Blessing Tree [IMPORT]

Philip Riley

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 15, 1998)
• Original Release Date: August 18, 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: White Cloud
• ASIN: B00000AELR
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #209,483 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stirring, ethereal, it melts in your mind,beautiful!, September 30, 1999

By A Customer

If you love Enya's and Loreena McKennitt's music, you'll love this CD! I've been a fan of both Enya and Loreena McKennitt for years and this beautiful music was being played in a bookstore (alright--so I didn't buy it here--it's still a great CD!)and I thought it was a new Enya CD at first, then the Irish pipes and whistles began to show up in the songs. This music just slides into your consciousness and possesses you. It's so beautiful you just listen in fascination--and then you have to have it!

It has the breathy (overlay of vocals ) quality of Enya and the Celtic themes overlying soft acoustic guitar and piano with occasional whistle, pipes, and drums. I think that Shepherd Moon's Ebudae is what will come to mind the most--especially on track 2 Breton Drum.

Basically this is one of those CD's you buy, take home, pray will be all you look for in a CD and are thrilled to find it is that and more. Don't miss this CD!

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Music Critic's Review, December 7, 1999

By A Customer

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.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Blessing Tree, March 2, 2000

By A Customer

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!