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When British composer Karl Jenkins launched Adiemus with the
Songs of Sanctuary album in 1995, it was a fresh and exhilarating take on global music. Jenkins used choral vocals similar to
Enya's, but spiked with a language of the imagination (merging African and Latin phonemes) and stoked by Jenkins's pastoral arrangements. Never wholly original--
Lisa Gerrard and Elizabeth Fraser had already worked out fantasy vocal designs and the 1960s African mass "Missa Luba" effected a similar choral/African/Latin sound--Adiemus nevertheless found a new take on English composers' penchant for choirs. However, after six years and four albums mining this vein, Jenkins's sound rings more hollow with each recording.
The Eternal Knot is drawn from Jenkins's soundtrack to a BBC documentary called
The Celts. You might recall that Enya also evolved her sound in the late 1980s doing a soundtrack for another documentary called
The Celts. Taking his titles from the Celtic legends that populate the documentary, Jenkins orchestrates cinematic landscapes full of swelling crescendos and dynamic cadences. Less oppressive than the heavily orchestrated
Adiemus II,
The Eternal Knot still wears thin. He casts
Miriam Stockley's voice into a boys-choir register, turning her staccato phonemes into incessant prattle. But when she's in her warmer middle range, her layered voice is enveloping. Despite the theme of the album, Celtic music is only used as an occasional touchstone, with uilleann piper
Davy Spillane, a few bodhran-style percussion grooves, and harpist Catrin Finch providing some relief from Jenkins's string-laden classical pretensions.
--John Diliberto
Reader Reviews
I'm a big fan of the "Mannheim Steamroller", this is Chip Davis and company...believe Karl Jenkins with "Adiemus" is in the same league...if you get my drift, their music is different and yet the same, have the originality, drive and outstanding talent that delivers a just reward. Entire album is peaceful, reflective and spiritual as it's predecessors ~ "Songs of Sanctuary"(1995)..."Adiemus II:Cantata Mundi"(1997)..."Adiemus III:Dances of Time"(1998)..."The Journey:The Best of Adiemus"(2000)...this brings us up to the present release ~ "Adiemus IV:The Eternal Knot", believe this is the epitome of Karl Jenkins, each selection enters into your very soul, bringing out feelings you've never experienced. You might try other Higher Octave releases, all worthy of a good listen ~ "Tierra de Nadie"(Hevia)..."Barcelona Nights"The Best of Ottmar Liebert"(Ottmar Liebert)..."Tree"(Gaelic Storm)... (...) Total Time: 52:12 on 14 Tracks ~ Higher Octave OMCD-49965 ~ (2001)
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