OK, Sileas, this one's for you. Since I don't want to hijack the other thread by going into *my* favorites . . . And anyone else who has heard Anúna, please join in! I want to hear what people think.
The first album I ever heard was the original Anúna. And to some degree, that one and Invocation (gotten from the library at the same time) are still my favorites, though Cynara has really crept up.
My first favorite song was Sanctus, I remember. The voices were so lovely, wafting in and out of the rafters, it sounded like. I absolutely loved the echo part. Also, on that album, is Jerusalem. I even went and dug up the words, as far as I could find them. I *love* how the voices echo on top of each other again and again till it's one big mass of *sound*, beautiful sound that carries me away with it. Then there's Silent, O Moyle, with the lonely words (by Thomas Moore, no less!) and even lonelier melody. And Crist & St. Marie--I actually sent an e-mail to Michael McGlynn asking for the Old English words they sang--and got a reply.
(This was before I discovered the Celtic Lyrics Corner and the delightful huge list of goodies/lyrics therein.)
On Invocation, I love so many too . . . Sleepsong, for it's quiet dreaminess and lovely lyrics. Winter, Fire and Snow for its stark simplistic beauty--I've caught myself singing it now and then. Under the Greenwood for the second part--the melody worms its way into my mind until I can't pry it loose. Heia Viri for its strength and neatness of the contrast of the female solo against the men below--it always makes me bounce my head around as the music winds itself in circles. Song of Oisín is just plain catchy--I love how the "ho ro's" seem to weave their way in and out of the melody. Wind on Sea is also neat--I really love the (for lack of a better word) eerieness of the melody with the words which are so reminiscent of the speeches made by early bards like Taliesin.
And I'll stop there for now. Anyone else?
