Retro Album of the Week 10 - Shepherd Moons

Shepherd Moons by Enya 1991

This album was a massive follow up to the first distinctively Enya album Watermark. Although the whole thing has the Enya sound, there is some variety. Lothlorien and No holly for Miss Quinn are instrumentals, the latter featuring only the piano. The track Shepherd Moons is also an instrumental but does feature Enya's voice. Caribbean Blue is classic Enya with a beat and Book of Days is similar. Ebudae is chanted and has an ethnic Native American sound, Evacuee features a rain sound effect and a brass band. Marble Halls and How can I keep from singing are covers of a sort, the first being a Victorian Music Hall favourite and the latter a Shaker hymn. Smaointe is in Irish and is almost an acapella piece except for the Uillean pipe solo. Afer Ventus is in Latin and features perhaps more multi-layered voices than any other track on the album. The Irish and Latin and Gregorian influences are perhaps the most easily discernible but Lord of the Rings and the New Age movement are clearly represented. No holly for Miss Quinn is clearly inspired by a story by the quaint modern writer whose pen-name is Miss Read. Perhaps it is the calming precision craftsmanship that makes this such a satisfying album.