Parallel Dreams

Elemental This 1985 album represents the debut of Loreena McKennitt. If there was justice in the world, it would have represented her commercial breakthrough. (That didn't come until 10 years later). Though her work became more complex as time passed, all the elements were already in place...	The Visit Mixing a variety of styles with a Celtic base, this was McKennitt's breakthrough album and remains one of her most musically interesting. "All Souls Night" begins the album, with dance-like rhythms and McKennitt's wonderful voice singing about the Celtic New Year. Other features ...	The Mask and Mirror McKennitt's travels through Spain and Morocco flavor this album with a distinctly Mediterranean tinge, from the opening "The Mystic's Dream," with its dancing percussion arrangements, to "Marrakesh Night Market," to "Full Circle" and the instrumental "Santiago." "Marrakesh Night ...	The Book of Secrets McKennitt's recordings always have the quality of a spiritual sojourn; her songs are those of a seeker, whether she's setting Yeats, Scripture, or her own words to her compositions. It's this that attracts people to her music, and The Book of Secrets is no exception, whether it's...	An Ancient Muse It's been nearly a decade since Loreena McKennitt's last studio album, The Book of Secrets, but An Ancient Muse picks up the caravan exactly where she left off on her mystical journey through the cultures of the Middle East and northern Sahara. The Canadian singer opens this albu...
To Drive the Cold Winter Away This is not your father's Christmas album. Loreena McKennitt's primary instrument is the harp, but her primary technique is to take a traditional folk song and supersize it with strings, modern rhythms, and lush orchestration. It's a style that works ideally with this material. H...	A Winter Garden: Five Songs for the Season Loreena McKennitt's "songs for the season" are haunting for their beauty and her fascinating voice. Blending traditional Irish music with worldbeat and New Age-like instrumentation, McKennitt's arrangements are at once elegant and eloquent, enchanting and familiar, whether she's ...	Live In Paris & Toronto Loreena McKennitt's two-CD set, plucked from performances in Paris and Toronto, documents the modern-day troubadour's live dimension, luxuriously unraveling her talents on harp, accordian, and piano like a finely woven tapestry. Lovers of The Book of Secrets, The Mask and Mirror,...	The Visit	Elemental

Fusion music of nuance and mystery!
It is with this album that McKennitt's awesome talent as a composer/arranger truly finds that distinctive voice--somewhere in between Celtic, jazz, folk and world music--that is so prominent and beloved in her later work. Most of the music and some of the lyrics as well on "Parallel Dreams" are written by McKennitt in their entirety rather than being arrangements of traditional tunes or poems. There's still a sense of quiet restraint about many of the songs on this album, but this time it's underlain by a pregnant intensity of synth chords and percussion, released into the music just enough to give it an air of mysterious purpose without overwhelming McKennitt's ethereal vocals and nuanced harpistry. Guest musicians include Rick Lazar on udu drum and congas, Ratesh Dasj on tablas, guitarist Brian Hughes, violinist Oliver Schroer, cellist, bass and tamboura player George Koller, mandolin-player David Woodhead, piper Patrick Hutchinson, percussionist Al Cross, and Shelly Berger on pzud. Loreena McKennitt's previous album is "To Drive the Cold Winter Away," and the next one in the sequence, continuing her intriguing development as a composer, is "The Visit." I love everything she's ever done-- she's as true a talent and as creative a genius as you could ever wish for in a musician. But what impresses me most about her is how stirringly and satisfyingly her work has evolved over the years. She just keeps getting better and better! Try also the Celtic / folk / world music stylings of singer and multi-instrumentalist Kate Price and the work of dreamy vocalist / pianist Lydia McCauley.

Parallel Dreams
This is a truly wondrous album. Loreena McKennitt first swept me away when I heard "The Mummer's Dance" in 1997. Her voice is angelic and amazing, and she is an fabulous musician as well. This album, "Parallel Dreams," seems to be a forgotten treasure. I personally had a very hard time finding it, unlike some others ("The Book of Secrets and "The Mask and Mirror"). It needs more appreciation! Listen to this CD- I guarantee you'll be swept of your feet.

Thanks Loreena...
While I write these lines I'm listening this album, and sincerely, I believe that it's the better Loreena's album, because mixes the misticism celt with the pop ballad like no other. "Breaking the Silence", a song for Amnesty International, is the best example, a beautiful and frightening song that combines the magic and the enchantment of Loreena with a powerful and moving letter. Really a great song, marvelous. Listen to "Huron Fire Dance" is to be transported to ancient Ireland and the celtic rites. Separate mention deserves to "Standing Stone", "Ancient Pines" and "Dicken's Dublin", my other favorites. All this album is my favorite.Thanks Loreena for your music.

Enchanting
I am an avid Loreena Mckennitt fan, and although I realize that most people enjoy her later albums such as "The Mask and the Mirror" and "The Book of Secrets" the best, I would have to say that this album is my favorite!!! It is truly, truly beautiful. The songs "Standing Stones," "Annachnie Gordon," and "Dicken's Dublin" completely break my heart. this is truly a wonderful work. her voice is clear and there is a wide variety of songs in this album....some that really remind me of her earliest work "Elemental," but also songs that are more like something out of "The Mask and the Mirror." all in all, this work is enchanting!!!

stands on its own...
Every Loreena CD stands on its own. Every single one is gorgeous and all have their own mood and development. This one is simple and pure. Words and voice seem more important while the instruments sort of hang out. Other than that, this CD creates magic in your house!