Customer Reviews

Mysts of Time

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If I had a temple, this album would play in it all day and all night. Layered, elaborate, mystical instrumentation supplementing Aine's ethereal soprano voice make this album sound absolutely holy. It is the kind of angelic music that can make you stop in the middle of a hectic, worldy day and suddenly do nothing but listen ... and then think about higher things. Try playing this softly at a dinner party and watch how many turn away from the punch and ask, "What is this lovely music?" It is as sophisticated as it is ethereal.

My first CD from Aine Minouge was 'Between the worlds', and it will forever be one of my favorites, but 'The mysts of time' simply did not live up to expectation. Simply put, its a matter of tastes. If you like your celtic music light and easy, this one's for you; if you prefer more somber, mood driven tunes, turn your attention to 'Between the worlds'.

I purchased this on a whim about in 1995 from a Science Shop in Toronto. The Science Shop chain has vanished but the CD appears still in large quantities in the racks of the Museum Company, and smaller quantities in record stores, indication that it continues to sell and find new listeners.

How not? This is the kind of music that started New Age Celtic, not the later derivitate, imitation Celtic that has given New Age Celtic a bad name. And it has remained one of my favorite CDs.

The sounds are exquisite, delicate, soft, subtle, misty, dreamy, warm and comforting, but not mushy. I think it slightly the best of ker albums that I have heard. (Two earlier ones are unavailable.)

The material is nearly all traditional, but unknown to me before I purchased this CD: a greatly varying mix of genuine Irish (Gaelic lyrics only), little-known Latin church music (a Sarum plainsong and a Benedictine Christmas Carol from the Isle of Wight), and one thobbing Breton song. Only three songs are original compositions by Minogue and Brian P. Myers, but all are excellent; one of them is the album title track, and the most album's most obvisouly exciting piece with its lively "Gloria" chorus.

Minogue sings with a restrained, flowing, unearthly, echoing voice floating in etherial, spiritual purity, sometimes above and sometimes blending within the weaving instrumental harmonies and drones. For this is very much an ensemble album with superb backing and bridging by other musicians on cello, fiddle, mandolin, Irish pipes, whistle, oboe, English horn, keyboards, tabla, and bodhrán. Of course Minogue's bright, neo-Celtic harp rightly takes first place. A male chorus sometimes augments Minogue's singing, and sometimes alternates with it.

The tunes are linked by a spiritual emphasis, but none sound churchy. One, "Mal Bhán Ní Chuilionáin", is in fact a somewhat frivolous song of repentance for all pleasure by a man who has lost his lady love. The liner notes make clear the importance to Minogue of the veneraton of the goddess Brigit and of nature found in some of these songs.

Some tracks, "Anach Cuan" for example, are very close to Goth music, or something the group Enigma might produce. A closer connection is to the Celtic music of Loreena McKennitt or to Enya, though Minogue has a distinct sound of her own. But anyone who likes any these kinds of musics should give this album a listen.

If only the liner notes gave translations and more information instead of John O'Donohue's finely written but unnecessary essay.

Perfectly orchestrated music. Voice from another world. "Only" five stars because there is no 6-stars rating.

I heard this playing in a store, asked about it , bought it, and was immediately hooked. It's pleasant background music, but my attention invariably gets caught by the lyrical melodies and haunting chant-like quality of AM's voice. If you enjoy stuff like Hildegard von Bingen and early church music, Paul Winter Consort, mainstream celtic, and melancholy British folk music, you'll love this. I wish there was more information in the sleeve notes about the music and the words -- it's all in Irish, which makes it tough to sing along.

Simply put, this is the most beautiful vocal CD I've ever heard.
I bought it almost 10 years ago and still listen to it constantly.

Beautiful music. You can close your eyes and believe you are in Ireland!!! Incredible!

I LOVE this kind of music and find that it helps me to relax and sleep even when other music can't. I highly recomend this CD.

Intermixing plainsong from Gaelic masses with gentle Celtic folk tunes, singer/ harpist Aine Minogue and many guest artists weave a soft, pastel tapestry of spirituality, mystery and quiet moods. Her wispy, Enya-esque voice drifts above lush, lyrical instrumentals and leads the choral harmonies of the hymns and plainsong. It's nice to hear sacred songs included on an album of Celtic music, being that Christianity has long been an integral part of Irish society. Minogue and company present an interesting variety of songs, performed with reverence, relish and a predominantly gentle touch. This is light, shimmering music intended for contemplation and relaxation; don't expect rousing jigs and rowdy drinking songs here. But put "The Mysts of Time" on at the end of a hard day, and feel the stresses melt away. Very relaxing and transporting! Joining Minogue on this recording is a veritable "who's who" in the New Age / Celtic genre: William Coulter on guitar; vocalists Alasdair Halliday, Scott Trible, John Hazen and Klila; Barry Phillips on cello; tabla and keyboards; Shelley Phillips on oboe and English horn; Steve Schuch on fiddle; Patrick Hutchinson on pipes and whistles; Paul Machlis on Keyboards, and Gerry Putnam on Mandolin. Subsequent albums by Aine Minogue include "Between the Worlds" and "Celtic Meditation Music." Try also the work of Enya and Therese Shroeder-Sheker.

This is in my consideration Aine Monogue's best. The songs are mysterious and fascinating. I particularly enjoyed track 5 Mal Bhan Ni Chuilionain.