Loreena Mckennitt - The Book of Secrets
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Free Music Notes for The Book of Secrets
Free Music Review: McKennitt's Radiant Travelogue
Hit: 5 Stars
Take a journey through an exotic, alluring world with Canadian singer/multi-instrumentalist Loreena McKennitt; a world where east harmonizes soulfully with west.
I am a late-comer to McKennitt's music, but what a wonderful find she has been! "The Book of Secrets" is a musical masterwork, conjuring magical images and dreamscapes of rare color. Being a fan of Clannad, and to a lesser extent of Enya, I find McKennitt's music to be more haunting, more deeply spiritual and more aurally textural than either of the other two.
There are many inviting tales inside "The Book of Secrets", but none more entertaining than her 1997 hit single, "The Mummer's Dance", a positively addicting blend of Arabic percussion, hypnotic drones, and beautiful vocal melody. I consider myself much more a World music fan than a New-Ager, but this song is a genre-buster; cutting a wide appeal across World, Celtic, New Age, Folk, and even Pop. The more traditionally Celtic "Skellig" paints the lonely picture of an ancient Irish Monk, devoutly sequestered in the harsh Skellig Islands. The instrumental "Marco Polo" transports us to the smoky late-night Bazaars of Arabia, where mystery, danger and romance await around every narrow corner; behind every silken veil. You can almost smell the opium. And perhaps my favorite is "The Highwayman", a tragic love story whose lyrics are adapted from the famous poem by Alfred Noyes. McKennitt is obviously a life-long student of classic poetry, and her own lyric-writing reads like it. These songs resonate. These songs intoxicate.
Clearly, McKennitt's musical journey has brought her a long way from the misty moors of Ireland to the mysterious markets of Marrakech. Atop it all, her ringing soprano stirs the very soul of the ancient traveler, the lover; the dreamer. You wouldn't imagine that an artist could weave Celtic and Arabic styles so seamlessly in to one tapestry, but not only does McKennitt do just that, she does it so beautifully that it makes one realize that these ancient sounds are not so diverse after all. She has found, at the core of it, that Eastern and Western music share a common and radiant soul.
Free Music Review: Music like no other
Hit: 5 Stars
What I really want to say about this remarkable artist, cannot be expressed in words. Its like trying to describe the taste of a perfect mango, you have to experience it - to KNOW.
I do know that listening to Loreena and her "Highwaymen" accompanists, is like entering into another world. Her's is the music and words of our ancestors, the deeds, loves, sorrows and joys of living on this planet in another time, in the celtic spirit, carried on the wings of divine music.
She is Canadian, but she sings these verses like she's a Celtic angel, sent to us to help us remember where we came from, and how far we've traveled. Buy this or any of her works if you yearn for an escape from the present, live in another time, in a place, when we were free and owed allegience to no king, only to the heartbeat of Nature, the rhythm of existance.
Last night I put track 8, Dante's prayer, on repeat, so I could stay in the trance it invokes for a long time. Do you know what its like to be truly moved by an artist? Moved to tears, to joy, to a state of emotional surrender? Do the same with track 3, Skellig. I swear, I could feel the rocks under my old sandels, and the weariness of the journey from the rocky shores of Ireland to the fields of Romanie, stopping along the way to hear the bells - who call all to mass.
This music will make you appreciate a good set of head phones again, like the Sony MDR7502's. Find the time to hear this music, its transforming.
Free Music Review: A classic
Hit: 5 Stars
I love how with every album Loreena McKennitt puts out, her album is the results of her travels all over the world. On her album THE BOOK OF SECRETS (which would be her last studio album for several years before AN ANCIENT MUSE), Loreena explores the history of the celts. When I listen to the cd, I feel like I am getting a history lesson in celtic history. I like that Loreena writes music that is never insulting or trite.Although the album version of "The Mummer's Dance" is a far cry from the radio version, it is nonetheless still a joy to listen to. The album version is longer and slower while the radio versoin is shorter and more upbeat. Me thinks radio wanted a version that would appeal to a broader audience. If that was the case it worked but unfortunately it made people expect that version to be found on THE BOOK OF SECRETS. My personal favorite track on the album is the haunting ballad "Dante's Prayer" which was inspired by a trip across Siberia during one winter on a train, and the book DANTE'S INFERNO. I lke how minimal the use of instruments are on this particular track, allowing Loreena's warm voice to be the center of attention. The rest of the album is just as wonderful. The richly detailed lyrics and the lush, haunting celtic melodies makse for a wonderful combination. THE BOOK OF SECRETS have really grown on me over the years and is now a steadfast favorite in my itunes library and stereo.Free Music Review: Oh, the Mystical Night Rides with Loreena!
Hit: 5 Stars
This music is great for traveling far and wide. The music is both imaginatively and intellectually stimulating. This is an album that calms me, comforts me, and soothes the depths of my soul. Loreena is such a magnificent vocalist and the music that she creates I will never forget. The "Book of Secrets" was the first album of hers that I listened to and bought. I just so happened to stumble upon a copy in a public library and checked it out because I was intrigued by the neat cover art. Well, sweet fortune drew me to her, and ever since, she has been one of my favorite artists to listen to. I would rate her among the top five I have ever heard. I thank God from bringing her to me. One day, I will surely live to travel to see her live in concert. I must do it before I die!
Free Music Review: A journey to Persia ....
Hit: 5 Stars
This particular album is more of a 'journey' rather than a story (in my opinion).
All of the music is enchanting and brilliantly crafted -(as is to be expected of Loreena)-
but this album gave me the feeling of traveling in a troop from Persia to Britain.
Spanish influences mingled with Celtic string, Persian percussion and Mediterranean horns.
Sounds deeelish doesn't it !!! Well .... I guarantee you it is.
Truly all you need to travel back in time is this album, a comfy chair and solitude.
** And as for the negative reviews, all I've got to say about that is - I am SO glad I
didn't take your word for it. !!