Signature [Import]

Maire Brennan, Moya Brennan | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 5, 2009)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Absolute Uk/Zoom
• ASIN: B000I5Y8XM
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #295,716 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

"Theme from Harry's Game," sung with Moya Brennan's original band, Clannad, set the stage for the Celtic renaissance of the 1980s. But Brennan has always been more than gothic choirs, and Signature highlights her songwriting as much as her heavenly voice. This is her first album in a while that breathes. On albums like the soporific Whisper to the Wild Water and epic Two Horizons, she smothered her songs in overproduced layers of synth pads and vocals and a heavily compressed sound that pushed it to stridency, despite some beautiful tunes. But Brennan and co-producer/guitarist Fionán de Barra strip away a few of the layers, giving her songs a sense of space, depth, and contour. She sings of redemption, salvation in the face of lost hope, and love over all through a meticulous weave of Celtic harps, Irish flutes, and fiddles, bodhráns, and uillean pipes. There's just enough production sheen and rhythm loops to take it out of folk terrain, but enough passion and edge to keep it from sliding into easy-listening treacle, although sentimental love songs like "Always" sure make an effort. Most of the songs tend toward chant-like ballads, but she lifts the roof off with the album-opening "Purple Haze." It isn't the Hendrix song, although the skeletal lyrics might obliquely refer to Brennan's born-again rejection of her wild youth. It's a powerful merging of tribal Celtic percussion and her impassioned vocals splayed against an avenging choir chanting like a Druid ritual in an Irish cove. Signature offers more evidence that Moya Brennan is the voice of contemporary Irish music, hopefully more than the smarmy cotton candy of Celtic Woman. --John Diliberto

Product Description

2006 studio album from 'the first lady of Celtic music' Moya (Maire) Brennan, best known as the vocalist with Clannad (and for being Enya's sister!). 12 tracks including 'Hear My Prayer', 'No One Talks', 'Tapestry' and 'Purple Haze'. Furious.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sublime! The First Lady of Celtic Music will inspire you..., November 1, 2006

By 

David Hoffend (Rochester, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Signature (Audio CD)

I had shivers down my spine right from the first song on this CD. After the dreamy new age voyage of "Two Horizons," "Signature" takes us back to Moya's Irish roots. The songs are dreamy and ethereal, heavily featuring traditional Irish instruments (including Moya's own harp playing). All of the songs are a bit haunting and utterly beautiful. Moya's voice is better than ever, and the lyrics are thoughtful, enchanting, and inspirational. At times, her voice is the softest feather- and then at other times, it hits home like an arrow hitting a bullseye. There is still quite a bit of Christian influence; yet the Christian songs are universal in their message and will not leave idividuals of other denominations feeling alienated. All in all, I would say that this is one of Moya's best albums to date- it combines the best Irish influences from her Clannad albums, mixes in some of the best from her more Christian albums ("Whisper to the Wild Water" and "Perfect Time"), and keeps you floating in the dream world that Moya has created on every album she has ever done. Moya has a truly unique way of lifting you up when you are sad, and lifting you higher when you are happy. If you love this album, do your family and friends a favor and intruduce them to it as well. I have played "Signature" for people who have very diverse musical tastes- and everyone so far has been captivated by it!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I loved her back when she was Maire Brennan, March 28, 2008

By 

R. Kyle (USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Signature (Audio CD)

"Harry's Game" was my first exposure to Clannad, but not my last. I've followed Moya Brennan's career from Clannad to her first solo CDs under the name Maire and now Moya, which is a more phonetic spelling of her Irish name.

"Signature" is a slightly different sound for Moya. It's less layered atmospheric with a stronger pop rhythm than her earlier slower folk music works. Vocals are still the signature chantlike beauty with an accompanying underpinning of Irish harp, bodhran, flutes, and uillean pipes. What I like better is the sound is engineered so the vocals are clearer and up-front of the orchestration.

If you're expecting Jimi Hendrix' rock standard from the opening title, "Purple Haze," you'll be disappointed. Moya's "Purple Haze" is a strong opener that will conjure up images of the Irish landscape.

"Hear my Prayer" is a reflection of Moya's faith and a rededication:

Angels walk with me
Guard me to the waters edge
Wash away my doubts, my fear
Lord, strengthen me and bring me back to you

Fans of her Gaelic singing will be disappointed there's only one non-English song, "Pill a Run O". But do no not despair, this one very spare song with just Moya, light strings, and the Irish harp is possibly one of the most beautiful I've ever heard her sing.

"Signature" is a great introduction to Moya's sound if you're more a fan of pop than folk. If like me, you've loved Moya since Clannad, it's still a good addition to your music collection, particularly if you want a mix that spotlights Moya's amazing, hauntingly beautiful voice.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Contemplative Celebration, February 19, 2007

By 

Montague Whitsel (Western Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Signature (Audio CD)

Of her solo CD's, this is perhaps Moya's most fluid and uplifting. It has the same contemplative feel as Two Horizons and Whisper to the Wild Waters, yet there is a deeper sense of 'flow' in this ensemble of tunes; a spiritul 'movement' enlivens the CD from beginning to end. The sound occasionally reminds me of Clannad's in their most mature phase (Sirius - Legend). There is a sense of joy in this music that is reminiscent of Perfect Time. An excellent album; I play it every day.