Reviews
Says Nicky Ryan "We started out writing for a Christmas album, but it has evolved into more an Enya album based in a winter landscape where Christmas arrives here and there, but it would be wrong to call it an Enya Christmas album." And Winter Came is nonetheless rich in delightful festive moments, not least the track White in is the Winter Night which Nicky describes as being "the kind of song you could hear at the Proms with everyone joining in, its has that kind of Christmassy vibe." Enya's seventh studio album also contains two traditional Christmas songs, a soaring rendition of O Come, O Come, Emmanuel... (Warner Music, Sep. 2008)
The haunting O come, O come, Emmanuel is a translation of the Christian Latin text ("Veni, veni, Emmanuel") by John Mason Neale in the mid-19th century and is an absolute joy to listen to. (FemaleFirst, Nov. 2008)
Enya presents the traditional Christmas hymn, "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" without gimmicks. He voice just floats above the instrumental track. (Blog Critics, Nov. 2008)
The album is as usual produced by Nicky Ryan, with lyrics by Roma Ryan. Enya's style really needs no presentation: her ethereal voice, the sometimes fast and sometimes slow synth strings, frequent bells and chimes, plus the heavy (heavenly?) reverb. It has been imitated by many, but never paralleled. It is almost a sub-genre of its own. On And Winter Came Enya's voice is as beautiful as ever, and the production is spotless. Or, almost spotless... It might only be my ears, but the Gaude, gaude, Emanuel at 1 min 46 sec on track four, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, is a bit too loud and sharp. (New Age Music, Nov. 2008)
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