Track Listing

1. Show Me
2. Bright Star
3. Change My World
4. B� Liom
5. Is It Now (Theme)
6. Falling
7. Tara
8. Ancient Town
9. Show Me (Theme)
10. Sailing Away
11. River
12. Is It Now?
13. Mothers of the Desert
14. Harpsong
15. Two Horizons

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #73097 in Music
• Brand: Universal
• Released on: 2004-02-03
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

Album Description
2003 solo album from the Clannad vocalist. Includes the bonus track 'Show Me' (Jakatta Mix). Universal.

Amazon.com
A lovely work notable for both its cohesiveness and its aural richness, Two Horizons likely stands as the most broadly appealing solo disc (now numbering five) yet released by Clannad vocalist Moya (aka Máire) Brennan, the oft-overshadowed elder sibling of Enya. Brennan uses a mythic tale involving a much-traveled harp (a totem for all things virtuous) as the disc's thematic center, yet it is the recording's composite sound--resonant, sumptuous, never quite overblown--that inspires repeated listenings. Brennan, who takes several turns on harp, explores a satisfying middle ground between mod and medieval, blending traditional Irish instrumentation with understated electronics and, on occasion, gently propulsive rhythms (akin to what you might hear from Dido), then adorning the whole with a gossamer New Age veil. The effect, as displayed in transitions throughout the disc (such as the shift from the dreamy "Is It Now" to the techno-spiced "Mothers of the Desert"), can be mesmerizing. Like morphing clouds in an expansive sky, the disc's 15 core tracks float by in an enchanting, atmospheric procession, with no jarring disruptions (other than a tacked-on club remix at the disc's conclusion) to break the spell. --Terry Wood

Customer Reviews

She leaves you breathless once again.
Ever since her first solo album, each and every one of Maire's works has always left the listener breathless. Each of her albums is a masterpiece and each one tops the others. With Two Horizans, Moya has exceeded her previous works once again. It's her best album yet! The whole album tells a story and each song triggers the imagination. One thing that I loved about this album more than her others is that almost every song features her playing the harp, not just as a background instrument. Moya also has many great accompanying instruments, such as the uillean pipes, Maire Breatnach on the fiddle again, and Nigel Eaton's hurdy-gurdy(I'm sure that Loreena McKennitt fans have heard of him). It's hard for me to come up with a favorite, but I could say that right now the songs that I love the most are "Tara", "Ancient Town", "River", and "Mothers of the Desert". I love how she gives traditional melodies a very pop/jazz sound, which "Tara" is a very good example of. It's very fun to sing along with the words, especially since Moya wrote some very beautiful words for these songs. Some songs echo the sounds of Clannad, such as "Falling". I also like her songs are very sincere. Moya really speaks from the heart and expresses herself. I'm very touched by the story that each song tells. I love the imagery of "Ancient Town", the tears of "River", and the history in "Mothers of the Desert". I was disappointed that the CD cover didn't include the lyrics, so I recommend that when you buy this CD, aslo look up the lyrics somewhere on the internet. Even without the words, each song has a very great sound and is fun to dance to. I love to crank up the volume of this CD. If you get this CD, you will enjoy it. Moya can really make you smile and cry. It's a power that runs her family(as those of you who've heard Enya and Clannad should know).

Ethereal-and Beautiful
I first heard the song 'River' on a local PBS broadcast of a show produced by RTE, the national network of Ireland (the name escapes me). I was entranced by the sound I heard, and happened to catch the fact that the artist was a member of Clannad. I did not get her name, but managed to figure out that it is Moya Brennan, and she is Enya's sister. Being an Enya fan, I decided to pick up the CD.

The music on 'Two Horizons' is beautiful; I think 'lush' best describes the production technique. Full of layered vocals, soft strings, and floating harp, this album seems to flow over one's body, calming and relaxing you. In the vocal sense, it does remind one of Enya at times, and yet is still different, perhaps a bit more ambient. There are drum loops present on several tunes, which is a nice touch. This album begs to be listened to more than once, and these impressions are from my first two go-rounds. All the tunes are pleasing to hear, but my favorites are 'Show Me', and 'River', both songs that create lovely images in one's mind.

I heartily recommend this album. If you have had one of those days at work, or just fought your way through rush hour, put in this CD (better yet, keep it in your car)! Your frustrations will just fade away...

Simply (or not so simply) gorgeous
Well, I spent a lot of my college years listening to Irish band Clannad so I was pleasantly surprised to see that lead singer Moya Brennan had released her own CD.

I'm happy to report it is absolutely gorgeous.

If you're not familiar with Clannad's sound, think light airy vocals over rich, lush and beautifully arranged instrumentation. All with a Celtic twist. It's the soundtrack to really good dreams. The kind you don't want to wake up from.

Brennan's voice is sweeping and haunting. The CD packaging is as beautiful as the music. The photography is stunning and the colors dream inducing. My only complaint is that it's really tough to understand the lyrics unless you try really hard. But that means you can enjoy this recording on different levels. You can just listen passively and let the sounds wash over you. Or listen carefully to every nuance and every word. I believe you'll be rewarded either way.

This CD would be perfect for those candlelit nights in the tub, or having a really romantic dinner....it's very mood altering.

If you like Loreena McKennitt or Enya* you'll like Moya Brennan.

*I just found out that Enya is in fact, Moya (previously known as Maire) Brennan's sister! And that she (Enya) was also in Clannad.