Loreena McKennitt - An Ancient Muse
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Free Music Notes for An Ancient Muse
Free Music Review: My muse in life..
Hit: 5 Stars
I finally got this CD. After listening to all her other CDs and believing there was magic in every.. note.. instrument.. voice and lyric I found that this CD certainly passes beyond the limits of emotions that transcend understanding. It does have a familiar quality to it.. because the music from a distant song of Loreena's plays in the background of a new song on this CD. At one point I had to look and make sure I didn't put the wrong CD in.. thinking I grabbed one of her others. Even so.. there is a reason for all that she does.. and if you listen to this CD you will find the new song fits the old (Bonny Swans). It's sort of like retracing your steps to find hidden treasures. The song "The Gates of Istanbul" is so beautiful that it's easy to want to listen to it over and over again.. it will give your spirit a feeling all it's own.. like a freedom from within.. a flight of light and peacefulness.. like a lucid dream. This CD is the continuation of an astonishing journey. Follow this journey and you can learn from it.. look into it and be a part.
"One never can see the thing in itself, because the mind does not transcend phenomena" (Hilaire Belloc).
Loreena's Music is phenomenal! Don't just listen to it.. experience it!
Peace to you all..
Free Music Review: Comparable to "The Book of Secrets" and "The Mask and the Mirror"
Hit: 5 Stars
This is the first time I was anxious to lay my hands on a CD on its release day. I wasn't disappointed. Nor was I blown away.
Loreena's singing and music are strong as usual. I particularly liked the melody of the opening invocation: the voice seems to emerge from the darkness, unbound by tempo or harmony, open-ended, formless, profound. The instrumentation in "Caravanserai" is amazing, as is the poised tempo. "The English Ladye and the Knight" is a lovely rendition of Scott's ballad and my favourite track on this album--not as dynamic as "The Highway Man", perhaps, but infinitely rich and moving with the dirge-like tempo, etheral choral background and Loreena's heartbreaking, soaring voice.
The other songs, however, are a bit on the conventional side and appear to recycle former materials. "The Gates of Istanbul" reminded me of "Marrakesh Night Market", "Penelope's Song" of "The Two Trees", "Beneath the Phrygian Sky" of "Night Ride Across the Caucasus", "Never-Ending Road" of "Dante's Prayer", except the precursors tended to be stronger. The album is still worthy of Loreena McKennitt--only that I think she could use a breakthrough, like the one she achieved moving on from "The Visit" to "The Mask and the Mirrors".
Free Music Review: A Rare Masterpiece
Hit: 5 Stars
I first became aware of Loreena Mckennett from hearing her rendition of 'Bonny Portmore' on the Highlander tv series and just had to have it, so i bought ' The Visit' and was 'Hooked' big time.
I have to say that those who are comparing' An Ancient Muse' with Ms Mckennett's other works are being unfair and narrow minded. Yes some of the music will remind you of some of her other work but this is true of all recording artists.
In my opinion 'An ancient Muse' is her best work. It is haunting, and Ms Mckennitts blend of celtic and mid eastern sounds is both rare and beautiful in that it has the ability to take you to and ancient time and place and still leave you wanting more. This is what listeners should be focusing on. The sound retains the celtic with a mid eastern flair.
Some reviewers have complained that this work is too slow, but are forgetting that this is the pupose of the work. It has to be enjoyed on it's own merit. I highly recommend this piece. If you want strickly celtic sound then pick up her 'Live in Paris and Toronto' cd, this is also one of her best works.
'An Ancient Muse' is worthy of those who want good music and a great time listening to something different.
Free Music Review: Every Bit As Perfect As Loreena's Previous Works
Hit: 5 Stars
Despite the almost ten year hiatus, Loreena returns- shining as always- in her latest release, "An Ancient Muse."
It has been almost ten years since Loreena bridged the gap between what we perceive to be New Age, World and an inflection of rock sensibilities. She fused music together in a truly innovative way that reflected beautifully in her releases "The Book of Secrets and "The Mask And The Mirror." In "An Ancient Muse" this past glory is not only reflected, but built upon.
Beginning with "Invocation," (A song reminiscent of "Prologue" in her "Book of Secrets" album) Loreena cleverly weaves a magical style of rhthym and melody that is all her own. Throughout the tracks on this album that specific, wondrous style shines through clearly. For instance, during the ritually methodic "The Gates of Istanbul," she builds upon a single rhythm to deliver a song that's breathtaking. One can clearly see the journey she speaks of, not only in her lyrics, but in the music itself.
Whether you have long been a fan of Loreena's, or have never listened to her music, "An Ancient Muse" delivers perfectly. I can not recommend this album highly enough!
Free Music Review: I am not disappointed
Hit: 5 Stars
After a long wait, Loreena finally released a new stuiod album with NEW pieces.
I am not a die-hard fan, therefore I can not say it's worth the wait, but I can say, this album doesn't disappoint me like others that recently released such as Enigma, Sarah Brightman and Josh Groban.
In this album, there are something new, the tempo is not as striking as her previous works, it's more smooth ( relateively speaking - slow ).
There are also something familiar - her haunting vocal, excellent quality song selection and great production. Those are very important to make an album successful, you don't just throw or recycle some old songs together and call it a good album regardless how good the singer's voice is. They have to all work together and this album works.
I didn't purchase this on-line as I usually did but got the BN ( Barns & Noble special edition ) with extra track -Raglan Road. That extra dollars I paid is well worth because this is an excellent piece and I feel bad it didn't get included in general release edition. It will be nice if Amazon has some sort of Amazon Exclusive edition from those excellent artists.