synthladen arrangements rarely come off as bloated or banal, her work typically inspires less ridicule than, say, Yanni's.

A number of songs recall the tranquil radiance of "Caribbean Blue," the lilting hit single from 1991's Shepherd Moons. On "China Roses," Enya sings sweetly of the Sappho comet over a backdrop that blends a wash of keyboards with vocal harmonies that ebb and flow like gentle breezes. "Once You Had Gold" is equally tender, with a reassuring lyric and all the prettiness of a Christmas carol. And regardless of whether you understand Latin or Gaelic, the atmospheric warmth of "Pax Deorum" and "Athair Ar Neamh" will temporarily convince you that the world isn't such a terrible place after all.

Even the instrumental tracks seem to carry soothing hidden messages, urging listeners to chill out and shift their focus to the beauty that presumably surrounds them. "Tea-House Moon" could be a jingle for bubble bath or decaffeinated coffee, and the elegant piano chords on "From Where I Am" evoke a similarly peaceful mood. Enya continues to lull us into a world free of violence, depravity and bad weather where, as she sings on "Hope Has a Place," "hope is home, and the heart is free." It's a fine place to be for an hour or so, provided you've got some less virtuous music on hand to jolt you back into reality afterward. (RS 726)

ELYSA GARDNER