Customer Reviews

Mask & Mirror

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I first bought this CD a week or so after it came out. I was driving home with a friend when he slipped it into the CD player in the car--and we nearly drove off the road, it was so beautiful. Whereas "The Visit" is en-spiriting in a lively and enlivening way, "The Mask and Mirror" is much more 'contemplative' in a kind of earthy, humanizing sense. The music is woven together into (so I call it) an aesthetic mandalla; to listen to it is to be drawn toward the center of one's self, irresistably! It was on this CD that she first began exploring the Spanich and Arabic worlds. For me, "Dark Night of the Soul" -- the lyric of which is taken from a poem by the Spanish mystic John of the Cross -- is the vortex of the CD. A beautiful poem given a wonderful setting. The music of this CD is textured and layered. It will restore and reinvigorate your sense of beauty. Experience it for yourself!

The first time I bought this CD was from some kind of therapy store. I was walking by the storefront while they were playing the disk. I couldn't pass on this so I just stood and listened. At the end I asked if I could buy it, and ended up paying close to $30 US for this ! Folks, back then gasoline was only $1 per gallon.
I agree with the previous reviewer describing the "Dark night of the Soul" as the vortex of the CD. And couldn't agree more with the other reviewer's "borrowing technique" : I've bought this CD 3 times already because it kept went on missing ! To whoever took it, I don't blame you. Spread it out, share it with your love ones.
Don't listen to me, go download the song and listen for youself. And I'll bet you'll want a hard copy afterwards.

Every time I have the pleasure of listening to Loreena, I feel transported to a different place & time. Rarely does music move the soul as her's does. Enjoy every moment, every note, every melody. Doesn't get any better than this.

Had borrowed a friend's copy of this CD after hearing it once (maybe after hearing just one song) and would not return it until I had purchased my own copy and one for my sister. I never tire of listening to it and look forward to purchasing others by the same artist.

I was looking for another CD when I happened upon this one. I had never heard of Loreena McKennet at the time but I was charmed by the presentation. I thought if the art was a representation of the music it would be something I would enjoy. One of the best CD's I own and the sounds never grow old.

Without question this is one of the most delightful collections of music I have ever had the pleasure of hearing. Each time her voice comes on in Ce He Mise Le Ulaingt?/The Two Trees I feel taken away to another place. Light some candles, pour a glass of wine, and enjoy.

I am a fan of just about all of Loreena McKennitt's music, but there is something about this CD of hers which just pierces my soul every time I listen to it. It has a dream-like feel to it which intertwines dark longings with intense peace. My personal favorites are "Mystic's Dream", "Full Circle", and "The Two Trees", a beautiful poem by Yeats. Best of all though, is "Dark Night Of The Soul", a song written by a monk expressing his passionate love for God. It brings tears of joy to my eyes and a taste of heaven to my spirit every time I hear it.

"A clouded dream on an earthly night/Hangs upon the crescent moon/A voiceless song in an ageless light/Sings at the coming dawn..."

Listening to a Loreena McKennit album is like being slowly enveloped in a dream of medieval castles, incense-heavy air, and distant exotic lands full of shadows and beauty. "The Mask and the Mirror" is a prime example of McKennit's hauntingly ye-olde music, with lush instrumentation and bittersweet vocals -- not to mention some truly lovely songs.

It starts with the haunting "Mystic's Dream," a love song that is soaked in a dreamlike atmosphere and the sound of monks chanting wordlessly in the background It's followed by the more upbeat but grisly ballad "The Bonny Swans," the vaguely erotic-sounding "The Dark Night of the Soul" is set to lots of floaty string melodies, and the dancey "Marrakesh Night Market" adds a peppy Middle-Eastern flavor to the album ("Would you like my mask/Would you like my mirror?... you can look at yourself, you can look at each other/you can look at the face, the face of your god!").

A more contemplative air enters the album in its second half -- "Full Circle" is a minimalist ballad that mourns and marvels at the sound of worship ("in your heart, in your soul, did you find peace there?") while "Santiago" is a sprightly Spanish-flavored instrumental with McKennit only making "la la" noises. She dips briefly into the upliftingly lovely "Cé Hé Mise Le Ulaingt?/The Two Trees," and ends on a suitably bittersweet note -- a somnolent recitation of "Prospero's Speech."

Loreena McKennit has a magical touch with music -- she can wrap you in velvety dreams, walk you through a candelit medieval cathedral, dance you through a spice-filled Middle-Eastern market and rock you to sleep in an ivy-filled ruin. "The Mask and the Mirror" does all these things and more, and it's honestly hard to find a single false note in the entire exquisite album.

It's also impossible to find a modern pop sensibility in the whole thing -- the music is a lush tapestry of lutes, drums, an aching sweep of violin, guitar, some truly beautiful harp, and a dark swathe of bittersweet piano in "Cé Hé Mise Le Ulaingt?/The Two Trees." While the songs can be upbeat -- such as "Santiago" and "The Bonny Swans" -- the overall atmosphere is pretty mellow and subdued. Sometimes it's redolent with spiritual intensity, and sometimes it's just sad.

Apparently her visits to Spain and Morocco flavored the lyrics for these songs, there's definitely Spanish, Celtic and Arabian atmosphere; in addition, the songs are grounded in some classic literature, derived from Shakespeare, Yeats, and St. John of the Cross. And her strong, sweetly rich voice always sounds slightly sad, as she drifts through lyrics filled with vivid, striking images ("A painting hangs on an ivy wall/Nestled in the emerrald moss... A clouded dream on an earthly night/Hangs upon the crescent moon").

"The Mask and the Mirror is a vibrant, almost painfully lovely album that drips with medieval-ish splendor and lots of Spanish/Celtic/Middle-Eastern beauty. Utterly haunting.

The thing about Loreena's music is that it peels away the layers of 'modern culture' and

touches something ancient and real with me.

Her music transports me back to 'somewhere from before'.

It comes from old ..... as I sincerely believe she does also.

Bonny Swans was the first song I heard from Loreena McKennitt. In the midst of all the alternative music, rock music, classical and R & B and sometimes easy listening music (like the Andrew Sisters) music that I was listening to at that time, when I heard Loreena McKennitt and her Bonny Swans song, I got goose bumps. What a glorious sound this woman could bring. She describes her music as Celtic Eclectic. Her music is Celtic, and she captures the essence of other cultures of where the Celts have travelled. So that in her music, she expresses the travels and quests of where this journey of the Celts, and her personal journey takes her. Her music struck a chord within me that was melodic and harmonious. I immediately purchased the album. My favorite songs are of course the Bonny Swans, Full Circle, The Two Trees, Santiago, Mask and Mirror and Prospero's Speech (this is particularly very meditative.) Her music is soothing, energetic (like a fire) and visual of storytelling. The musicians are extraordinary! Especially the violinist, Hugh Marsh! She has wonderful and extra instruments on the album ouds, hurdy gurdy, balalaika, bag pipes. Loreena herself plays the accordion, the harp, and piano. Then there are the instruments of dumbek, drums, percussion and so forth. I'm getting carried away. This is a wonderful album. Because of this album, I purchased every album she has made! I highly recommend the Mask and Mirror.