The Bottom Line
Loreena McKennitt's music is deeply rooted in the Celtic traditions which make up her heritage. However, she expands on those traditions, creating lush, heavily textural songs which draw from sounds both ancient and modern. Her inspiration for An Ancient Muse was an extensive trip through the legendary Silk Road, studying the influences and roots of the Celts along the way. This CD covers a wide range of cultures and styles, tied together with McKennitt's signature ambient sound.
Pros
- Simply stunning arrangements and songs
- More musically eclectic than Loreena McKennitt's previous albums
- Typically exquisite musicianship and composition
Cons
- Not exactly made for dancing - but that's not necessarily bad!
Description
- Lush and intense songs, in true McKennitt fashion.
- A remarkable range of inspiration comes together surprisingly well.
- Impressive vocals and breathtaking melodies tie together the album.
Guide Review - Loreena McKennitt - An Ancient Muse
Loreena McKennitt is a consummate traveler, and to find inspiration for An Ancient Muse, she traveled the Silk Road, digging up songs, folklore and mythology from the ancient Celts who also traveled this route, and even perhaps sprung from a group who once lived in Mongolia and Northwest China.
The CD incorporates melodies and instrumentation from cultures as diverse as Greece, Turkey and China, strung together with intoxicating melodies and lush compositions, resulting in a surprisingly cohesive and truly beautiful album. The songs are not upbeat or danceable, but rather meditative and quietly atmospheric. Fans of McKennitt's work will be stunned to discover the breadth of this CD, and will undoubtedly be pleased with it. Standout tracks include the Arabic-inspired "The Gates of Istanbul" and the medieval-sounding "The Ladye and the Knight". An Ancient Muse is Loreena McKennitt's first album of new music in nearly ten years, and it was well worth the wait.
November 1, 2006
The CD incorporates melodies and instrumentation from cultures as diverse as Greece, Turkey and China, strung together with intoxicating melodies and lush compositions, resulting in a surprisingly cohesive and truly beautiful album. The songs are not upbeat or danceable, but rather meditative and quietly atmospheric. Fans of McKennitt's work will be stunned to discover the breadth of this CD, and will undoubtedly be pleased with it. Standout tracks include the Arabic-inspired "The Gates of Istanbul" and the medieval-sounding "The Ladye and the Knight". An Ancient Muse is Loreena McKennitt's first album of new music in nearly ten years, and it was well worth the wait.
November 1, 2006
