Date: Mon, 9 Sep 1996
From: david ausloos (gd31967@glo.be)
An obvious choice would be Clannad. My personal favorites are the 'Fuaim' (with vocals by Enya) an 'Magical Ring'-album. Both excellent examples of Celtic roots with a modern flavor.
Also hauntingly beautiful is the work of the folkgroup Altan. Check out the 'Island Angel'-album or 'Harvest Storm'. There is also a British band called 'Cocteau Twins' that make heavenly etherial pop. In my humble opinion (altough I think I speak for many people) their best work is found on 'Four Calendar Cafe'. Put track 8 : 'Essence' in your cd-player and you can imagine what paradise would sound like. A music-reviewer from a reliable magazine discribed it as the soundtrack for heaven , I can assure you , he's not far from it. If you don't mind hearing a more up-tempo balad know and then you are going to love it.
A also find the music of the rather unknow band 'The Sundays' very relaxing. They make very moving records wich you can play for days without getting tired of. Being an artist myself I play them regulary in the studio when I am at work concentrating on an oilpainting and it's lovely music to play in the background. Try to track down the album 'Reading , writing and Arithmetic'. Harriet Wheeler's vocals are sober yet breathtaking and emotional.
Date: Mon, 9 Sep 1996
From: jbaxter@hellfire.dusers.drexel.edu (John Baxter)
A couple thoughts about music similar to Enya. There is none! This is my opinion, and this is also stated in the Enya FAQ (Frequently Asked Qusetions) which is available from Dave Allum's *wonderful* "Unofficial Enya Home Page" on the Web (I'll email you a copy of the FAQ).
However, I do have a few thoughts about music which will appeal to folks who enjoy Enya. The first is Clannad, a great band whose members are Enya's family! They performa wide variety of music, ranging from traditional Irish, to "new age", to rock. They are the folks who did the haunting "Theme from Harry's Game" that was used in a Volkswagen commercial a few years back. VW got lots of calls about the music instead of the car! This song is very "atmospheric" and "Enyaesque". It is very beautiful, and the lead vocals are by Maire (pronounced "moy-a") who is one of Enya's lovely sisters.
Also, I'd recommend that you check out Loreena McKennitt. Her music reminds me a lot of Enya's, and is extremely beautiful. And there is a lot of very beautiful Celtic music around. One example is an album "Celtic Voices: Women of Song" on the Narada label. One track in particular "Cantus" by Connie Dover, reminds me a lot of Enya. As a Christian, I would love to hear more spiritual songs from Enya - a lot of her inspiration comes from church hymns ("How Can I Keep from Singing", and her lovely Irish Gaelic version of "Silent Night").
Date: Mon, 9 Sep 1996
From: Sean McHale (seanmc@water.net)
While not exactly similar to Enya (is there really anything else exactly like it?), I really enjoy Sade. A few of the songs on her album are almost interchangabl with Enya while others are distinctly jazz. Portions of Clannad were a little on the "folksy" side for me.
Date: Wed, 11 Sep 1996
From: "Gustavo P. Mantovani" (gmantov@dglnet.com.br)
Well, not really similar, but I've been listening to Maire Brennan (her sister), Caroline Lavelle, Connie Dover...
I just bought the CD "Portraits" from Vangelis. Great piece of art !!! I've never been a Vangelis fan, but I think this "best of" is worth buying. Really nice music.
Also, I am getting into Tori Amos' music. Wow, she's wonderful. I mean, great musician... (although I have to confess that the combination blue eyes+red hair drives me crazy :))
Date: Wed, 11 Sep 1996
From: Juan Manuel De Villeros Arias (jm.devilleros@venus.interpla.net.co)
I also strongly recommend "Celtic Twilight" and "Celtic Twilight 2". They're awesome! Both are available from CD Universe Online music store at http://www.cduniverse.com
Date: Wed, 11 Sep 1996
From: "CASADO RUBIO, SERGIO" (sergio.casado@mest.unizar.es)
Everybody is talking about something similar to Enya. I will make two suggestions to everyone of two incredible cds:
Soundtrack for "The double life of Veronica", composed by Zbigniew Preisner...a real masterpiece.
Mike Oldfield's Amarok, Virgin Records, hard to get in US, but easy in Europe. More than 50 instruments, lots of vocal chants. Oldfield's masterpiece.
Date: Thu, 12 Sep 1996
From: "Mark Tom Q. Mulingbayan" (marktqm@engg.upd.edu.ph)
Now that everybody's been talking about music similar to Enya's, let me repeat the suggestion I made long ago to this list. Try finding DaDaWa's "Sister Drum". She's packaged here in Manila as the "Asian Enya" (of course, that isn't true!). She's worth listening to, as some members of this list probably agree.
Date: Sun, 15 Sep 1996
From: "Falcon S. L. Poon" (h9221897@hkusub.hku.hk)
Listeners of Dead Can Dance / Lisa Gerrard will probably love Dadawa's CD. I enjoy the music, but the extreme dynamic range of the recording bugs me.
Another little-discussed CD that I would recommend is "Lost In Translation" by Roger Eno. This work consists of 19 short but satisifying pieces, mostly instrumental. Not really celtic, but it's a treasure trove of beautiful and interesting melodies. Among the pieces are 5 latin chants, including the memorable title track "Lost In Translation", which starts off as a plain multi-part vocal, the parts interweaves with each other, subtly shifting in melody. Then, the introduction of soft piano heralds the gradual substitution of voices by instruments, with introduction of new themes, until the whole piece evolves into an instrumental. Enya should try something like that :) The final piece on the set, "The Green Grass", would come as a pleasant surprise :)
Date: 1996-09-16
From: David Wisbey
I was looking thru the newspapers weekend section and read all of the "Barns at Wolf Trap" calender for this fall. My eyes got real big when I saw:
November 1
"Ireland's Greatest Uilleann Piper"
Liam O'Flynn (with Arty McGlynn and Rod McVey)
That really sounded familiar, so I grabbed by Enya CDs and looked through them for his name. I found "Liam O'Flionn" credited for doing his pipes on "Smaointe". Reality check: I assumed this "must" be the same guy. Can anyone verify this? If so, I will definitely go and try to get his autograph; I have never seen any CDs though.
The ad mentions that his music embodies "an Irish tradition that dates back 300 years".
I have been to the "Barns" just once before to see The Rankin Family. They were really cool.
Date: Thu, 19 Sep 1996
From: david.smith@utoronto.ca
I believe that Liam O'Flynn (Ó'Flionn) is the same one who appeared on Smaointe; but it should also be noted (as far as I can remember) that Arty McGlynn is the person who played the electric guitar on "I Want Tomorrow"!
Date: Thu, 19 Sep 1996
From: Derdriu@aol.com
Liam O'Flynn and O'Flionn is the same person. O'Flionn is the Gaelic spelling; O'Flynn is the Anglicized(sp?) version. Liam Og O'Floinn on ENYA is also the same person. The Og means young, perhaps junior, and the other is a spelling error. Slan anois!
Date: Sun, 22 Sep 1996
From: "Todd M. Moody" (tmmoody@mtu.edu)
For those interested, Liam O'Flynn has released entire albums of his work. The only one (maybe there is only one) that I know of is "The Given Note".
Date: Mon, 30 Sep 1996
From: jbaxter@hellfire.dusers.drexel.edu (John Baxter)
Just wanted to remind the Enya folk to check out the Christian band "Iona"... on their album "journey into the morn" Enya's sister Maire (pronounced "moy-a") makes a guest appearance. I *love* this album... it combines the etherial otherworldliness of Enya with the jazz/world music flavor of Clannad... all based upon an ancient Celtic hymn.
excellent.
highly, highly recommended!
Date: Sat, 5 Oct 1996
From: "Todd M. Moody" (tmmoody@mtu.edu)
In case anyone's interested, I just looked up "Iona" on the BMG Music Service Member Lounge:
http://www.bmgmusicservice.com/html/memberSC.html
and not only do they specifically liken the music to that of Enya, but they include this excerpt from Q Magazine:
Q Magazine (3/96, p.96) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...It's an undeniably Christian album, but the sheer musicality invites even the most cynical to find a way in..."
Their own comments follow: "Dreamlike landscapes recalling the music of Enya are created in warm, evocative compositions with guest vocals by Maire Brennan."
Date: Sat, 5 Oct 1996
From: "Mark van Setten" (m.vansetten@student.utwente.nl)
Now that there are more other artists mentioned (Clannad mailing list), I would like to recommend another artist to you all. Her name is Cassell Webb. I have heard two of her albums ("Conversations at dawn" and "Songs for a stranger") and I must say it is very good.
I think her music is like a mix between Loreena McKennitt and Enya. She has the same influences like Loreena (celtic, arabic) and a sort of style like Enya. Her voice is "lower" than the voice or Loreena.
If someone knows more about her please let me know. I do not even know if she comes from Ireland, England or anywhere else. And is there someone else who knows her music? If you have the opportunity to listen to one of these two albums, do it and I am almost certain you will love it.
Date: Wed, 1 Jan 1997
From: rich (gaelone@thecore.com)
I posted about a month ago asking for info regarding whose beautiful voice that was on the Michael Collins soundtrack. Recently picked it up and found that it is Sinead O'Connor. I know there are a lot of listeners who dislike her because of The Incident... This cd, however, seems to be a crossover of an Enya-influence with more classical style music. Perhaps it can best be described as classical with a strong sense of Gaelic rooting.
Date: Tue, 21 Jan 1997
From: SEAN RHEA (srhea@mail.state.tn.us)
I picked up a CD over the weekend that I thought you guys might be interested in...I don't remember if it has been mentioned or not...It's called Ceol Aduaidh by Maired ni Mhaonaigh and Frankie Kennedy with collaboration by EITHNE NI BHRAONAIN! Has anybody else seen or have this CD? It's put out by Green Linnet Records and has a copyright date of 1994.
Date: Mon, 12 May 1997
From: "S.Y.Yuen" (0515294.hio.ptf.ro.WAN.hro@ptfe40.hro.nl)
I have recently bought Aoife Ni Fhearraigh's album "Aoife" and I liked it very very much. Aoife is also an Irish singer from Donegal. She has a style like Maire Brennan and a bit like Enya, she also has great voice! All her songs are sung in Gealic. I highly recommend her if you are interested in music other than Enya! :)
Date: Wed, 21 May 1997
From: Jean Debord (JDebord@compuserve.com)
"Aoife" is her second album. The first one was released in 1991, as a cassette only. Entitled "Loinneog Cheoil", it featured 10 tracks (two of them were re-issued on the "Aoife" CD). The following address appears on the cassette:
Stuideo Forge Brae
Cuil Dabhcha
Inis Eogahin
Tir Chonaill
Fon: (077) 79235/79104
Although the recording quality is lower than on the "Aoife" CD, and the musical arrangements much less elaborated, I was not disappointed. The last track, "Fill Fill a Run O", is fantastic. It has the haunting quality of many Enya or Clannad songs. Also, several tracks are sung a capella, which yields to a better appreciation of the quality of the singer's voice.
For those who like the CD, I think that this early work really deserves an audition.
Date: Wed, 4 Jun 1997
From: 308852@derez.unizar.es
Few days ago has been released in US latest Mike Oldfield album, called "Voyager". I know quite a few people that love Enya & Oldfield, so I have thought maybe some people who like Enya would love that latest Oldfield album. It is a collection of Celtic tunes & few more by Oldfield. Its released by WEA (Reprise in US) and produced by Rob Dickins. There are additional musicians really well known for Enya fans, like Liam O'Flynn & Dave Spillane, and 2 members of Chieftains. Its a relaxed album, but I like it. Just a suggestion for people in US that dont know Oldfield.
Date: Wed, 4 Jun 1997
From: "Helie,Robert [NCR]" (Robert.Helie@ec.gc.ca)
I must support your comment. I walk into a music store last fall and Voyager was playing. I tell you, I just stood there, mesmerized! Of course, I went up tho the counter and bought it. It is the closest thing to Enya I heard so far!
The Celtic influence is unmistakable, the production is impeccable (as usual for Mr Oldfield). I highly recommend it. I would add that all of Mike Oldfield albums, with the possible exception of Tubular Bells (one and two) all have a Celtic flavor, great instrumentation and glorious melodies. Can you tell I like Mike Oldfield?
He is well known here in Canada. I am just waiting for a duo album...now THAT would be something.
Date: Fri, 20 Jun 1997
From: iocentre (hounslow@iocentre.ins.co.uk)
I know this isn't Enya related but I was at the Irish music festval in Finsbury park recently (The Fleadh) and saw a band called the Afro-Celtic sound system and wow what a sound!! They got us all dancing our socks off. They are a mixture of African and Irish music. The singers are African with uilleann pipes, Bodhran and tin whistle backing. It is a weird and wonderfull sound I recommend you check it out if you get a chance.
Date: Wed, 25 Jun 1997
From: emerson (emerson@bhnet.com.br)
Somebody posted about a mix of African and Celtic sounds that was great. I suggest, if you have the chance, you try a group called "Baka Beyond". Sometimes the tunes get a bit repetitive but there are some fine surprises there...
Date: Tue, 29 Jul 1997
From: FriarFox@aol.com
I have recently joined this mailing list and was wondering if any of you out there has listened to Caroline Lavelle? She is another New Age singer that has a style similar to Enya and has a beautiful voice! She has worked with the Cranberries, William Orbit, Peter Gabriel and a few others. Anyhow, she has only one album out so far that I know of called "Spirit" (a must buy for Enya fans) and was also wondering if she has any other albums out or is having one published soon?
Date: Thu, 31 Jul 1997
From: "F. S. L. Poon" (h9221897@hkusub.hku.hk)
Caroline indeed has a really sensual alto voice. As far as I know she also sang in Vangelis' 1995 album "Voices". She participated, as a celloist, in the Afro-Celt Sound System project, in Loreena McKennit's Christmas EP "A Winter's Garden" and also in the upcoming Loreena McKennit full-length album "Book of Secrets".
For those of you who knows of the Chinese singer DaDaWa (Hi, Mark!), she just has a new album out, entitled "Voices from the Sky". When compared with her first album "Sister Drum", she makes more effective use of studio techniques -- getting more Enyaesque, you may say. Both albums are worth checking out -- With her extraordinary voice and the Tibet-inspired music, she creates a climax within each song.
Date: Sat, 2 Aug 1997
From: "Gustavo P. Mantovani" (gmantov@dglnet.com.br)
I have Caroline Lavelle's "spirit" for almost a year now. I really like it very much. She has a very soft voice and a lot of talent. The similarities to Enya's music are not coincidence.
If you read carefully the package, you'll see that Rob Dickins is the executive producer. I don't know how much it affects the music itself, but for me is enough to link both singers.
Date: Tue, 12 Aug 1997
From: "Clinton Christian" (bastianbux@hotmail.com)
While in another room, I heard some magnificent music on the television and convinced myself that it was a new Enya song. Racing into the room, I found it was an advertisement for a CD . . . but not an Enya CD, a CD by someone who now calls herself Shannon. She is the one who composed the music for LORD OF THE DANCE. Buying the CD (called CELTIC CLASSICS: AN ENCHANTED JOURNEY) I found that my original introduction was fairly accurate, some of the songs are VERY Enyaesque . . . especially in "Carrickfergus", "Kathleen", "Slieve-Na-Man", "Emerald Grace", "Loch Lomond", and "Music of Kells" . . . the latter sounding EXTREMELY like "Book Of Days". Basically, all the vocal songs sound Enyaesque. The voice is used in the same way, layered . . . but, unfortunately, the voice itself reminds me more of the lead vocalist from Iona than Enya. . . It is wonderful regardless! And the non-vocal songs remind me a great deal of Rene Dupre (composer for the Cirque du Soleil). I special ordered it from my local (U.S.) music store for only $9.95 . . . and it was worth every last cheap cent! This may be what eases our appetite until that soundtrack that Enya's supposedly composing ever comes out.
Date: Wed, 17 Sep 1997
From: Jean Debord (JDebord@compuserve.com)
Some time ago there was a discussion on this list about the CD "Celtic Classics, An Enchanted Journey" by the Irish composer Shanon (aka Ronan Hardiman).
You may be interested by knowing that this CD has now a sequel, entitled (surprisingly) "Celtic Classics II".
Here is the information that I have found on the web page: http://www.onemusic.com
"Celtic Classics II, the follow-up to the successful Celtic Classics, transports you once again to the music of ancient Ireland. Shanon/Ronan Hardiman, fresh from his recording of the Lord of the Dance soundtrack, creates his own classics, with his highly original tracks.
Song Titles: Skye Boat Song; The Peatfire Flame; Scotland The Brave; Amazing Grace; Ring Of Kerry; Voyage of Maelduin; A Dram Before You Go; Mountains Of Mourne; Auld Lang Syne; Molly Malone; Fairy's Love Song; Lilies Of The Lough; Galway Sway"
Date: Fri, 5 Jun 1998
From: "Peter Pehrson" (euhp@get2net.dk)
One of my Enya contacts at WEA sent me an email that I should check out a new group called Ghostland. Their first album won't come out until mid-June but they have some demos on the site.
Their music is partially Enya related, and sounds very "alive".
I will put up a review later on the Enya pages.
Visit http://www.ghostland.co.uk and see for yourself. The site is Shockwave-based and will run on IE with ActiveX or Netscape with a plugin (automatically installed if not present). Be aware that the Flash plugin player for Netscape may require some technical skills to install, especially if your system has a lot installed. The IE version works fine.
By the way, our own Rob Dickins is credited as Art Director on the site.