchanted place. It was like to be born again in some fantastic land lost between the memories of my childhood and the beginning of my adulthood as Loreena's crystal voice starts surrounding your soul in a soft and lovely atmosphere. "The Mummer's dance"-one of my favorite pieces-is strongly linked to the most important and clue moments of my life. Every time I feel in a crossroad I play this song, close my eyes and, immediately, everything comes back to its original place.

Awesome! Her best compilations. Use constantly for meditation, drifting off to sleep, and love-making. The combination of Celtic, Mediteranean, and Arabic instruments, themes, and melodies is sensational! Have given copies to siblings, off-spring, and close friends as gifts. All comment on their satisfaction. A must have for personal music libraries!

Loreena has a pure talent for weaving melody music and words together. Her song The Highwayman is absolutely astounding to be able to put the old poem into music melody and verse is quite amazing

The first time I heard Loreena's music I was with my best friend at the University, ten years ago, trying to escape from the burdens of the world. He gave me a copy of "The Visit" and I loved every song. I didn't hear from Loreena again until February 2001, when I came into a music store and, by instinct, I bought a copy of "Book of secrets". This gorgeous piece of art transported me to a magical and enchanted place. It was like to be born again in some fantastic land lost between the memories of my childhood and the beginning of my adulthood as Loreena's crystal voice starts surrounding your soul in a soft and lovely atmosphere. "The Mummer's dance"-one of my favorite pieces-is strongly linked to the most important and clue moments of my life. Every time I feel in a crossroad I play this song, close my eyes and, immediately, everything comes back to its original place.

arrived in good condition, cd is in perfect shape. I love her style of music and this cd is one of her best. Thanks for many hours of music bliss.

I am of Scotish descent. I look for my countryman's music and cherish it. When I discovered Loreena I was awestruck - I saw her on a PBS special and could not get my pen out fast enough to write down her name. As soon thereafter as possible I was out to the music stores looking for her. I bought everything I could get my hands on! Her music is timeless (and some songs have the pipes which just reach into my Scotish heart and make me cry - love them!). Her voice makes me weep too - it is the most beautiful voice, the clarity - aw. I also bellydance as a hobby and for exercise and found many of her boisterous songs to be quite satisfactory for that - especially with the drums and all! She makes you dance, makes you weep, makes you dream, makes you think. It is such an experience. Nothing like it exists! Love, Love, Love, Loreena!

I am by no means an expert on Loreena McKennitt's works. I own just this album and her most popular album The Book of Secrets. Although The Book of Secrets made Ms. McKennitt popular because of the song The Mummer's Dance, which received air play on even some popular music stations, The Visit contains some wonderful songs.

All Souls Night is a quick song about the ancient Celtic holiday Samhain. The pagans believed that on October 31st, the last day of summer, the spirits of the dead wandered the landscape looking for bodies to inhabit. The living lit bonfires, sang songs, and dressed in scary costumes to frighten away the dead. If you let your mind wander, this song can almost transport you to ancient Ireland. Historians know so little for certain about ancient pagan beliefs, McKennitt's well-studied songs and lyrics help bring this lost culture back to life.

The Lady of Shalott is the masterpiece of this album. Adapted from the poem by Alfred Tennyson, McKennitt sets it to music and brings the poem to life. Over 11 minutes long, McKennitt deleted hardly a word of the original poem, yet the music and intonation rivet the listener's attention. The poem is about a spirit or elfish woman drawn to the ancient mythical city of Camelot by the beauty of the castle and Sir Lancelot. Even the way McKennitt pronounces the word Camelot in the song conveys the sacred nature of this most important legend in English mythology. The poem and the song will touch your heart. For me, as I watch modern England quickly losing it's historic culture, this song serves as a reminder of the England that once was.

McKennitt adapts another long poem from English Literature in her later album The Book of Secrets. McKennit faithfully puts the word of Alfred Noyes' The Highwayman into a heart-wrenching song. Again, over 10 minutes long, this is a formula McKennitt does very well.

If I had to choose just one album by Loreena McKennitt, it would be The Book of Secrets. But it would be a cruel choice to have to make. I look forward to someday owning all of her works and anxiously await her next recording.

arrived in good condition, cd is in perfect shape. I love her style of music and this cd is one of her best. Thanks for many hours of music bliss.

I am of Scotish descent. I look for my countryman's music and cherish it. When I discovered Loreena I was awestruck - I saw her on a PBS special and could not get my pen out fast enough to write down her name. As soon thereafter as possible I was out to the music stores looking for her. I bought everything I could get my hands on! Her music is timeless (and some songs have the pipes which just reach into my Scotish heart and make me cry - love them!). Her voice makes me weep too - it is the most beautiful voice, the clarity - aw. I also bellydance as a hobby and for exercise and found many of her boisterous songs to be quite satisfactory for that - especially with the drums and all! She makes you dance, makes you weep, makes you dream, makes you think. It is such an experience. Nothing like it exists! Love, Love, Love, Loreena!

I am by no means an expert on Loreena McKennitt's works. I own just this album and her most popular album The Book of Secrets. Although The Book of Secrets made Ms. McKennitt popular because of the song The Mummer's Dance, which received air play on even some popular music stations, The Visit contains some wonderful songs.

All Souls Night is a quick song about the ancient Celtic holiday Samhain. The pagans believed that on October 31st, the last day of summer, the spirits of the dead wandered the landscape looking for bodies to inhabit. The living lit bonfires, sang songs, and dressed in scary costumes to frighten away the dead. If you let your mind wander, this song can almost transport you to ancient Ireland. Historians know so little for certain about ancient pagan beliefs, McKennitt's well-studied songs and lyrics help bring this lost culture back to life.

The Lady of Shalott is the masterpiece of this album. Adapted from the poem by Alfred Tennyson, McKennitt sets it to music and brings the poem to life. Over 11 minutes long, McKennitt deleted hardly a word of the original poem, yet the music and intonation rivet the listener's attention. The poem is about a spirit or elfish woman drawn to the ancient mythical city of Camelot by the beauty of the castle and Sir Lancelot. Even the way McKennitt pronounces the word Camelot in the song conveys the sacred nature of this most important legend in English mythology. The poem and the song will touch your heart. For me, as I watch modern England quickly losing it's historic culture, this song serves as a reminder of the England that once was.

McKennitt adapts another long poem from English Literature in her later album The Book of Secrets. McKennit faithfully puts the word of Alfred Noyes' The Highwayman into a heart-wrenching song. Again, over 10 minutes long, this is a formula McKennitt does very well.

If I had to choose just one album by Loreena McKennitt, it would be The Book of Secrets. But it would be a cruel choice to have to make. I look forward to someday owning all of her works and anxiously await her next recording.

I also own Pure Moods II and can say that I find this CD equally enjoyable-except for the X-Files and Tubular Bells tracks. I had no clue that "Tubular Bells" was the theme song to The Exorcist, until I listened to it for the first time after purchasing the CD. I can't figure out why they put these 2 songs on this CD, considering it's not the type of music that puts you in the "purist of moods". Maybe had I never seen The Exorcist or watched an episode of X-Files, I could enjoy the music for what it is, but I guess I'll be forever tainted. And, trust me, I've tried getting past my "fears", but every time I listen to these two particular songs, all I see are images of Agents Scully & Mulder chasing after some alien or Linda Blair's spinning head.

Overall, if you can get past the creepy tracks, it's an excellent CD.

This original Pure Moods CD is a great CD. I think all 4 CDs in this series (so far) are good but none are as complete as this CD is. Though there are many different "new age" styles on this CD it still manages to work fine. From the beginning with Enigma (you can't go wrong with Enigma) to Miram Stockley's heavenly voice(s) in "Adiemus" to the sexy sax of Candy Dulfer in "Lily was Here" you can't go wrong with this CD. The other Pure Moods are also worth a listen as well as "Levitation" by Digital Moodz and the 2 Relax CD's from Blank and Jones.

I've always enjoyed Pure Moods and this album is no exception, but while reading some of the customer recommendations posted on this site I discovered a group by the name of Mehdi (pronounced meddie). After an online search I found their site (SoothingMusic - Com) and listened to the samples...
I was instantly blown away by the quality of this music and so I gave it a try and now that I have listened to these CDs several times I really must say that although I'm still a Pure Moods fan, I find Mehdi to be a great addition to this CD. I have them both in my multi-disc CD player and love the way they compliment each other. I highly recommend that you give this artist a try or atleast just go listen to the samples, I have a feeling you'll be glad you did.

I honestly don't feel it is even the slightest of exaggerations to label this recording as the Greatest Piano Solo Album Of All-Time. Even at nearly a quarter of a century old, it has only become better with age. I was first introduced to "December" at the mature age of 10, and I fell in love with it immediately. My mother would play it at Christmas, time and time again, and oddly enough I never tired of the haunting melodies. In the nearly twenty years since, I've found that while much of the music has a holiday theme, I enjoy listening to the tracks year-round. And in all that time I've found nothing that even comes close to matching the beauty, feeling or power of this exquisite creation. Winston pours such depth and feeling into each compilation that, if you're not careful, you find yourself begin to sway with the melody, much the same fashion as a teenager headbanging to a punk-rock band. But of course this is much more subtle and sophisticated. Truth be told, I credit Winston (and to some degree Chip Davis) with my desire to learn the piano. Fortunately my wife had the foresight this year to do what I could not bring myself to do, and presented me with piano lessons for Christmas. My one desire is to someday be good enough to eek out an intelligible semblance of this timeless album for family and friends at the holidays... but I won't hold my breath. Winston is a Master, and I don't believe I have either the time, nor the talent, to hold even the dimmest of candles to his "bright as noon-day" masterpiece. Enjoy!

I am not really big on instrumental music. A lot of it reminds me of that cheeseball Yanni. My favorite instrumentalist is George Winston. I absolutely love his album "December". I have always loved this particular album for as long as I can remember. I remember borrowing my mom's cassette copy of this album several years ago and I still have it to this very day. It is truly one of my personal favorite albums in my entire (almost) 30 years of life. No matter what time of year it is, I can always throw it in and chill to the music. The music is so enchanting. I especially love "Jesus, Jesus, Rest Your Head". It is one of my personal favorite songs on the album. It truly moves me emotionally. George's piano playing is flawless. It flows like a running stream. I love the simplicity of the music which is just George's piano playing. I think having other instruments would have convoluted the music. I also adore the variations on Pachelbel's "Canon", my personal favorite baroque movement. George does a lovely job with his unique interpretation of the song. After eight hours at the office and listening to my goth/industrial/ebm/techno cds, it is nice to listen to more soothing music to relax too.

i think dat is a very good cd, especially for christmas and we put it on whenever we hav a family time.
Thank-you george!

The music is nice, but a fusion of Western and Natvie American.
I am Native American. Most music is traditional, yet the fusion, in many cases requires a beyond the spiritual imagination. Imagine Crazy Horse doing the "Robot", and you will get some idea of the degree of fusion in this music.
(nu-da e-lo e-lo-hi ga-nv-go-i a-ge-a-di-s-di)

What more to say, a classic for any World collection.

I'm new to this type of music, but I got a glimpse of one of the songs (Prosperity.....) on a Pure Moods CD, and was hooked. Immediately bought the whole CD and now can't stop listening to it. I have in fact had to replace it, because I wore the first one out. Buy it, you won't be sorry.

Jon Anderson's 1976 solo album "Olias of Sunhillow" is one of my favorite pieces of music. It doesn't quite sound like Yes, yet it has that ethereal quality that their classic era records had. (Close to the Edge, Tales of Topographic Oceans, Relayer). Using synthesizers, tape loops, ethnic instruments, sound effects and different voices, Jon creates a rich, evocative world. It's one of the few albums I've entirely uploaded to my MP3 player and I usually listen to the album once every couple of days, and it never gets old for me.

The lyrics tell a story of a fellow called Olias, who lives in Sunhillow, a land where "each man belonged" and where "the slightest confrontation was dissolved before the start". With his friends Ranyart and Qoquaq (pronounced ko-quake) and many others he boards the Moorglade (a ship that can fly, powered by song). On it, they fly into space, past their moon, ascending to the stars, searching, searching...

I remember the first time I heard this record, it was like experiencing a dream, it really, really was. Atmospheres, feelings and adventures floating through the speakers, merging into each other. It's one of the few albums I think can truly be called otherworldly. My favorite segments include "Meeting (Garden of Geda)" with its strange choir harmonies and rather modern sounding beat, "Solid Space" with its uplifting synths and eerie electronic thunder, and "Naon" with its thick percussion and a chant/chorus from Jon that sounds kind of like like a thousand people singing their hearts out from the mountaintops. Beautiful. It's all as detailed and rich as any fantasy novel. I can picture all that is happening just as well, if not better, than some stories.

The album artwork both inside and out is brilliant and just as evocative as the music. I just wish there was more of it.

Highly, highly recommended for prog rock fans, Yes fans, and lovers of fantasy of all kinds.

I guess there are some of us who know what we like when we hear it. This is it for me. Being a yes fan from 1972 I knew Jon would continue his magic with beautiful sounds that make you think of what's behind the universe if you have any poetic cells at all. Being a musician, I am jealous and yet moved to be able to experience what this music does to me. It makes me feel rich and important as a human. I hope I haven't over done it but what is life without sounds that entertain the angels?

Turn of the lights and listen to this in the dark. As usual with Anderson, there are highly complex lyrics that might just be gobbldygook but it doesn't matter as the sound collages and vocals are stunning. At the beginning of the vinyl second side, a percussive chant that fades in conjures up in my mind, the image of Hannibal & his elephants swaggering through a swirling snow storm over the Alps! As another reviewer states, the album is truly cinematic in scope. The final 10 minutes is one of most beautiful sections of music I've heard ever and I would like to have it played at my funeral! A simple guitar piece is followed by a celtic sounding melody backed by a pulsing heart beat and spectral choir before angelic harps herald the joyous 'to the runner' section. The album then finishes with a beautiful & peaceful 'ascent into heaven' coda. When you open your eyes as the album ends, you are jolted back into harsh reality. In a way the second side may be the prog equivalent of the Abbey Road medley. The first side doesn't quite flow so well but nothing's perfect. I'm really pleased to see so many glowing reviews of this album from people who have enjoyed it over the years. One of the UK music publications once had a less than complimentary article on 'Ten albums by artists who should have known better'. Olias was one of them! Bowie's Tonight and ABC's Beauty Stab were also included, both of which I really like!

I recently bought Alegria on DVD, and I really love the show soundtrack. At least I love the DVD Soundtrack.
This CD doesn't live up to my expectations. It doesn't contain the real tracks from the DVD but really lame MIDI tracks.
So if you don't mind listening to "reduced" versions of those songs you may enjoy this product, otherwise stay away from it.
I repeat, these are not the beautiful orchestral songs from the DVD. Also, some songs are missing (and I refer to the beautiful Hoops Act and Flying Man Act Tracks).

Again: disappointing...

If you are not familiar with the rising cult status of Cirque du Soleil, you may not understand the passion and dedication those who have seen a performance give to these productions. By far, this is the most passionate "I've Lost Love on European Streets in the Autumn Rain" songs you will ever encounter, and make for some intense love-making sessions. Highly recommended, this is a necessity for any contemporary musician's collection. "Alegria: There is a spark of life shining... Alegria: I hear a young minstrel sing... Alegria: There is a love in me waiting... Alegria: A joyous, magical feeling." Experience the passion. Flow with the emotions in the months that follow.

Alegria is Cirque du Soleil's BEST SELLING album, people! Any guy who insults Alegria should listen to the soundtrack again and listen and see if there is anything they like, really. And if you're still disappointed, you can go on eBay and buy the extended version of Alegria, which includes the Hoops act (cerceaux) and the flying man act. (malioumba)

A truly Magnificent album.

It does not matter for me what people say about Watermark. The Celts is still Enya's masterpiece.

I see the reviews from some that they really seem to hate this cd. That is really to bad. I love it. But I'm the type that likes to have soft beautiful music play low while I work. I have not found any of her work that I don't like. I like my rock and roll but there is a time and place for that music too.

I ordered online via Amazon.com; used One Click for easy and fast check out. CD arrived within five working days.