Enya - A Day Without Rain
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Free Music Notes for A Day Without Rain
Free Music Review: Enya's Day without Rain Is Our Day with Beautiful Music
Hit: 5 Stars
As Enya's seventh official album, she still manages to produce astounding chords, harmonies, and overlapping vocals. The song of Heaven itself cannot be much better than this. _A Day without Rain_ is an absolute masterpiece, one that reaches new heights for Enya. Overall, this album seems to have a peaceful, mellow theme to it; but this theme is actually halted for one song. The following is a song-by-song experience of Enya's _A Day without Rain_.1. "A Day without Rain" is the first and title track of the album. As a quiet and gentle piano/vocal piece, the song seems to bring to mind a silent snowfall in winter. Yet as it is titled, the song pinpoints how glorious the sunshine can be after prolonged periods of rain.
2. "Wild Child" is the second song on the album. A bit playful but still retaining an inner knowing, this song's plucking background and rhythmic singing definitely project some sort of happiness or discovery. The melody is very catchy, and you'll find yourself singing along in no time.
3. "Only Time" is the gem-like third track on _A Day without Rain_, and is featured in the film _Sweet November_. This song quiets the mind and reassures that all troubles and triumphs are handled by time. The song seems to climax halfway through, with added background vocals and melody changes. Just like a rain shower fading, "Only Time" ends as if it has given you a pearl of wisdom.
4. "Tempus Vernum" is where the theme stops, but then repeats after this song until the end of the album. Dark strings and xylophone-sound plunking give this song an edge. The chanted/sung Latin lyrics add to its eerieness, and its sound building at the end of the song leaves as quickly as it came. This is certainly a memorable piece.
5. "Deora ar Mo Chroi" is partners with "Tempus Vernum" in that the strings in "Tempus Vernum" quiet and fade into the background for this song. Serene Irish Gaelic lyrics make a very Enya-like atmosphere. If "Tempus Vernum" raised your heart rate, this song definitely slows it down.
6. "Flora's Secret" is a lovely song with a pleasing melody and rhythm about two lovers and the stories told to them by Flora. Again using strings and airy background vocals, this song will put a smile on your face.
7. "Fallen Embers" is a contrast to "Flora's Secret." Using a piano and Enya's voice as a solo, this song tells the story of losing a love, and reminiscing about how the world seemed so much better when her love was with her. What a sad but beautiful song! A real tear-jerker for anyone that has ever had to cope with loss.
8. "Silver Inches" almost seems like an attempt to brigten the mood of the sorrowful person in the last song! Using string-like (or maybe just string) instruments, this song's staccato fading to legato sound is absolutely marvelous.
9. "Pilgrim" in style and feeling seems to resemble "Only Time," but not in sound! With Enya singing solo again (other than quiet background vocals through half of the song), the swaying melody and wisdom-filled lyrics create an almost comatose piece.
10. "One by One" is another catchy melody with strings and lovely vocals, about the adventures befalling a "he" and "she" who repeatedly leave each other. The chorus, "one by one my leaves fall, one by one my tales are told" almost give the feeling that the singer is telling their life story in this song.
11. "Lazy Days," the last song (on the U.S. release) on _A Day without Rain_, is easily one of my favorites. A completely fun song about having a day or two to do "nothing." The loose lyrics and spunky melody combine to form a joyous atmosphere. The "chorus" of climaxing "da da da da da da da da da"'s make you want to dance. This is the perfect ending to a perfect album.
In short, _A Day without Rain_ may just be Enya's best album yet. Although the length is little over 30 minutes, the quality of this music is worth every penny. Absolutely amazing!
Free Music Review: What a day, what a day to take to...!
Hit: 5 Stars
OK, so it took another five years after the soundscape of The Memory Of Trees to do another followup. From the album cover, can we say Enya's entering her Green Period?The instrumental piano and dreamy soundscape synth title track is on the lines of "The Memory Of Trees." I always look forward to those, like an introduction, an opening chapter, or even prologue to one of her albums.
The rhythmic canter of "Wild Child" encourages those to give in to nature and enjoy it, let the rains fall down, and to "take the time from the helter skelter" of everyday drudgery, because "Every day you find, everything's in kilter/you don't need a reason, let the day go on and on." What a day, what a day to take to...
The enchanting mystical "Only Time" with its pizzicato-like rhythm, asks a lot of questions, running awash with her usual soundscape. "Who can say why your heart sighs as your love flies", "Who can say why your heart cries as your love lies". Answer: only time. Enya must really be a romantic, as she always looks to the future and is mystical about things.
The Latin incantation "Tempus Vernum" or "Spring Time", is a grim number like "Pax Deorum" from Memory Of Trees. There's a lot of opposites and concepts that come out. "occidens et orientis" being "west and east", "autumnus et tempus vernum" being "autumn and spring time" It's like a storm, and it segues into "Deora Ar Mo Chroi", or "Tears On My Heart", which sounds like the quiet after the storm. She also sings the Gaelic adaptation, which has different meaning from the English lyrics.
Strong strings underline "Flora's Secret" which is a close cousin to "Caribbean Blue" from Shepherd's Moon and celebrates the blessings and gifts and the enchanting aura that the trees and flowers have.
With Enya's echoing vocals on "Fallen Embers", she has topped herself in vocal splendour and perfection. This details a past love that's now gone: "Once, all dreams were worth keeping/I was with you." So sad, but a standout on this album.
The instrumental "Silver Inches" has the same strong strings as "Flora's Secret". The sage advice song here is "Pilgrim". Whatever road we choose, we have to decide "which of these is true/the road that leads to nowhere, [or] the road that leads to you." The refrain foretells a long journey: "Pilgrim, it's a long way to find out who you are." It's so strange that only the most introspective of us really stop to ask ourselves, "Will you find the answer in all you say or do?/Will you find the answer in you?" I really hope so--that's what I'm counting on, an answer that is. Another standout track.
"One By One" uses the analogy of trees' leaves falling one by one as a comparison of why many couples say goodbye. "One by one my leaves fall/One by one my tales are told", and when that happens, when our souls are too bare, the other may learn more than we want to about us and "say Adios, says Adios, Goodbye." Another strong strings sound.
"Lazy Days" is a dreamer's delight: "lazy old day/rolling away/dreaming the day away/don't want to go/now that I'm in flow/crazy amazing day." That's what I really like about Enya, that dreaming romantic nature of hers. Is there anywhere I can order those days in bulk, because I'll corner the market?
If it takes five years to make yet another winning spellbinding album, let her take five years. I can wait. So who can say when Enya will come out with the followup? Only time. And who can say if she will put in more Gaelic songs in it? Only time.
Free Music Review: A Day Without Rain review
Hit: 5 Stars
I enjoyed this album as much as every other that Enya has released, if not more. She has an incredible ability to enchant and utterly captivate me with every note of every song on every album she has ever made.A Day Without Rain begins, as every other album does, with its title track, a calming instrumental with background vocals by Enya. This song sends a chill down my spine when I listen to it, and at one point, it almost brought me to tears.
"Wild Child," the second track, has a title that fits perfectly: This song is quite wild and spunky for Enya, and comes as a small surprise after "A Day Without Rain." This song leads me to pondering the simplicity of childhood, to realizing how overly complicated adult life can get, and to guard myself from becoming "too mature."
Enya's first single and third album song, "Only Time," is less up-tempo than "Wild Child," but is less serious than "A Day Without Rain." This song has a peaceful way of reassuring us that worry is pointless, since everything is in "time's" hands.
This next track comes as a delightful surprise for me individually, because of its hints back to "Pax Deorum" and "Cursum Perficio." Yet this song in its entirety has a completely different feel to it than the comparisons, but relates to the others in that it is in Latin. Although somber, "Tempus Vernum" is catchy, and I found myself singing along to it in no time.
An interesting effect: As "Tempus Vernum" ends, the background leads right into "Deora ar Mo Chroi," a lovely Irish Gaelic ballad whose translations are included in the album booklet.
"Flora's Secret" begins very much like "Wild Child," but once the melody is given, it becomes a different song. Surprisingly, this is a long story between a nameless "he" and "she," whose relationship becomes intervened in by "flora."
The seventh track is about a lost/dead relationship and the remembrance of every happy memory with the other person. Lyrically and melodically "Fallen Embers" is quite a sad song, but it definitely reminds us listeners to kindle our current relationships with those special people in our lives.
"Silver Inches" provides a contenting interlude in the album, and sounds slightly like "Tea-house Moon." It is, obviously, an instrumental.
The ninth song is entitled "Pilgrim," and encompasses the journeying that we all do to discover who we are and what our place is in life. It is a slow tune, but provides gems of truth that are applicable in everyone's life.
"One by One" tells another love story, filled with adios's and good-bye's, but always returns to the couple being together again. The song ends by saying, "Don't say, 'Adios,' say, 'Adios, good-bye.'"
The last track on this album is possibly one of the best I've heard from Enya. From the first string plucked, it gives one the mental picture of rolling ocean waves on a sunny day or dancing on the green grass of a flowery garden. "Lazy Days" is very upbeat, and ends on perhaps the brightest note Enya's ever ended on.
All in all, this is definitely a wonderful album, as are all the rest. This release marks another chapter in Enya's music book, and a long awaited treat for her fan's ears. Highly commendable!
Free Music Review: "A Day Without Rain" is breathtaking and brilliant
Hit: 5 Stars
I must begin by saying this: Enya is simply and utterly the most amazing artist I have ever discovered, and will surely remain as such for all eternity. Her capability to keep creating albums and songs that are all so different, yet all so amazing and beatiful, is genius!The album begins with the pure and refreshing title track, which is an instrumental. As an added bonus, there are vocals throughout the song by Enya.
Then you are taken to a brighter, less serious level in "Wild Child", whose title fits perfectly! This song is joyous and slightly spunky, and reminded me a little of "Anywhere Is".
The single and third album track, "Only Time", is calming and reassuring, and seems to say that worry is worthless, since all is in Time's hands.
"Tempus Vernum" seems to stir up every sense in me. This is easily one of my favorites from the album, and is a Latin chant that crescendos to the very end.
The effect that occurs between the fourth and fifth songs is very interesting. When "Tempus Vernum" ends, the background actually fades into the background for "Deora Ar Mo Chroi".
This Irish Gaelic song's translations are given in the album booklet, which speak of the earth's voices singing and gentle skies falling. It also mentions the singer's voice rising to the sky and "telling all that I believe in". The song ends with the knowledge that the earth will sing again after night concludes.
"Flora's Secret" is, surprisingly, a love song. The background sounds very much like the beginning of "Wild Child", but the melody and lyrics differ extremely. This song is light and full of the comfort of love between two people.
The seventh song on the album, called "Fallen Embers", seems to tell a personal love story between the singer and someone close her. It is reminiscent of time spent with this person, how nights seemed to last forever, and how their hearts were singing. While the song speaks of love lost, Enya manages to hint at hope and gives the listener a bittersweet reaction.
"Silver Inches" is a delightful interlude for this album and entertains happily before the ninth track.
"Pilgrim" is a sober yet retainingly beautiful piece about journeying in self-discovery and life itself.
The next song provides another relationship song, "One By One", filled with partings between the characters and then, without outright mention, coming together again. This airy piece begins the conclusion to A DAY WITHOUT RAIN.
"Lazy Days", I must say, is just about the most perfect ending for a music journey that I can imagine. The lilting track's beginning even gives off an almost "goofy", lighter side of Enya. The piece continues into spending days doing nothing but enjoying the present, and the vocal "chorus" stirs the memory of laughing children.
For anyone who is considering purchasing this album, or even if you are not very convinced by now, I URGE you, BUY THIS CD! You will definitely NOT regret it! There is no proper or possible way to describe the effect Enya's music has on the public, and I am sure that my review comes short of its goals, but one important goal has been reached: spreading the joy of Enya and her music!
Free Music Review: A Beautifully Accessible Masterpiece.
Hit: 5 Stars
You could say I was a virgin to Enya's music, I previously owned no albums by her until I bought this one for my birthday. I was in awe after listening to the sound of heaven, literally, that is how good this album is. "A Day Without Rain" was a huge success for Enya back in 2000, it won a GRAMMY and went to #2 in the USA and #6 in the UK. It's biggest hit was "Only Time" which earned a US #10. "Only Time" was also used extensively a year later as background music for many news reports on the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Like every album it attracted some negative criticism for being too short, although only about 37 minutes in length "A Day Without Rain" is as good as any 'long' album.
The title track, "A Day Without Rain" is basically a short intro with a lovely piano and string section accompanied by Enya's trademark humming. Beautiful melody line. "Wild Child" was another single to be released from this album, it went to #72 in the UK. The continuous plucking of the violins and sharp staccato bowing of the other stringed instruments give a nice syncopated feel to the song.
"Only Time" is the best known track from the album, it continues in a slower vein to "Wild Child". The vocal harmonies are expressive and nicely arranged. The lyrics are quite solid as well. "Tempus Vernum" comes across to me as a Celtic inspired war-chant, the chant certainly does work wonders giving the song a very dark atmosphere.
"Deora Ar Mo Choi" is a beautiful song, Enya's vocals may be soft but they are incredibly effective. It sort of sounds a little bit like her LOTR Soundtrack song, "May It Be". In the first couple of seconds of "Flora's Secret" I though I was listening to an alternate version of "Wild Child", while not an alternate version it does sound incredibly good and is surprisingly catchy.
"Fallen Embers" is a sombre track that displays amazing emotion, depth and longing. Enya proves on this track that her vocal capabilities go beyond backing hums to superb soprano tones. "Silver Inches" is a nice little instrumental track, that provides some sort of structure to the overall album.
"Pilgrim" starts off sounding like a hymn sung in any Irish church, it does continue the overall theme of the album well. I like how the lyrics fit perfectly with the music. "One By One" is a gem of a song, it has a catchiness and I love the "Adios" bits of this track. The simplicity of this song is amazing.
"The First Of Autumn" may have no lyrics but its bass line and humming work surprisingly well, the imagery created is fantastic. "Lazy Days" is a lovely way to end such ab great album, with it's catchy beat and hook-line "Da da da da" it has a little bit of commercial appeal which is always needed on even the most underground of albums.
Overall, "A Day Without Rain" is unlike anything I've heard before, it combines catchy rhythms with small doses of commerciality in an album which at times has no mainstream appeal. It's beautiful but accessible, enough to satisfy even grunge and heavy metal fans. I strongly recommend you to buy this album, tempt yourself, treat yourself to a piece of heaven.