WEA
New Age, 1992
Once upon a time in 1987, Enya released an album simply titled Enya, and the world said, “Huh, neat.”
Five years later, the album got a rebrand as The Celts, and suddenly, people went, “Oh wow, ethereal soundscapes? Ancient warrior vibes? Take my money!” Sometimes, marketing is just a well-timed magic spell.
But let’s be real—this album deserved the second chance. From the first note, The Celts transports you straight into a misty, otherworldly landscape where haunting voices whisper on the wind, synthesizers shimmer like enchanted waterfalls, and percussion rolls in like distant thunder on a battle-worn hillside. If you’ve ever wanted to feel like a medieval bard with an existential crisis, this is your soundtrack.
Take Boudicea, for example. No lyrics, just Enya’s eerie humming over a hypnotic, pulsing drone. It’s brooding, it’s intense, and it makes you feel like an ancient queen plotting righteous revenge. No wonder The Fugees wanted a piece of it (without permission, tsk tsk). Enya, ever the strategic warrior, let them ride the wave of success before pulling the legal rug out from under them and securing a legendary victory. Iconic.
The title track starts off serene and mystical before it slowly builds into something truly rousing—think slow march to full-blown battlefield charge but make it ethereal. By the end, you may not know why your pulse is racing, but you’ll feel like you just communed with the spirits of ancient Ireland.
On the lighter side, Bard Dance is the auditory equivalent of a lively Celtic jig in a moonlit glade. It’s playful, elegant, and the kind of tune that makes you unconsciously tap your feet while staring wistfully into the distance. The album as a whole is a beautifully varied mix of dreamy, melancholy, and uplifting, perfect for anything from introspective walks to dramatic gazes out of rainy windows.
It may have been Enya’s debut, but The Celts is already peak Enya—sweeping, cinematic, and effortlessly otherworldly. Whether you want to relax, reflect, or just pretend you’re a mystical warrior in exile, this album has you covered.
Final verdict: five oogies; would let Enya soundtrack my medieval fantasy life again.
