"Elemental" by Loreena McKennitt (1985)

Had she been born earlier, Loreena McKennit would probably be a gentle folkie strumming her guitar and singing about tender & fair maidens. Being what it is, she comes on a 1980s music scene (that was full of synthesisers, colourful outfits and big hair) looking back to what is basically a traditional folk music in a new clothes, now called "ambiental" and "new age". Still, no matter how you call it, the fact is that this music stands in a stark contrast to what was on music charts in 1985, the year of Live Aid, Bruce Springsteen, Madonna and Miami Vice.

"Elemental" is a surprisingly simple, lovely traditional folk album based almost exclusively  on ancient melodies and poetry (W.B.Yeats, William Blake) and because it is so unpretentious it works like a balm against everyday noise. The idea of the album is really similar to what folk singers did in early 1960s except that in 1985 McKennitt could add little touches of studio wizardry to make it sound more like magical, soothing and atmospheric. Being harpist, accordionist and pianist, she uses these instruments to weave the tapestry of something between Celtic and medieval, while her cool, calm angelic soprano sounds just perfect for this kind of music. There is even an instrumental ("The Lark In The Clear Air") serving like a gentle interlude between poetry and affectionate nod towards artist's family roots is represented in haunting ballads "Carrighfergus" and "Kellswater" where we are treated with wonderful cameo by Cedric Smith. 

This, being McKennit's first official studio album is naturally very different from what comes with time - later, her music will get noticed by bigger recording companies and they would help her to metamorphose into full-blown quasi-symphonic, cinematic new age priestess but here everything is still very basic - extremely pretty nevertheless, perhaps because music is so uncluttered with production (it was produced by artist herself and recorded only in a week). Everything you always loved about Loreena McKennit is already here, on her debut, only without massive orchestrations and I don't think it was a matter of budget but artistic decision to keep it spare, with only occasional sound of the rain and distant thunder as decoration to music that is extremely seductive in itself. I have had heard quite a lot of McKennit with years and must admit that this rates amongst my favourite in her catalogue, it really feels like peeking behind the door into some magic, mystical land - once you enter, be warned, you might seriously fall under her spell and stay there. It might be her debut but there is nothing clumsy or unfinished here, it is quite a enchanting, impressive album that would appeal to poetry-loving audiences. Personally, I am surprised how much I enjoy this album and constantly rediscovering new beauty about it.