M'Anchelii

The back cover blurb states that the album "evokes the colorful world of Hildegard Von Bingen, Enya, Clannad, Romance, Fairies and Religion." And it's true enough. Tracks like "Socata Del Stero" could be straight out of the Enya songbook, while "m'Anchelii" and "Kyrie" are liturgical in their aim — medieval liturgical, with their chants. And, inevitably, "La Nuit Des Elfes" is very fairy-like. But, ultimately, what's the point in doing something that others have done before when you have nothing to add to it?The mysteriously named Enam might be an excellent imitator, but all that means is that he's generally lacking in his own musical imagination. Not all is pure copyist, however — "Haughtiness You Gave Whenever I Denied the Gods" is dark and very good, its sparseness working in its favor against a disc of generally lush arrangements. It proves, at least, that there's the potential here for Enam to create an album that's completely his own. Taking inspiration from others is fine, it's been done through the centuries, but following them slavishly proves nothing more than you can. And when the originals are already there, who needs second best?