Watermark - Enya (1988)

Enya, like the previously upwritten Yanni, is a name that has baggage attached to it from being culturally uncool for generations. And yet, it’s a joke that lasts for generations because there’s a lot here.

I’m not going to pretend I love this record, but I understand why it was so successful with such a globe-spanning audience. Enya mixes the Irish music of her heritage with forward-thinking electronics and high-tech studio effects and choral overdubs. The songs are gorgeous, and her voice carries them all wonderfully.

It’s hard to hear Orinoco Flow without that cultural baggage I mentioned. I immediately thought of a credit card or cruise ship commercial that featured the song, either of which may or may not have ever existed, but that’s kind of the point. It’s part of the culture as much as about any piece of music out there.

This was a very pleasant listen for me but not something I’ll go back to.