The line is actually a quote from an ancient Roman text (Horace’s Epistle) and, literally translated, says “Believe that each day that breaks is the last”. The casual listener will shrug off lines like “Omnem crede diem tibi diluxisse supremum” but getting the translation shows another layer to an album that prides itself on having so much going on that it takes several listens to absorb it all, and even then retains the same warmth as the first time. And the more upbeat tracks (Anywhere Is, On My Way Home) fit this nicely, the former in particular upstanding as one of my favourite songs of all time, with its relatable lyrics that lift the spirit wondrously.Īnd those are just the English ones the Latin translations offer an even deeper perspective. That of a soothing, but uplifting land, which feels as much yours as it does hers. And she carries it too through all 11 tracks she brings a beauty and passion to her work that is rarely seen in modern music.įrom the opener “The Memory Of Trees”, which begins with a quiet synth and builds into an ever widening landscape of instruments, Enya creates a mood that remains unbroken throughout. There’s not a bad song on here, every single one of them is superbly crafted, produced to perfection so it’s almost impossible to tell its all just Enya. With its layered vocals (Enya does all the vocals herself), light synth lines, and gorgeous orchestral compositions. Not because it’s boring, but because it’s soothingly beautiful. When I was a small child my mother would put this album on to get me to go to sleep. The easiest way to describe this album is by stating a fact. As a listener we completed a mystical journey when the beautiful last notes of album closer ‘Diamonds On The Water’ play.Review Summary: This is the kind of album you put children to sleep with, that doesn’t make it bad, its just what it is. She herself explained that the album is about journeys.
This album is best to be enjoyed with dimmed lights, lying on the couch and just let her music take you away like the gentle waves, sonically presented on title track ‘Dark Sky Island’, that of course deals with water, like a lot of Enya’s work. Overall, Enya once again manages to create a unique atmosphere that makes her music into an experience. Second single ‘Even In The Shadows’ has a welcome change of pace and a bit more bite, which saves the album from getting a bit repetitive or becoming a little too slow. The subtle waltz rhythm and Enya’s soaring vocals create an emotional atmosphere for this song about loss and looking back at the beautiful moments experienced with a person who passed away. ‘So I Could Find My Way’, written after the passing of producer Ryan’s mother, is probably the most emotional song on the record. The result is a hypnotic hymne with a strong recurring melody. The album opens with the song ‘The Humming…’, which not surprisingly was written from Enya humming a melody.
Enya worked with producer Nicky Ryan and lyricist and poet Roma Ryan, who even brings back her Loxian language, introduced on Amarantine, on the tracks ‘The Forge of Angels’ and ‘The Loxian Gates’. When listening to the whole record, one can conclude that ‘Echoes in Rain’ was actually the track that is the most easy on the ear at first listen and therefore the perfect choice for the first single. From the first seconds on, her mystical and dreamy sound was back and that is something we hear throughout the brand new album Dark Sky Island. In September Enya surprised with the release of the single ‘Echoes In Rain’ and she immediately returned to form. Her last regular studio album Amarantine came out ten years ago. The Irish singer-songwriter took an extensive break since the release of her Christmassy album And Winter Came… in 2008. Fans of Enya had to wait a long, long time for this.