Customer Reviews

Blessing Tree

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'll be hooked on The Blessing Tree for a long time. Being a songwriter, and someone familiar with the recording techniques that Philip Riley employed, I'd have to say that this is the breakthrough album for him. Almost every song on the album is a sure winner. My only bone to pick with Philip Riley was that he didn't use an acoustic piano in the recording - If he did, he mixed it to sound like a sampled piano (if that's possible). Such a simple thing would've enhanced the songs that have piano parts in it (most people can't tell). But over-all, the album is great - the album as a whole is better than Enya's last two albums, IMO. Why, you may ask? Because Enya has been using the same sounds for the last 10 years in all of her albums, except for in a few of her songs. Don't get me wrong - Enya is the master, but Jayne Ellison has a very sensual voice that Enya just doesn't have. Jayne's voice sends shivers down my spine in a major way. Briton Drums is a very powerful song, along with Sanctus (the majestic violin interlude), and reflective Slow Runs My Heart. However, the song that is the most addicting, and beautiful is Pictish Girl - a very simple song, but very powerful and enchanting. This album deserves every bit of a 5-star rating.

Fantastic CD. Beautiful songs with great melodic tones. You will love this selection, compare it to Enya. But has more feeling and love for music and meanful words. I would buy it for someone I love-it is the greatest. I am thankful I own it.

Enjoy!

The most wonderful little-known cd I've listened to. The music borrows from celtic, folk, classical and pop to come up with the kind of songs that you fall in love the first time you hear them and yet they are not quite like anything else out there. The pipes and strings give it that celtic feel while Jayne Ellison who sounds more then a bit like Madonna (on a very good day) gives them a pop feel. There is not a looser on the album, but I particularly love Brenton Drums which alternates betweeen sounding like a pop tune and a theme for a Movie about the American Revolution which tells the tale of a girl who cuts her hair and disguises herself as a boy to search for her missing lover and a trio near the end Benediction, Sanctus, and Coventry Lullaby which all have the sound of Church music in the tradition of Bach and Handle but with a decidely pop edge. Now stop reading these review and order your album so they will put out another one real soon.

I came across this CD via cross reference by Amazon (in fact I've found any number of excellent new artists this way... thanks Amazon). I must admit it's quiet, gentle harmonies are quite appealing. The peaceful, mystical feel of the music puts it into my "vaguely Enya-esque" category along with such artists as "Beautiful World", Clannad, Miriam Stokely, and Connie Dover.

The moodiness of the CD is perfect for relaxing or lulling yourself to sleep after a hectic day of work.

I bought this CD based on the reviews for it, and am thrilled with it! The songs are all lovely and make an excellent background for working, cooking, driving, or any of my other daily activities. In particular, I find it soothing on those especially exasperating days we all seem to have. It is inspiring, and the vocals on it are also quite beautiful. I think my favorite songs are Spin the Circle Down and Come Silver Moon, both of which are rather slow, dreamy songs. I highly recommend this CD, it has barely left my CD player since it arrived, and the more I listen to it, the more I find to love about it. If you like soft, ethereal celtic music, I think it will be one of your favorites, too.

Absolutely beautiful!!Sit down after a long day and let this CD lift the weight off your shoulders.Stress be gone!!!

Jayne Elleson's beautiful voice and Philip Riley's soothing and uplifting music combine in this marvelous effort. Songs like "Come Silver Moon" and "Pictish Girl" brings to the forefront of the imagination a moonlit night of stunning beauty. Songs like "Sanctus" and "Breton Drum" stir great energy within, and awakens the Celtic spirit in everyone. For a long time this CD was hard to find, but now it seems to be everywhere. This is your chance to own this great release.

This is quite a beautiful collection of calming, relaxing songs in a classical, somewhat celtic style. There is, however, very little variation between the songs, and most of them are too similar to be distinct by themselves. Still, Jayne Elleson has wonderful vocals and Philip Riley excellent piano melodies. Briton Drums gets a little more into the celtic feeling, but I wanted to hear more percussion. My favorite song is probably Spin the Circle Down, which brings images of European medieval times to my mind, and has beautiful lyrics. It would be a very nice collection if there was more variation, but it's still a lovely, softening album as it is.

I read the reviews here and decided to try this CD. It's 12 melodies sounds similar when first hear. However when I listen repeatly, I can feel the movements of each pieces and they are all brilliant ! Jayne's voice matches the tones perfectly. I like Philip's arrangements and the intellegent in well choose of each instrument. If you enjoyed Enya I am sure you will not disappointed with the blessing tree. Maybe find it more beautiful and richer than any musics of same style you every knew.

On a par with Enya...without a doubt! Cuts titled SILVER MOON, BRETON DRUM, WHEN I DREAM, and SLOW RUNS MY HEART belong as movie themes. Read the words in the accompanying folio inside the CD and you will feel the music too. You can't stop playing it. We need more of this full bodied music that goes far beyond a simple solo with flute and pipe background.