Eithne Ni Bhraonain, known as Enya Brennan or simply Enya is the most-sold Irish artist in the history of the world. Maybe she is born with it, and maybe it is a miracle. When you start your engines with the debut such as Watermark, you are predestined for big things.
Watermark was an epic masterpiece that made new age music available for the masses. Her style is based on spiritual vocal, Celtic melos and talent to turn traditional into modern. Her influences are to be found in the works of Dead Can Dance and Cocteau Twins, but she was the one who created something almost revolutionary. Still, after her last great album Shepherd Moons, released in 1991, the inspiration was gone and Enya started recycling herself.
Don’t get me wrong - Enya’s ethereal, crystal-clear voice is a brand for itself. She is still into high-quality music, even though it is simple and repetitive. Her newest effort called Dark Sky Island is considered her best record in the last 20 years, but I am just not feeling it. Why? Because I did not hear anything new. Let’s start with The Humming, an album opener. It is a nice start of a spiritual journey, but it could be placed on the B side of Watermark. There are no differences in style whatsoever. Even In The Shadows brings Orinoco Flow to memory (one of Enya’s biggest hits), while So I Could Find My Way reminded me of May It Be, the theme song for the first part of Lord Of The Rings.
The rest of the album is also a big recycling machine. The dream she tries to suck you in is not pleasant, rather predictable and boring. I wanted Enya to finally wake up and experiment more. The reality of the situation is that I wish Dark Sky Island puts her repetitive career to sleep.
