Creating unique rhythms

The talented Eithne Patricia Ni Bhraonain, better known as Enya, is a vocalist, instrumentalist and composer. She began her musical career in 1980, when she briefly joined her family band Clannad. She has been pursuing a solo career since 1982, but it is her album Watermark, released in 1988, which propelled her to international recognition and became known for her unique sound, which was characterised by voice-layering, folk melodies, synthesised backdrops and ethereal reverberations.

Twenty-two years have passed since the original release of Enya’s self-titled debut album in 1987. During that time, Enya has become one of the world’s most successful musicians with an array of top honours including four Grammy Awards and three World Music Awards. The Very Best Of Enya brings together for the first time so much of the earth-spanning music created alongside her close friends and partners in music, Nicky and Roma Ryan.

Although there are no new songs for the collection,  ‘Aniron’ (I Desire), which Enya composed and performed for The Lord of the Rings, is released on this album in a previously unreleased version. Another track is ‘May It Be’ (from the soundtrack of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring). Her music is best suited for this genre of films.

Other tracks include ‘Orinoco Flow’, ‘Storms in Africa’ and ‘Cursum Perficio’ and the title song from the album Watermark (1988); ‘Caribbean Blue’ and ‘Book of Days’ from Shepherd Moons (1991); ‘Anywhere Is’ from The Memory of Trees  (1995) ‘The Celts’ , ‘Aldebaran’ and  ‘Boadicea’ from The Celts a re-release of her 1987 eponymous album. ‘Only Time’ and ‘Wild Child’ and the title track from A Day Without Rain (2000). ‘Water Shows the Hidden Heart’  and the title track from Amarantine (2005) and ‘Trains and Winter Rains’ from And Winter Came... (2008)