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Parallel Dreams

Loreena McKennitt

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Album Review

Parallel Dreams, the Canadian harpist/songwriter's quietly moving sophomore release, finds the mystical red-haired siren in true balladeer form. By far McKennitt's most romantic venture — the liner notes describe the project's central theme as a "yearning toward love, liberty and integration" — Dreams is more ambitious than her sparse, impeccably recorded debut, Elemental, tripling the amount of players and laying the groundwork for the immense scope she would go on to attain on future recordings. The heartbreaking trio of "Standing Stones," "Annachnie Gordon," and "Dickens' Dublin" — the latter features an effective radio-show sample of an unnamed Irish school child detailing the birth of Christ — stand among the artist's finest works, and the range and clarity of her voice is undeniably powerful. Parallel Dreams was an emotional and career-turning point for McKennitt, as her next recording would be the major-label spectacle The Visit.

Customer Reviews

Outstanding

Words don't seem sufficient to describe this album. It's totally ethereal, not so much music but an experience. Every song on here is wonderful and unique but each one is connected to another in a mysterious way. Depending on my mood, Annachie Gordon can make my heart ache. The way Loreena matches music to that old tale turns a love story into something exquistite. Annachie Gordon fits perfectly after the exciting Huron 'Beltane' Fire Dance that provides a nice link from the beginning of the dream to the actual meat of the story. That being said, the opening songs - Samain Night and Moon Cradle - aren't lacking in substance. Samain Night is gorgeous in its quiet longing. After Annachie Gordon comes Standing Stones. Loreena's voice sounds substantially different on this track, throaty, almost as if she's about to cry. It certainly makes the story come to life and accounts for the tremendous emotion you'll feel while listening to it. Next is Dickens' Dublin. This is really the only song I have critisim for. Though the little boy is somewhat charming he seems to get in the way of the lovely tale being told. Honestly, I'm finding him more and more enjoyable and crucial to the tale the more I listen. Maybe he can stay. Then comes Breaking the Silence, I more connected song telling of poverty that's abundant nowaday and the struggle to perservere. The album finishes with Ancient Pines, a calm exit from the Dreamscape that invites you to start the experience all over again. Like I've said before, this album is beyond words. You will have to listen to it to see what I mean. Let yourelf be transported. Devote forty or so minutes of your life to this album and the rest of it will benefit from the small amount of time spent.

My least favorite...

I love Loreena McKennitt and I've been listening to her for years and years (well, okay, for about 11 years) and I've found this album to be my least favorite. There are some good songs, of course. Particularly 'Samain Night,' 'Annachie Gordon,' 'Standing Stones,' and 'Dickens' Dublin' (although it would have been so much better if it weren't for the child's voice over through the song). I'm just not a fan of this album as I am her others. Still I give it four stars though because what is the best of this album are absolutely wonderful.

Sophomore Release?

iTunes smokes crack. This is not her second but third album. It is an amazing album. Buy it. Listen.

Biography

Born: 1957 in Morden, Manitoba, Canada

Genre: Singer/Songwriter

Years Active: '80s, '90s, '00s, '10s

The daughter of a nurse-mother and a livestock-trading father, songstress Loreena McKennitt studied classical piano and vocal training, and learned to dance in the highland style as a youngster. Her love of traditional music was strengthened in the folk clubs of Winnipeg, which she frequented during the brief period she studied veterinary science at the University of Manitoba. Relocating to Stratford, Ontario, she continued to sharpen her skills as a composer and performer. In 1981, she auditioned...
Full Bio

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