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Enya: Shepherd Moons

 A l b u m   D e t a i l s


Label: Reprise Records
Released: 1991.11.19
Time:
43:54
Category: Pop/Rock
Producer(s): See Artists...
Rating: *********. (9/10)
Media type: CD
Web address: www.enya.com
Appears with:
Purchase date: 2010.04.13
Price in €: 2,00





 S o n g s ,   T r a c k s


[1] Shepherd Moons (Enya) - 3:42
[2] Caribbean Blue (Enya/R.Ryan) - 3:58
[3] How Can I Keep from Singing? (Traditional) - 4:23
[4] Ebudae (Enya/R.Ryan) - 1:54
[5] Angeles (Enya/R.Ryan) - 3:57
[6] No Holly for Miss Quinn (Enya) - 2:40
[7] Book of Days (Enya/R.Ryan) - 2:32
[8] Evacuee (Enya/R.Ryan) - 3:50
[9] Lothlorien (Enya) - 2:08
[10] Marble Halls (Traditional) - 3:53
[11] Afer Ventus (Enya/R.Ryan) - 4:05
[12] Smaointe (Enya/R.Ryan) - 6:07
 

 A r t i s t s ,   P e r s o n n e l


Enya - Percussion, Keyboards, Vocals, Arranger
Andy Duncan - Percussion
Roy Jewitt - Clarinet
Liam O'Flynn - Pipe
Nick Ryan - Percussion, Arranger, Producer, Engineer, Mixing
Steve Sidwell - Cornet
Liam O'Flionn - uillean pipes

Rob Dickins - Executive Producer
Gregg Jackman - Engineer, Mixing
Robin Barclay - Assistant Engineer
David Scheinmann - Photography

 C o m m e n t s ,   N o t e s


1991 CD Reprise 2-26775
1991 CS Reprise 4-26775
1991 CD Warner Bros. 9031755722
1991 CS WEA 9031755724
1995 CD WEA/Warner 26775
1999 CD WEA 9031755728

Recorded at Aigle Studios
Mixed at Sarm West
Tracks 3, 7 and 9 recorded and mixed at Sarm West
WEA LC 4281

"Heavenly" is the best way to describe Enya's ethereal voice. The Irish new age singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalistis a formidable talent with a repertoire filled with gentlenuances and subtle turns. Peaceful and mesmerising, Enya's expressive arrangements float and flow alongside musical imagery, lyrical poetry, and stunning vocals which are unrivaled, yet often copied. Based on Irish folk-roots, Enya's musicis timeless and seamless, without boundaries or limits. Herexquisite vocals sweep through interwoven overdubs and multi-textured instrumentation warmly gilded by airy synthesizedstrings and keyboards. Her otherworldly voice is trance-like in such songs as the tranquil "Shepherd Moons", "Angeles", "Evacuee", and "Marble Halls". Accessibly lilting, awashin synth strings, "Caribbean Blue" is this album's answer to "Orinoco Flow", Enya's gigantic worldwide pop hit. The song, as all the others, transports the listener to another place. "How Can I Keep Singing?" is Irish folk music at its best. "Ebudae" is a percussive march with a mushrooming synth, and with its delicate vocals, one must marvel at the beauty of Enya's keening voice.



Calling Shepherd Moons a near carbon copy of Watermark  puts it quite mildly. Like Watermark, Shepherd Moons opens with the title track, a calm instrumental, has another brief instrumental titled after a Dora Saint book smack in the middle ("No Holly for Miss Quinn"), and concludes with a number incorporating a striking uilleann pipes solo, "Smaointe...." In general, Enya's own musical style and work remains the same, again assisted on production by Nicky Ryan and with lyrics by Roma Ryan. Shepherd Moons does have one key factor that's also carried over from Watermark - it's quite good listening. Though the total continuity means that those who enjoy her work will again be pleased and those who dislike it won't change their minds, in terms of finding her own vision and sticking with it, Enya has increasingly polished and refined her work to a strong, elegant degree. "Caribbean Blue," the lead single, avoids repeating the successful formula of "Orinoco Flow" by means of its waltz time - a subtle enough change, but one that colors and drives the overall composition and performance, the closest Enya might ever get to a dance number. Some songs call to mind traditional Irish music even more strongly than much of her earlier work, while two other tracks are haunting rearrangements of old, traditional numbers. With her trademark understated drama in full flow many other places, especially on the wonderful "Book of Days" (replaced on later pressings with an English language version done for the film Far and Away), Enya shows herself to still have it, to grand effect

Ned Raggett - All Music Guide



The success of her first international hit, Watermark, confirmed Enya as less a singer or songwriter than a sonic architect: working with producer Nicky Ryan and his wife, lyricist Roma Ryan, the classically-trained pianist built vaulting cathedrals of sound, framed by luminous piano, shimmering synthesizer orchestrations, and, above all, the seemingly infinite layers of vocal harmonies she plied on every song. The deeply romantic Celtic pop on its 1991 successor, Shepherd Moons, sustains the same spectrum of hushed reverie and surging, rhapsodic releases, as well as its mix of ballads, floating midtempo pieces, and forays into Celtic and Latin - and it's every bit as seductive. The terminally hip will sneer, but it's no accident that "Caribbean Blue," the best known song here, managed to sneak onto modern rock, top 40, "adult alternative" and public radio playlists.

Sam Sutherland - Amazon.com essential recording



1988 feierte die Ex-Sängerin der irischen Folkband Clannad mit Orinoco Flow ihren ersten Solo-Hit. Doch die New-Age-Welle, die sie zunächst ganz nach oben in den Charts gespült hatte, schlug schon wenig später über ihr zusammen: New Age war out, um Enya wurde es stiller. Zu Unrecht. Und so führt sie jetzt wieder vor, wie sacht sie auch ohne Boom mit zerbrechlich wirkenden Melodien, mit Folkpop in träumerischen Arrangements und ihrer etwas rauchigen Stimme umgehen kann. Schöne wärmende Musik für lange, wohlige Winterabende.

© Audio
 

 L y r i c s


Shepherd Moons

Instrumental


Caribean Blue

Caribbean Blue

... Eurus ...
... Afer Ventus ...

... so the world goes round and round
with all you ever knew -
They say the sky high above
is Caribbean blue ...

... if every man says all he can,
if every man is true,
do I believe the sky above
is Caribbean blue ...

... Boreas ...
... Zephryus ...

... if all you told was turned to gold,
if all you dreamed was new,
imagine sky high above
in Caribbean blue ...

... Eurus ...
Afer Ventus ...
... Boreas
Zephryus ...
... Africus ...


How Can I Keep from Singing?

My life goes on in endless song
above earth's lamentations,
I hear the real, though far-off hymn
that hails a new creation.

Through all the tumult and the strife
I hear it's music ringing,
It sounds an echo in my soul.
How can I keep from singing?

While though the tempest loudly roars,
I hear the truth, it liveth.
And though the darkness 'round me close,
songs in the night it giveth.

No storm can shake my inmost calm,
while to that rock I'm clinging.
Since love is lord of heaven and earth
how can I keep from singing?

When tyrants tremble in their fear
and hear their death knell ringing,
when friends rejoice both far and near
how can I keep from singing?

In prison cell and dungeon vile
our thoughts to them are winging,
when friends by shame are undefiled
how can I keep from singing?


Ebudae

Amharc, mná ag obair lá 's mall san oíche,
Ceolann siad ar laetha geal, a bhí,
Bealach fada anonn 's anall a chóich.

(Translation:
Look, women working by day and late at night,
They sing of bright days that were,
A long way back and forth forever.)


Angeles

Angels, answer me,
are you near if rain should fall?
Am I to believe
you will rise to calm the storm?
For so great a treasure words will never do.
Surely, if this is, promises are mine to give you.
mine to give...

Here, all too soon the day!
Wish the moon to fall and alter tomorrow.
I should know
heaven has her way
- each one given memories to own.

Angeles, all could be
should you move both earth and sea
Angeles, I could feel
all those dark clouds disappearing...

Even, as I breathe
comes an angel to their keep.
Surely, if this is
promises are mine to give you.
mine to give...


No Holly For Miss Quinn

Instrumental


Book of Days

One day, one night, one moment,
my dreams could be, tomorrow.
One step, one fall, one falter,
east or west, over earth or by ocean.
One way to be my journey,
this way could be my Book of Days.

Ó lá go lá, mo thuras,
an bealach fada romham.
Ó oíche go hoíche, mo thuras,
na scéalta nach mbeidh a choích.

No day, no night, no moment,
can hold me back from trying.
One flag, One fall, One falter,
I'll find my day may be, Far and Away.
Far and Away.

One day, one night, one moment,
with a dream to believe in.
One step, one fall, one falter,
find a new earth across a wide ocean.
This way became my journey,
this day ends together, Far and Away.
This day ends together, Far and Away.
Far and Away.


Evacuee

Each time on my leaving home
I run back to my mother's arms,
one last hold and then it's over.

Watching me, you know I cry,
you wave a kiss to say goodbye,
Feel the sky fall down upon me!

All I am,
a child with promises
All I have
are miles full of promises of home.

If only I could stay with you,
my train moves on, you're gone from view,
Now I must wait until it's over.

All I am,
a child with promises
All I have
are miles full of promises of home

Days will pass, your words to me,
it seems so long; eternity,
but I must wait until it's over.


Lothlorien

Instrumental


Marble Halls

I dreamt I dwelt in marble halls
with vassals and serfs at my side,
and of all who assembled within those walls
that I was the hope and the pride.
I had riches all too great to count
and a high ancestral name.
But I also dreamt which pleased me most
that you loved me still the same,
that you loved me
you loved me still the same,
that you loved me
you loved me still the same.

I dreamt that suitors sought my hand,
that knights upon bended knee
and with vows no maiden's heart could withstand,
they pledged their faith to me.
And I dreamt that one of that noble host
came forth my hand to claim.
But I also dreamt which charmed me most
that you loved me still the same
that you loved me
you loved me still the same,
that you loved me
you loved me still the same.


Afer Ventus

Mare nubium. Umbriel.
Mare imbrium. Ariel.
Et itur ad astra.
Et itur ad astra.
Mare undarum. Io. Vela.

Mirabile dictu. Mirabilia.
Mirabile visu. Mirabilia.
Et itur ad astra.
Et itur ad astra.
Sempervirent. Rosetum.

Afer Ventus. Zephyrus.
Vulturnus. Africus.
Et itur ad astra.
Et itur ad astra.
Etesiarum. Eurus.

Running verse:
Suus cuique mos. Suum cuique.
Meus mihi, suus cuique carus.
Mememto, terrigena.
Mememto, vita brevis.
Meus mihi, suus cuique carus.

(Translation:
African Wind

Sea of clouds. Umbriel.
Sea of showers. Ariel.
And we go to the stars.
And we go to the stars.
Sea of waves. Io. Vela.

Amazing to say. Marvellous.
Amazing to see. Wonderful.
And we go to the stars.
And we go to the stars.
Evergreen. A Garden of roses.

African Wind. West wind.
East wind. Africus.
And we go to the stars.
And we go to the stars.
Etesians. Eurus.

Running verse:
Each man to his own. Let this be so.
That which is mine I treasure,
And everyone treasures their own.
Remember, earthborn,
Remember, life is short.
And that which is mine is treasured by me,
as everyone treasures their own.)


Smaointe

Éist le mo chroí
Go brónach a choích
Tá mé cailte gan tú
‘s do bhean cheile
An grá mór I do shaoil
Threoraí sí me.
Bígí liomsa i gconaí
Lá’s oích.

--curfa:
Ag coaineadh ar an uaigneas mór
Na deora, go brónach
Na gcodladh ins an uaigh ghlas chiúin
Faoi shuimhneas, go domhain

Aoibhneas a bhí
Ach d’ímigh sin
Sé lean tú
Do fhear cheile
An grá mór i do shaoil
Threoraí sé mé
Bígí liomsa i gconaí
Lá’s oích.

--curfa:
Ag coaineadh ar an uaigneas mór
Na deora, go brónach
Na gcodladh ins an uaigh ghlas chiúin
Faoi shuimhneas, go domhain

Smaointe, ar an lá
Raibh sibh ar mo thaobh
Ag ínse scéil
Ar and doigh a bhí
Is cumhín liom an lá
Gan gha’s gan ghruaim
Bígí liomsa i gconaí
Lá’s oích


TRANSLATION

Listen to my heart.
So sad forever;
I am lost without you
And your wife,
The great love in your life.
She guided me.
Both of you, be with me always,
Day and night.

--chorus:
I cry at the great loneliness
Tears, so sad,
And you sleeping in the quiet, green grave
In deep peace.

There was happiness,
But it went away.
You followed your husband,
The great love in your life.
He guided me.
Both of you, be with me always,
Day and night.

--Chorus:
I cry at the great loneliness
Tears, so sad,
And you sleeping in the quiet, green grave
In deep peace.

I think of the day
That you were at my side
Telling stories
Of the days that were.
I remember the day,
Without want and without gloom.
Both of you, be with me always,
Day and night.
 

 M P 3   S a m p l e s


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