Rating:
Genre:
World
Release Date: 10/05/2004
Run Time: 42:37
Internationally lauded
contemporary Celtic vocal ensemble
Anuna, best known stateside as the original
Riverdance choir, lend their ghostly voices to the
holiday genre with the
Christmas-themed
Winter Songs. The choir, led by sibling directors
Michael and
John McGlynn, downplay the "sing-songy" aspects of classic
carols like
"Away in a Manger" and
"Silent Night," filling them instead with complex harmonies that recall
Bacharach and
the Beach Boys. That's not to say that they ignore the season's emotional weight -- ancient Irish
hymns like the gorgeous
"Codhlaim Go Suan" are steeped in
modal simplicity -- but there is a definite 1960s
Robert Shaw Chorale feel to the more recognizable selections that gives
Winter Songs an
easy listening,
new age feel without the keyboards softness. Fans of
Enya,
Loreena McKennitt and most notably
Clannad, the act in which
Anuna seems most reverent to, will find this unique collection a soothing addition to a night of quiet, fire-lit reverie. [
Winter Songs was re-released unchanged in 2004 as
Christmas Songs on
Koch Records].
~James Christopher Monger, All Music Guide
;)
Listen
