Who knows why I initially considered this to be a duff album by the woman with the most beautiful voice in the world. Maybe I was expecting Shepherd's Moon Part II and saw Memory Of Trees as Shepherd's Eclipse. The songs didn't leap out to me? Well, listening to it for this review, it finally did, and I've embraced it like I have her other albums. The four years inbetween albums was worth it.

Of the opening instrumental title tracks, "The Memory Of Trees" is the most potent, sporting the usual instrumentals, pianos, haunting wall-of-sound choir-like vocals, pounding drums recalling "The Longships" from Watermark.

The brisk "Anywhere Is", whose dominant tempo reminds me of a horse having a gentle canter down a park, is backed by strings and backing vocals. There's an interesting motif in the first line of her reaching a horizon but finding another, where something that looks like an end is actually a new beginning. Bit like life, isn't it?

"Pax Deorum" is a Latin track begins with a cold dark wind, which sets the grim bass pulsing keyboard permeating throughout the song, as well as an ominous sound that sounds a bit like a foghorn, though not as loud or brash. This part sounds a bit like an incantation. Her voice alternates between a soft but lower register and her full vocals.

The piano (and later some other instrument) ballad "Athair Ar Neamh" is a sad but beautiful sung tune, full of yearning. Makes me want to learn Gaelic. My favourite song here, and Enya sounds her best singing like this.

The wistful, reflective piano only instrumental "From Where I Am" is a variation of "Miss Clare Remembers" from Watermark, with some shades of "Epona" from the Enya album.

"China Roses" is one of her visual and visionary poetic songs and it's an enchanting delight to hear. I see melodic strains of what would later become "Only Time." That wall of sound really enhances her vocals, and the following lyrics really create the image of a dreamland: "A new moon leads me to/woods of dreams and I follow/a new world waits for me/my dream, my way" and "Rain and river, a world of wonder/may be paradise to me". Gosh, how I love this woman!

OK, all you romantics. "Hope Has A Place" is the song for you. Enya's vocal echoes hauntingly here and that dreamy wall of sound is in full bloom. And how's this for some sagely advice: "Look to love/you may dream/and if it should leave/then give it wings/But if such a love is meant to be/Hope is home, and the heart is free." I can't decide whether I like this better than "Athair Ar Neamh."

The third instrumental, "Tea-House Moon", has some Oriental strains, with some otherworldly synths and conjures the image of one looking up at the stars. As for the title, a nod to Teahouse Of The August Moon, set in post-WW2 Japan and starring Machiko Kyo?

"Once You Had Gold" is a proverbial seasons come, seasons go type, and has a mystical sense of why things go wrong: "No-one can promise a dream for you/Time gave both darkness and dreams to you." and "What is the dark, shadows around you/why not take heart in the new day?"

"La Sonadora" is her first Spanish song and it's more an interlude. The backing wall of music rise to a crescendo in the song's midsection.

A reminiscing night traveller's thoughts comprise "On My Way Home", where "I remember all the best days/I'm on my way home/I can remember every new day" is surrounded by the dreamy wall of sound.

Compared to her first three albums, Enya's voice is more mesmerizingly beautiful than I've ever heard. She seems to be a one-woman band here, as it's "all instruments and vocals by Enya" per the credits. There's more a wall of dreamy sound here--check out how many times I've mentioned this. Repeated listenings will tell whether it'll dislodge Shepherd's Moon as my favourite Enya album.

Many times, AND WITH GOOD REASON, the "new age" label gets slammed for lacking originality and conviction. Enya is not an artist who blends in with the rest and this release is, in my opinion, her best to date.

There is certainly an ethereal quality associated with new age and Enya is certainly a new age artist, but she has strong writing skills and gorgeous and very unique voice that sets her apart from her peers. And if you look at what is being released these days, many groups are ripping off elements of her uniqueness and plastering them on down tempo songs with session singers who do an ok job of copying Enya, but don't reach the depths of beauty and passion that only Enya seems to find.

What makes this a 5-star review for me is that the songs work independently and even better as a cohesive set that keeps you involved and feeling like you are living in an even better world than this one we know. I know this sounds ridiculous, but take this review from someone who usually prefers an entirely different type of music. Al the songs are great and although this CD can be great background music, it works even better when it's in the forefront of your attention because the production work is so masterful.

Many artists/fans are critical of the work that the producer brings to the table, but I am always very appreciative when the final product does not sound like it was manufactured by an assembly line, but rather reflects a balance of the artist's intent with the listener in mind.

Thanks for reading and I would like to thank ALL reviewers as their opinions (even when I disagree) give me clues as to what I may like and even more importantly provide exposure to artists who I may have missed if it were not for work. Also, thanks to Amazon.com for providing this forum as I think that it clearly benefits the company, but ultimately it also can be a great place for a potential buyer to find his or her next favorite CD.

The problem with Enya is that she is so consistently good. It is difficult to write a review that says something different from previous reviews (having recently reviewed "A Day without Rain" and previously "Watermark"). The same words, ethereal, ephemeral, airy, haunting, and spiritual apply to each album. The only risk is that my reviews become boring, because Enya could never be.

This CD begins with the instrumental track "The Memory of Trees." While "The Memory of Trees" is nominally an instrumental, there are voices that punctuate portions of the music. This opening feels optimistic, though the title feels as though it is vaguely related to forests and lands gone by. The vocals provide a chorale sound that builds and cascades around you with the feeling of great trees and landscapes greater than any of the puny works of mankind. Great beasts wander about and smaller beasts enter and exit the brush at the edges of clearings in the great forest in a celebration of nature.

The pace speeds up in the peppy "Anywhere Is." The lyrics are poetic and symbolic and are a mirror maze of mental images. As is frequently typical of Enya the lyrics seem to make sense until you attempt to understand them and then their meaning escapes your grasp. In this case the song seems to be describing the paths we take in life and the choices that we make, and whether they can be unmade, and even whether the choices take us to or from the one we love. Another unusual feature of this song is the predominant instruments which compete for attention with Enya's voice. Typically Enya's voice stands out clearly from the instruments, which in this case are mostly strings and piano.

"Pax Deorum" is somewhat ominous, and fits with the following song, "Athair Ar Neamh." Both songs are simple songs that relate to God. "Pax Deorum" translates roughly as "The Peace of the Gods," or seeking to placate the gods. "Athair Ar Neamh" translates approximately as "Father in Heaven." Note that the title of the latter song appears as a line in the former song, tying both songs together, and placing an Irish Gaelic line into a Latin song. There are moments of choral lightness in the otherwise ominous "Pax Deorum," which I believe has appeared as the background music for a commercial. The latter song is more contemplative and ethereal and Enya allows the beauty of her voice to caress and harmonize the Irish Gaelic verses.

"From Where I Am" is a relatively sedate instrumental that forms a brief piano interlude leading into "China Roses." This song manages to capture the wonder of the universe and the beauty of heaven all in one song. This song transcends the poetic to the surrealistic both lyrically and vocally. Once again Enya allows her voice to be a beautiful instrument to complement the strings and piano to create a work of aural art.

"Hope Has a Place" is the first song where the lyrics are relatively easy to understand. The concept is simple: there is always hope where there is love. The vocals are beautiful (again) and may remind a listener of the song Enya wrote for "The Lord of the Rings." This song is for romantics and candle-lit dinners everywhere.

Another instrumental interlude follows. "Tea-House Moon" has some of the most interesting instrumental effects on this CD. The mood is contemplative and traditional, though with a vaguely Asian flavor. This instrumental is the music for a heavenly choreography.

The next song changes style, again, and yet fits within the character of the album. "Once You Had Gold" seems to allude to the transitory nature of all things, perhaps most particularly life. There are lines that seem to say that things come and things go, and you need to accept the joys that you can get just from being here to greet the new day. I particularly like the last line which says that there are no promises in life, that there is good and bad and that one must make the best of any situation. The song is sung in a fairy tale style, a cautionary tale young and old.

The next song translates as "The Dreamer." The music tells you all you need to know about the words, which are surrealistic and, of course, dream-like. The ephemeral lyrics and music bespeaks an atmosphere, a feeling, a place that can only exist in our dreams, though we might wish otherwise. This song nearly achieves allowing us to be a creation of our imagination.

At last we must awaken from the fantasy Enya has woven for us. "On My Way Home" returns us to this place and time, but with a longing for the place we leave, the poetry that has been woven for us. Yet, we rejoice for we return to a place of familiarity, and still, there is the memory, yes indeed, "The Memory of Trees."

Some music touches your heart in ways nothing else can. This CD contains just such music. This music is atmospheric and uplifting. Enya has a voice like fine crystal, pure and beyond compare. The most beautiful track on this CD is Athair Ar Nearmh - it has crystal clear beauty of such quality that you can only imagine the angels of heaven being capable of achieving it - you just need to close your eyes and feel the beauty of it. I am in complete awe ...

Of all the Enya albums I have, "The Memory Of Trees" is my favorite. All the instruments you hear (many!) are performed by Enya!! (very impressive) The opening track with the same title, in my opinion, is her most inspiring and strongest composition she has ever written. The melody is simple but the voice harmony and instruments adds a whole new dimension to the composition. "Anywhere Is" is a catchy, upbeat composition. The lyrics are interesting to listen to. Again, the instrumentation adds depth to the song. Listen for all the hidden harmonies! The melody is easy to find! "Pax Deorum" is a mysterious chant sung in latin. In between the chants, there is a beautiful, slow interlude. "Athair Ar Neamh" is sung in Gaelic. The melody is beautiful and the vocals put you in a transcending state. "From Where I Am" is a beautiful, melodic piano solo. "China Roses" is mesmerizing! The lyrics and instrumentation is superb! The song is sung at a slow to moderate tempo with a flowing quality. "Hope Has A Place" is a peaceful song that sounds almost like a hymn. "Tea House Moon" is a fantastic instrumental with an Oriental sound. "Once You Had Gold" is another peaceful song with a slow, memorable melody. "La Sonadora" is a mysterious song sung in Spanish. The last song, "On My Way Home" is fantastic. A wonderful closure that is so inspiring to hear! Strong instrumentation!!

I highly recommend this album. Every song on this album is wonderful!! The album is great for background music at weddings, parties, studying, bedtime (my fave) and any other time. This was 1995's "Best New Age Album" at the Grammy's!! Buy Now!!! You must be already thinking of Enya if you are browsing her music page, so take the last step and purchase it. You will not regret it!! Check out my other reviews on Enya's albums.