Post by phantas on Nov 14, 2020 11:40:05 GMT -5
As some may well know, I mostly create my own playlists on my comp for personal use. With the release of DSI and thereafter, I've been in the process of coming up with alternative tracklist/playlist for it. Here's the latest [including the b-sides] which I've just had a test listen and have to admit it flows very smoothly:
01. The Humming
02. Even in the Shadows
03. So I Could Find My Way
04. The Forge of the Angels
05. Echoes in Rain
06. Remember Your Smile
07. Pale Grass Blue
08. Sancta Maria
09. Dark Sky Island
10. Astra et Luna
11. I Could Never Say Goodbye
12. The Loxian Gates
13. Diamonds on the Water
14. Solace
This list came to be because I was listening to DSI on my Ipod and ICNSG came on - and it suddenly struck me what a great track this is to put nearer to the end of the album. It has a peace and finality to it that suits to be in the nether half of the list.
Some clarifications on placement:
The first three songs feature as an insanely good opening trio: The energy of The Humming continues into EITS and after that the soothing calm of SICFMW closes that off nicely.
TFOTA features as a strong instrumental here, breaking the first half in 2, as it continues with EiR, RyS and PGB. Remember Your Smile for me is a sister song to EiR, it has a similar rhythm although it's slower. PGB closes off the first half with a summery, wispy song that exuberates joy and happiness after a tumultuous first half.
Continuing into the second half of the list, we start off with Sancta Maria, and although I classify it as a 2nd instrumental, it also has a similar waltzy flow that mimics PGB, but also has the same joy and light as that track. DSI continues the waltz section and features at the same time as the center point of the album. It's the only track, next to The Humming, that carries sufficient weight on this album. It should always be placed near the center, and in this list at 9th position it's near enough to still hold that momentum and weight.
After DSI, we start the descent to the end: Astra et Luna brings us back into the night, with the moon and stars rising. ICNSG here features as the first of the two slow ballads (DSI and DotW have more rhythm than ICNSG and Solace), mimicing SICFMW and RYS in the first half. It also breaks the second half in two. It signifies the beginning of the end tracklistwise.
TLG is a stand alone upbeat (midbeat) track to give some more power to the second half, but hereafter two ballads that neatly tie together close off the album (DotW and Solace). The two ballads flow into each other amazingly well. Effectuvely, the last three tracks are basically the same combination as on the album itself, but here I feel they are more in focus.
In my view, the album moves from winter in the first half, to spring, to summer in the mid-section and finally to autumn and a bit of winter (Solace) in the second half. not that this matters, but since ADWR I've been sectioning Enya songs into seasons and it's a hard habit to lose
I'm sure we all have preferred listings for Enya albums, and DSI in particular. This can be simply the album tracklist in that order. Nothing wrong with that! But if you want to have a different experience, try out this list and perhaps let me know how it felt?
Enjoy!