After the accidental discovery of The Book Of Secrets, I made a serious attempt to fill in the blanks with Loreena McKennitt’s work. The Mask And Mirror was the album she released just prior to The Book Of Secrets. It has many of the same ingredients that make it such a haunting and attractive collection.
As we travel back in time with her albums, the middle eastern spice is somewhat diminished and a more traditional Celtic sound is present. That is good too but if I had to point out my favorites to you they would be The Book Of Secrets, then The Mask And Mirror. The Visit should be you next stop if you decide to continue. Actually, I just did a quick scan of all of my Loreena McKennitt CD’s and I can’t find one that I’d be willing to give up.
Her style evolves and I really like what she did in the 1990’s the best but there are good things to like about her other stuff. I have 5 of her 9 studio albums. I’m missing the first two and the last two.
A few years ago I happened to see her on PBS. They were playing her Nights From The Alhambra DVD. You might want to check that out if you like live performances on DVD.
Again I find myself asking the question, Why do we like what we like? As I sit here listening to Loreena McKennitt, I get lost in her voice and her music in a way that is difficult to describe. She is the warm, spicy fragranced vapor that drifts above your hot cup of tea on a cold and rainy day. It carries you away as you breathe it in.
The Mystic’s Dream
The Bonny Swans
Santiago
Prospero’s Speech