Enya
The Celts

"It is the death of the tree,
the end of the Tribe."

Thus sang Enya 20 years ago. Back then Enya, just in her twenties, had just left her family band, the historical Clannad, from the remote north-western region of Ireland called Donegal. She sent one of her first demos, "The March Of The Celts", to the BBC for selection as the soundtrack for a 6-part documentary series about the Celts. She was entrusted with all 70 minutes of music, being preferred even over other historic groups like the Chieftains. Enya would find herself writing in music the history of her people, from origins to the present, not knowing she would create a new music genre. She began endless experiments with synthesizers, samplers, and various keyboards to obtain the sound of the Celts, to express their true voice through a primordial journey, which still reflects in today's Ireland.

The album (originally simply titled "Enya" and re-released in 1992 as "The Celts") opens with the title track "The Celts": powerful drums and synthesized carillons accompany the Gaelic lyrics with a whispered and rhythmic voice "Through the ages of ages, from beginning to end. We are alive forever."

The journey has begun, and continues with the second track, "Aldebaran", the giant red star, described by a carpet of harps and choirs that seem to originate from the depths of an ancient temple.

Further along, we find "The March Of The Celts", a solemn echo of the past whispering "Live forever. Dead forever.", all set to a menacing bass and delicate piano.

In "Deireadh An Tuath" it is the Celtic festival of "Samna", the end of the new year, when the dead come back to life, and Enya's crystalline mezzo-soprano in the distance announces the end of the Clan.

The fairy tale of keyboards and trills in "Fairytale" fades into the next track: "Triad", a mournful choir that consecrates St. Patrick, patron of Ireland, as "the Savior", while at the same time mourning the lost pagan values.

"Bodiacea", hummed with closed lips over a hoarse and distant synthesizer, is a madrigal, vespers, dedicated to the warrior princess Bodiacea, who, defeated, chose to poison herself rather than fall into Roman hands.

Amidst the carillons, round dances, and instrumental lullabies of "Epona" and "Bard Dance", emerges "Dan y Dwr". Resuming the theme of "Deireadh An Tuath", it is the subdued prayer of the ancient inhabitants of the village "Capel Celyn", completely submerged due to a dam. Enya's archaic voice unveils secrets and memories that now lie beneath the waters, forever: "Beneath the waters, silent forever. Beneath the waters, I call you. The sound is no longer with me. "

This masterpiece of the eighties tells stories, mythologies, impressions, hopes, and interpretations of the great and ancient Celtic people. The sound is masterful and inspired. Enya in all her splendor.