An Ancient Muse

[vaneramos]

Today in the car Marian and I previewed Loreena McKennitt's first studio album in nine years, An Ancient Muse, which just came out this week. It concentrates more on her complex instrumental work. For vocals she sticks mostly to her low, breathier registers. Her high notes are purer and colder, and she does best here by using them for highlight and emphasis.

An Ancient Muse represents the first significant new material after a difficult period. Her fiancé and two friends were killed in a boating accident in 1998. Last year she won damages and an injunction against a former friend who published a book recounting McKennitt's grief and other personal matters. After this judgment McKennitt said, "I am very pleased that the court has decided that all people, including those in the public eye, are entitled to real protection of their privacy." It's no surprise we have had to wait so long for her to emerge from seclusion.

McKennitt is the most scholarly of musical artists. Inspiration for this album came from Mongolia, the miiddle east and far east. Overall it feels even more laid-back and meditative in tone and tempo than the earlier ones. Her sometimes piercing intensity has given way to richness of sound. Very highly recommended.

A door from Old Guelph:

Comments

[bear-left.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the update on this album; I'm looking forward to picking it up.

Just also wanted to say that you've had a lot of very thoughtful posts of late that I've wanted to reply to but keep getting distracted from doing so. In the meantime, just let me say that you always make me think, which is something to be noted & to express my thanks for.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Thanks for saying so. It feels like I haven't had much worth saying lately.

[ubermunkey.livejournal.com]

i will have to go get it then

and that door is amazing thanks for posting it

namaste

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

That door fits with the music somehow. Hope you are well, bud.
Cheers,
Van

[tim-e-bear.livejournal.com]

I'm suddenly reminded of a conversation I was having with someone a while ago.

I was trying to think of harpists in a pop/rock/jazz context who were women.

I had Zeena Parkins (a sort of noise/experimental harpist), Dorothy Ashby (jazz) and Joanna Newsom (alt-folk, I suppose).

Where is my Canadian pride that I could forget Loreena!? :(

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

But I'm not familiar with any of them, so you have one up on me. ;-)

[tim-e-bear.livejournal.com]

True.

But, then, my brain stores useless junk like that.

An issue of CURVE recently complained it couldn't think of any female saxophonists.

Lene Lovich, Candy Dulfer, Jane Bunnett, that woman from Quarterflash, whoever played saxophone in Amazulu - I could go on... ;)

[fivecats.livejournal.com]

It really is a fine album. There aren't any noticable pull-out "hits" as there was from her last album, but it's a very solid, mesmerizing collection.

...

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

All of her work is like that for me. Very little of it stands out, but I like everything.

Tip

[(Anonymous)]

I've been needing music just like Loreena's lately. How perfect that she has a new album and it has a good recommendation from you. I'll be checking it out. Thanks.