The synthesizers, usually symphonic-sounding, dominate a good chunk of this record to give it a more vast sound while still retaining its emotional resonance. At the same time, however, there aren't as many piano-driven songs on here as there were on previous records. The chemistry between Enya's vocals and her instrumentation is very in-tune and offers plenty of intimate moments such as the opening title track, which adds vocal harmonies and backing synthesizers in a gorgeously subtle way while making the piano work the main focus. The production is crystal clear, allowing the listener to grasp every little nuance of the lush atmosphere conveyed. The biggest strength on offer here is its consistency the songwriting is predictable, but always gives you the mood you expect from a typical Enya album.
What do I think? Well, it's not her best, but it's still quite good. While her 80s/90s work was very well received and fared well commercially, A Day Without Rain is still her most successful record despite numerous negative reviews by critics. Having sold over 75 million copies of her records, she still remains the highest-selling new age musician of all time and many of her songs remain staples of the genre.
The overall result is something extremely vast-sounding, and sounds like the equivalent of a large rainy Irish field in the springtime. Imagine a mix of new age, folk, and pop the folk is on the Celtic side (reflecting her Irish origin), and there can be hundreds of vocal overdubs at a time. However, Enya's captured a very certain vibe over the course of her career, one that I feel has never been replicated. For instance, Devin Townsend's 2011 album Ghost (which happens to be his only album with a new age sound) could easily be used for a quiet night at the beach or there's Yanni, whose music is more classical in nature and can depict a sense of sorrow or the return of autumn. Even more impressive is how certain artists can create an atmosphere for certain seasons or even weather conditions. For many (myself included), music like this is best experienced outside as a background experience, sort of like a soundtrack to daily life depending on the person's mood. Whether you're a fan of new age or not, many of the artists involved should at least be given kudos for creating unique musical environments with their works. Review Summary: A beautiful album primarily marred by predictability.