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OUROBOROS
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Contents
Enya*
Enigma*
Deep Forest
Christopher Franke
Loreena McKennitt*
John Williams
"Weird Al" Yankovich
Additional Music
Enya
Enya, who comes from Ireland and whose name is from Celtic mythology, was one of the first artists to truly touch me with her music. Infused with a deep melancholic beauty, Enya's music mixes Celtic and modern influences utilizing voice, intrumentation, and synthesizer. Her songs lament the lost past and express hope for the future yet unknown. Her pieces vary from the melodic pop hit "Orinoco Flow (Sail Away)", the spiritual "Athair Ar Neamh", the dark and mysterious "Cursum Perficio", the profound "Anywhere Is" 
, and the inspiring "Only If..." . Reflecting her international influences, Enya's lyrics are in English, Irish-Gaelic, Latin, French, Spanish, and Welsh. She has released 6 albums to date, as well as numerous singles.
Two new songs composed and performed by Enya are featured in the film The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. Personally, I was very pleased by her inclusion in this project because I have always felt that Enya's music had the right feel of melancholy and sadness for J. R. R. Tolkien's Elves.
The Celts |
Watermark |
Shepherd Moons |
The Memory of Trees |
Paint the Sky with Stars |
A Day without Rain |
Amarantine |
| Enigma: MCMXC A.D.- The first Enigma album combines the sacred and the sensual. While beautiful Gregorian chants play hauntingly in the background, French and English lyrics take the listener on a journey of dark and sublime passion. The international hit "Principles of Lust (Sadeness)" from this album was one of the first pieces of popular music to blend the sound of chant with a dance club beat. |
| Enigma 2: The Cross of Changes- This album asks the listener to choose between so-called progress and preservation of what is ancient and enchanting. Mongolian chants are utilized to bring power, mystery, and a global flavor to the album. Another world-wide hit, "Return to Innocence," reminds the listener to look into his own heart for answers. |
| Enigma 3: Le Roi Est Mort, Vive Le Roi- "Things are changing, but nothing changes" Enigma 3 tells us, setting up a clash between the past and the future, between the organic and the mechanical. E3 melds Latvian, Sanskrit, and Gregorian chants with a hard-edged modern sound to represent the cycle of life and the never-ending dance of change. |
| Enigma 4: The Screen Behind the Mirror- E4 forgoes the strong lyrics of the first three albums and uses voice, sampling from the opera "Carmina Burana", Latin chant, and samples from E1 as layers in its already complex electronica club sound. E4 encourages the listener to think about how he sees himself and how he is seen by others. Songs like "Gravity of Love" and "Between Mind and Heart" carry the listener through moods ranging from desire to meditation. |
| Enigma 5: Voyageur- Though creator Michael Cretu felt this album to be a departure from earlier Enigma material, Voyageur retains its characteristic throbbing beats, ethereal vocals and meditative rhythms. Designed to represent the journey of the sun through a single day, E5 features tracks of intimate and delicate beauty such as "Following the Sun" and sensual power such as "Page of Cups." Voyageur is a fresh and magical manifestation of the Enigma phenonmenon. |
| Enigma 6: A Posteriori- This latest release from Michael Cretu treads familiar and comfortable ground for Enigma fans. The album is a well-integrated tonal tapestry that combines pumping beats with a weave of synthesized sounds reminiscent of The Screen Behind the Mirror. Like the original Enigma, this one is concurrently sensual and meditative. Like its immediate predecessor, A Posteriori seems permeated by a sense of sweet melancholy. This apparent contradiction is perfectly expressed by the final track, "Goodbye Milky Way," which captures the essence of the album's inspiration--the wonders of scientific discovery. |
Deep Forest
The group Deep Forest blends the sounds of traditional music of native peoples around the world with the modern beat of techno-dance. Deep Forest, consisting of Michel Sanchez and Eric Mouquet, travels the world searching for fascinating and inspiring music. Utilizing the tribal sounds of Africa, the lamenting melodies of Eastern Europe, and the exciting sounds of South America, Deep Forest connects the fast-paced life of the city with the time-honored traditions of the ancient world. Both festive and enlightening, Deep Forest brings the listener a range of moods. With such interesting pieces as "Hunting", "Freedom Cry", "Cafe Europa", and "Noonday Sun", Deep Forest takes the listener on a journey around the world and through the human heart.
Deep Forest's albums to date include:
Christopher Franke
Christopher Franke is a versatile composer and songwriter who produces music ranging from instrumental soundtracks to grunge television theme songs.
As Babylon 5 brought a new level of sophistication to television sci-fi, Franke elevated soundtrack music. Franke was originally a member of the group Tangerine Dream, who provided music for such movies as Legend starring Tom Cruise. Franke's work on Babylon 5 has been phenomenal. A vital part of the story, just as important as the characters and setting, the music of B5 runs the gamut of emotions. From the hauntingly beautiful and sad "Requiem for the Line" theme, to the dark and sublime "Shadow Scream", Franke's music has led us on a journey of discovery and revelation. The music of Babylon 5 says better than any words that there is still hope and love in the universe. Franke has worked on many other projects, including the companion CD to the best-selling novel The Celestine Prophecy, which exhibits Franke's characteristic emotional music.
Christopher Franke's releases include:
Loreena McKennitt
Loreena McKennitt’s albums are musical travelogues, evoking the feel of the exotic locales that she has visited while seeking Celtic musical influences around the world. The talented Canadian performer seamlessly blends haunting and beautiful global sounds with a Celtic musical ambiance to create pieces capable of transporting the listener to the streets of a Moroccan marketplace, a mysterious Irish wood or a medieval monastery. McKennitt fashions an other-worldly soundscape reminiscent of ancient and long-forgotten melodies, yet engendering an eclectic international flavor. The albums’ liner notes contain excerpts from the artist’s travel journals, providing insight into the music and inviting the listener to take his or her own imaginative journey into sensual, dark and beauteous places.
Loreena McKennitt's albums include:
John Williams
Music composed by John Williams is grand and sublime at the same time. Filled with emotion and excitement, Williams' scores are a musical companion that walks with the viewer through a film. Williams has been accused of being too reminiscent of earlier composers, but he has a talent for creating a sense of adventure, wonder, and awe. A long-time friend of Steven Spielberg, this musical master has created distinctive sounds for many of Spielberg's films, including Jurassic Park. John Williams' music is epic and vivid, sweeping the listener away.
Some of John Williams scores include:
"Weird Al" Yankovich
Since the late 1970s, "Weird Al" Yankovich has been entertaining listeners with his wacky brand of musical comedy. Al is best known for his pop-song parodies. He has spoofed everyone from Madonna ("Like a Surgeon") to Michael Jackson ("Eat It"), Nirvava ("Smells like Nirvana") to Queen ("Bohemian Polka"). My personal favorites are Al's polka-parodies, like "Polka Your Eyes Out." Each brings together popular songs of the time and creates a hilarious mix. It's quite interesting to hear The Spice Girls and Backstreet Boys sung like the "Beer-Belly Polka"! However, not everyone is amused by Al's sense of humor. His hit "Amish Paradise" was criticized by rapper Coolio, whose song "Gangsta's Paradise" Al had parodied. Al isn't just a funny guy though; he's made movies and has also directed music vidoes.
"Weird Al" Yankovich's albums to date are
Celine Dion- This French-Canadian diva has been performing for over a decade. She has a beautiful voice, and her songs are always full of passion and drama. I especially enjoy "That's the Way It Is" from her latest album, All the Way...A Decade of Song. 
Chant- A wonderful collection of Gregorian chants performed by the Benedictine monks of Santo Domingo de Silos. A great relaxing sound, good for meditation or writing. 
Jay Chattaway, Star Trek- The music of Jay Chattaway has been featured in all three Star Trek spin-offs. However, his most distinctive work was for the series premiere of Voyager. "Caretaker" is action-packed, suspenseful, and intrigueing. 
Micky Erbe and Maribeth Solomon, Earth: Final Conflict- This album captures the sadness, beauty and hope of Gene Roddenberry's Earth Final Conflict better than the series itself does. Like the "Main Title" featuring the beautiful Chinese erhu, "The Secret of Strandhill/Redemption" blending Irish, Asian, and Taelon sounds and the melancholic piano notes of "Lili," , the haunting tones and melodies of the other tracks on this CD are richly emotional. 
Gala: Gregorian Dance- Unfortunately, this CD is now out of print. It is a really original-sounding collection of Gregorian chants set to throbbing trance-mix music. Like being in church and a dance club at the same time. Reminds me of Enigma! 
Elliot Goldenthal, Interview with the Vampire- Creating a rich landscape of despair and evil for this beautifully dark film, Goldenthal's music utilizes orchestra, chorus, and modern synthetic sounds. The score's highlights include the haunting "Born to Darkness Part I" , the playful yet dangerous "Lestat's Recitative", the ethereal "Hidden Lore", an evil rendition of "Libera Me", and the climactic "Abduction and Absolution".
This soundtrack is a dark and thought-provoking journey into Anne Rice's vampire realm.
Jerry Goldsmith, Star Trek- Another composer who has made great contributions to Star Trek. His exciting, adventurous score for the main title of Star Trek: The Motion Picture and Star Trek: The Next Generation is a classic. His score for Star Trek: First Contact is beautiful and menacing, reflecting the movie's dual storyline of first contact and Borg assimilation. Many of Goldsmith's best Star Trek work is featured on The Astral Symphony, a collection of music from the first five motion pictures. 
Madonna: Ray of Light- A departure for Madonna, this album is a fascinating look into her spiritual journey: very honest, innovative, melancholy, and beautiful. There isn't a song on this album that I hate, which is rare for me! 
Thomas Newman, Oscar and Lucinda- Whimsical and melancholy, this soundtrack is punctuated by dark moments and lilting spiritual highs. It also features a reading by Ralph Fiennes from the novel. 
Pure Moods- A great compilation disk featuring an array of musical styles. It has old classics like "Oxygine Part IV" and songs from Enigma, Enya, Deep Forest, and Adiemus. Many lyricl and instrumental pieces encompass just about any mood. 
Riverdance- Bringing about a revival of interest in Irish music, the phenomenal show called Riverdance thrilled audiences with a mix of beautiful music from around the globe and the exciting routine of Irish tap-dance. The songs on Riverdance, composed by Bill Whelan, include instrumental pieces like the upbeat and modern "Harvest", magical vocal pieces such as "The Heart's Cry" and "Home and the Heartland", music accompanied by tap like "Reel Around the Sun", and mixes of these different styles such as "Riverdance". This album covers a range of emotion from sadness to joy, and fills the listener with a sense of wonder and movement.
Savage Garden- Wonderful vocals and catchy modern rhythms characterize Savage Garden's two albums, Savage Garden and Affirmations. Melancholy and hopeful music all in one package, featuring hits like "I Want You," "I Knew I Loved You," and "Crash and Burn." 
Eric Serra, The Fifth Element- This soundtrack is a collection of haunting, thoughtful, and sometimes amusing pieces of music. The exciting "The Diva Dance", the mournful "Leeloo", the heart-wrenching "Protect Life", and the hilarious "Ruby Rap" are all wonderful songs that carry the excitment and philosophical impact that is so much a part of The Fifth Element. 
David Shire, Return to Oz- The score to the sequal to The Wizard of Oz reflects the film's nature; it is not a children's movie per se. It has more mature and dark sound than one would expect from the land of Oz. This collection also features great character themes, setting the tone for the movie. However, it's certainly worth a listen all on its own. 
Marty Simon, Tales from a Parallel Universe and LEXX: The Series- These soundtracks capture the mood of the most unusual science fiction series to ever hit television. Both LEXX albums are truly wonderous collections of music, crafted with a mix of instrumentation, simulated human voice, and audio clips from the series. These albums include everything that is great about LEXX: the ethereal beauty of "A Walk in the Desert," the temptation of "Seduction," the despair of "Zev Dies," the sophistication of "Prisoner Transport," and the craziness of "Wild, Wild Lexx." Looking for some strange (and a unique musical experience you won't soon forget)? Have some LEXX! 
Songs from Ally McBeal featuring Vonda Shepard- Vonda Shepard is the official music-maker of the hit TV series Ally McBeal This dynamic singer is full of energy and has a strong voice. She puts her heart into every song she sings. Her work for Ally McBeal, including classics like "Hooked on a Feeling" and her own original pieces, is both upbeat and melancholy, a masterpiece of energy. Two albums featuring Shepard's work on the series, Songs from Ally McBeal and Heart and Soul: New Songs from Ally McBeal, have been released to date. 
Mark Snow, The X-Files and MillenniuM- Snow's usually subdued and ambient music has set the tone for both of Chris Carter's television series. For The X-Files, the music is tense and dark, matching the mood of the show. MillenniuM's music has an added touch of bittersweet sadness. Snow's work for The X-Files: Fight the Future motion picture brings all the best elements of his television music onto a broader and grander scale. All of his music is unique and innovative whether it be the backdrop for Mulder and Scully or the tableau for Frank Black. 
The Taliesan Orchestra- This Irish musical group has entered into the modern trend of classical crossover, creating classical-style music out of popular songs and artists. Of particular interest to me are the two Enya remix albums, Orinoco Flow: The Music of Enya and Maiden of Mysteries: The Music of Enya. The Taliesan Orchestra has created an original interpretation of Enya's music, infusing it with power, drama, and grandeur. Though a bit melodramatic at times, these two albums are interesting companions to the Enya collection. 
Vangelis, Blade Runner- As profound as the film, this soundtrack is an outgrowth of the actual score. The wonderful music featured in Blade Runner was exrapolated upon by Vangelis and given new life. The pieces are even longer, more complex, and more beautiful than the movie's score was. Highlights include "Rachel's Song" and "Damask Rose."
