Evening Falls in Osaka
Cabir Davis | 11/21/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Enya's work on this soundtrack to the 2001 Japanese romance film is a quick recap of all her biggest and most recognizable hits. While this is certainly a great introduction to people who have just discovered Enya, it is not anything that we haven't heard before. The 'new' tracks on here are the ones that already featured on the 'Only Time' and 'Wild Child' singles.Japan's love affair with Enya is confusing. She chooses to release her albums with extra tracks in that country, stoically refusing to release them anywhere else (case in point : 'Isobella', very decidedly Enya's most poignant ballad, which has yet to surface in any form in a country other than Japan). Yet, when she chooses to lend her songs for a soundtrack, its filled with all the common hits that were all featured on 'Paint the sky with stars' and the rest of her solo albums. Bottom line : You already own all these songs, and theres no reason to get this unless you're a rabid collector.But then again, I can't justify that statement without letting you know what songs feature here. A bit of trivia here - this is the FIRST movie soundtrack album ever where ALL songs were sung by Enya (her first soundtrack album she did for 'The Frog Prince' was not entirely composed of her work). Well then, here we go :1. Wild Child - The second release from 'A Day without Rain'. Not exactly her best work, but like Aamer from VH1 put it, its very dentist-waiting-room-sounding, which may or may not be a good thing.2. Carribean Blue - Off Enya's remarkable 'Shepherd Moons', this song was her followup to the smash 'Orinoco Flow'. Many criticized her that this single was a variation of the same song. I guess Enya's response was that if it wasn't broken, don't fix it, though she didn't really say that out loud. I really loved this song back in the early 90's.3. Book Of Days - From the motion picture 'Far and Away' starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, comes this classic Enya tune. Try to get your hands on both the English and Gaelic versions, won't you?4. Afer Ventus - Another 'Shepherd Moons' era track, this one is Latin, and explores the universe in a manner only our dearly beloved Eithne could do.5. Watermark - Perhaps Enya's best instrumental piece, this opened her 1988 album of the same name, and is best known to be the cruel punishment that piano teachers hand out to their wavering disciples. The reason being that its such a simple yet effective piece, and if the student couldn't even play this, then he had no business touching a piano. Off to the stock markets it is then.6. Orinoco Flow : Enya's biggest hit and her first British No. 1. From 'Watermark'. It also did her the harm of being forever associated as Enya's only hit, which really isn't the case. Though it certainly is one of the catchiest things shes put out.7. The Celts - From the BBC documentary that Enya scored the music for in 1986 comes this lush, 80s sounding piece. Its really very quaint.8. Once You Had Gold - One of the lesser known tracks from 'The Memory of Trees', this one is a beautiful little lullaby, though by the time its over, you're probably already asleep. No offence, Enya.9. Triad: St Patrick/Cu Chulainn/Oisin - Now we're talking. This three-piece operetta is part of 'The Celts' released in 1986. From quiet progression to sonic delight, its one of the better things on that album. Now it finds its way here.10. Anywhere Is - The first single from 'The Memory of Trees' sounds like a Nursery Rhyme from Jeunet and Caro, but it works. Accompanied by the Treacle Pudding Orchestra, of course. This song stuck in my head for days back in 1995 and I was so glad when it went away. Not that its a bad song.11. Fairytale - Another from 'The Celts'. Not much to say about this one, unfortunately. Remember that Enya didn't really SING much on 'The Celts'. She went through all the songs with her usual ooohs, and the greatest thing on that LP was 'I want tomorrow' which they shouldn't have left out here.12. Evening Falls - From 'Watermark'. One of the best reasons why that CD was and is the best New Age album of all time.13. Song Of The Sandman (Lullaby) - This is a newer track recorded as a B-side for Enya's singles from 'A Day without Rain'14. The Promise - Another track off 'A Day without Rain'. When you listen to these, its rather obvious that Enya's later work is very different from her earlier work. To me, this is a bad thing. To others, its great. As long as we're all still listening to Enya, its all good.As you can see, theres not much new on this CD. However, if you're an avid collector of everything Enya, you may want to pick this up just to maintain thoroughness. You know how we Bhraonain fans can be.Mildly recommended."
Had to buy it
Cabir Davis | 11/19/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"My son mentioned he wanted something by Enya..I listened at the music store..and since it had several songs I know he liked..I decided to get it. I had only intended to check it out..but found myself listening to most of it standing there despite being behind schedule. It is our first album by her and I think it covers several songs we wanted. Good purchase."
Track Listings (14) - Disc #1