Enya

Few voices in the history of recorded sound approach the beguiling ethereality of that belonging to Irish superstar Enya. With a foundation firmly in Celtic folk, and a distinctive synth-based backdrop, she occupies a unique place in the realm of pop. Cuts like "Only Time" and "Caribbean Blue" take shape like luminescent mist. Set sail, on gently swelling oceans of sound, for Enya's Next Steps.

Enya's calling card (after her days as a member of Clannad) was her solo debut, The Celts, made in collaboration with husband-and-wife team Nicky (producer) and Roma (lyricist) Ryan. The modern and the traditional are fused to perfection on tracks like "Aldebaran" via the lush overdubbing that would become her signature. If Gandalf had an iPod, he'd fill it up with the sorcery of Enya's Deep Cuts.

Although lyrics take a backseat to ambience in Enya's work, the curious listener finds linguistic rewards in many of her tracks. She tries to resuscitate a language widely considered dead (Latin) on "Cursum Perficio" and "Afer Ventus", and on "Water Shows the Hidden Heart" we hear her use of Loxian, a tongue invented by songwriter Roma Ryan.

Whether you've been hooked on Enya since her solo debut back in 1987, or were introduced to her work through "May It Be", featured on the soundtrack to Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, the same experience will hold true: namely, the feeling of being transported to another realm by her mesmerizing vocals and multilayered soundscapes. Sure, she's a new age icon, but this material transcends its status as the music of choice for massage therapists. Magical.