In the autumn of 2006, the release of Irish singer and musician Enya’s NBC Sounds of the Season album meant that fans would finally be able to spend Christmas with their favorite artist. While the six songs on the CD are not without their faults, they deliver twenty-one minutes of holiday spirit in the way that only an Enya production can. Those who are planning to rock around the Christmas tree will probably be disappointed, yet those who are looking for something a little different to listen to this December may find that SotS is just the thing.

The album contains three original songs as well as three traditional carols. “Adeste, Fideles,” the opening track and first of these, is sung not in the more familiar English, but in the original Latin. The background reveals a somewhat excessive reliance on one of Enya’s favorite devices, the synthesizer, but the tune is well-suited to her uniquely “classical” voice. Unfortunately, the second carol, “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” is one of Enya’s few endeavors that comes across as less than successful; the song’s characteristics, unlike those of “Adeste,” work against rather than with her ethereal image, and her rendition is lacking in much of the open enthusiasm which the song requires. Despite its exotic-looking title, the final track, “Oíche Chiúin,” originally recorded in the early ‘90s, is merely “Silent Night” sung in Gaelic. Its simple, a cappella sound blends with the natural softness of the language to create a soothing atmosphere and a pleasing end to the CD.

“The Magic of the Night,” the first of three original songs, has, like “Adeste, Fideles,” an artificial quality resulting from its largely synth-driven instrumentation. However, its strong, almost march-like underlying rhythm, combined with lyrics celebrating the special nature of the Christmas season, helps to make it appealing. In contrast, “Christmas Secrets” exhibits Enya’s talent for producing music that both is calming and carries suggestions of a wistful sadness, as the persona by whom it is sung communicates her concern over whether or not the loved one she waits for will arrive in time to join her for the holidays. The third original song, “Amid the Falling Snow,” was previously released on the album Amarantine in 2005, but its theme of memories, moonlit nights, and gentle snowfall means that it fits seamlessly into a Christmas CD. With densely layered vocals, artistic lyrics, and backing primarily from piano and strings, it is a perfect example of Enya’s genre-defying style at its best.

All in all, Sounds of the Season, although not flawless, is an enjoyable addition to the works of a talented and unconventional artist, and a fine choice for anyone who wants to vary his holiday playlist this year. Bells may jingle and reindeer may fly, but Enya helps to make Christmas music a little less predictable.

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