Enya - And Winter Came... [Album]

Warner Bros

Christmas albums are always a great disappointment. You see the advert with all the great Christmas hits and your ready and willing to nip down to the nearest HMV to purchase the goods. Once it enters the stereo your ears get bored within a few minutes. 'And Winter Came....' is a VERY depressing Christmas album. Nothing like a bit of depressing music to get you through the loneliest time of year.... lovely. It's been two years away from the studio for Enya and now she's back with her Colloquial Irish winter album in time for release of the Christmas period.

Enya's haunting vocals are reminiscent of the tracks 'Aniron' and 'May it be' that featured on Box Office hit film The Lord Of The Rings: the fellowship of the Ring. Her vocals are still as shit hot as they were back in 1998, when she released her epic love ballad 'Orinoco Flow'. If you don't remember this track then I demand you download or watch it on Youtube right away. The Irish singer is capable of taking your mind to another place with her vocal talent, for me though, this album was weak. Being a bit of a Scrooge when it comes to Christmas, the album just seemed to drag. Don't get me wrong, a bit of Nat King Cole at Christmas time is just what the doctor ordered, but not Enya. Her talent is endless, her ability to create a choir with a few layers of her own voice is astounding.

'And Winter Came' begins as a purely instrumental piece, featuring a harmony of her voice over the music, giving you a teaser into what is to come. There are only two main tracks that give off the theme of Christmas time in a blatant fashion; 'The Spirit Of Christmas' and 'One Toy Soldier'. Other tracks show off Enya's diversity in her vocals and her ability to create her own sound. A lot of the album is very heartfelt. Lyrics such as "Memories we share together, moments no-one else can know, I will keep them close to me, never let them go", and "I have lost myself in you".

It's clear to see Enya has regained her status as an outstanding vocal performer. Fan's of Enya will not be disappointed as this record ticks all the boxes a typical Enya record should. As for a Christmas album, it's a little depressing. One tip for the male audience though, don't take a girl out for a date and leave this lovely album in your CD player, you may never get laid again!!

Track Listings:

1. And Winter Came...
2. Journey Of The Angels
3. White Is In The Winter Night
4. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
5. Trains And Winter Rains
6. Dreams Are More Precious
7. Last Time By Moonlight
8. One Toy Soldier
9. Stars And Midnight Blue
10. The Spirit Of Christmas Past
11. My! My! Time Flies!
12. Oíche Chiúin (Chorale)

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