Dark Sky Island (2015)

Dark Sky Island  (2015)

Enya's highly anticipated album, Dark Sky Island, took the music world by storm upon its release on November 20th, 2015, marking her latest musical endeavor. The singer herself revealed the album's impending arrival through an announcement on her official website in September 2015, sparking excitement among her dedicated fan base. Building anticipation further, on October 7th, 2015, Enya unveiled the album's captivating title, its lead single, and the complete track listing, heightening the intrigue surrounding the forthcoming musical masterpiece.

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Notably, "Dark Sky Island" not only made its mark in digital formats with standard and deluxe editions but also made a resounding impact in the vinyl realm. This release marked a significant milestone as Enya's first vinyl offering since the re-release of her first album back in 1992, adding an extra layer of allure for vinyl enthusiasts and collectors.

The album's title itself draws inspiration from the enchanting designation of the island of Sark as a "dark sky island." Additionally, it finds resonance with a collection of poetry books by Roma Ryan that explores the theme of islands. Signifying a powerful union of inspiration and creativity, the title track, "Dark Sky Island," emerged as the first composition crafted for the album, setting the tone for the musical journey that lay ahead.

This album has a theme of journeys. Journeys to the island; through the length of a lifetime; through history, through emotions; and journeys across great oceans. So although it's not a 'themed' album, as such, we nevertheless have an underlying connection between songs.

Enya

In an album 'introduction' video, Enya talked about the background of the album.

She explained: "We take so long to put an album together, that it's important to us to give ourselves the time in the studio, but this has meant that we had never really/officially taken a break from the studio, a proper break, so when we finished And Winter Came, we felt that it was time to leave the studio for a while". According to the album's press release and a subsequent interview, during the break Enya bought a new home in France and spent time away from Ireland renovating and adjusting to new surroundings. Aigle Studios also had major renovations that lasted for much of 2011, hence the album's recording did not start until spring 2012. This means that the album itself took three and a half years to complete, the usual time period Enya allocates to perfecting an album, and not six years.

In the interview, Enya was excited and enthusiastic for Dark Sky Island'​s release after having completed the album. "There's a stage, you know, within working on the album that you feel, uh, you have to commit yourself, to a release date. You know eventually you're gonna 'cross the t', 'dot the i' and this is going to finally, um, be finished, so there's an element of excitement".

Enya also took the time show her appreciation for her fans and their loyalty in the interview, and inferred that they give her much motivation when working. "The work in the studio is quite intense, and, to then get feedback of, that there are people waiting to hear the music [...] it's something really lovely to bring to the studio with you".

In the advanced press release for the album, the meaning and descriptions of the album's songs are detailed. In addition, features of the songs not mentioned in the press release are detailed in this section.

Enya herself described the album as having a 'theme of journeys' - "Journeys to the island; through a length of a lifetime; throughout history; throughout emotions; and through journeys across great oceans". Although the album has an underlying connections of journeys, Enya also stated it is not a 'themed album' as her previous winter-themed album And Winter Came was.

Album opener "The Humming" is a song "that muses on the cycle of the universe and how change affects everything". It started off as "a small melody line that Enya began to hum", recalled producer Nicky Ryan. "It's rather appropriate as the title refers to the sound of the early universe which is at around 47 octaves below the lowest piano key". Nicky revealed that scientific work on compressing and pitching the vibration to be audible to humans, "picked up by the Planck space telescope", turned the sound into a humming, giving the song a fitting title. Musically the song was described as infectious and magical, being compared to well-known Enya hits like "Caribbean Blue". "The Humming" does not refer to The Hum however, although it does draw similar parallels.

"So I Could Find My Way" is a slow, sentimental song, set in waltz time and composed in the key of D major. The introduction features gentle church bells, perhaps setting the song in a funeral. The lyrics are a reflection on time spent with a lost one; how the lost one 'sheltered', 'held high' and 'all those years guided', but 'only time keep us apart'. Enya explained the song was dedicated to her producer and friend Nicky Ryan's mother Mona who died some years ago, saying that she 'got to know her very well' once she moved to Dublin. Enya added that it was appropriate to dedicate the song to Mona Ryan as the melody is 'slow, very emotional'. Enya said the subject of 'a mother moving on' is 'something quite universal... You think about what she left behind in your life. That's what you'll always remember. What her stories were, what she was hoping for you; hoping you'd find your way'.

"Even in the Shadows" features a one-off guest appearance courtesy of Irish rock and jazz musician Eddie Lee, who contributes to the tracks "pulsing, insistent rhythm" with double bass. Lee is a member of the Sligo band Those Nervous Animals, who were label mates (under the Tara Music label) of the Brennan family band Clannad in the early 1980s; Enya was a member of Clannad from 1980-1982.

Loxian language, created by the trio's lyricist Roma Ryan, makes a comeback in song on "Dark Sky Island" for the first time since the release of Amarantine and its accompanying book Water Shows the Hidden Heart, in songs "The Forge of Angels" and "The Loxian Gates". These songs in particular focus on the "intergalactic theme" and otherworldly and futuristic tales Roma Ryan uses Loxian for, along with the non-Loxian "Astra et Luna".

The single "Echoes In Rain" has a "buoyant optimism" and the lavish vocal work somewhat reminiscent of "Orinoco Flow". It is played in a minor scale (explicitly F-sharp minor) and has a "marching rhythm celebrating a journey's end". The song includes a piano-based bridge, similar to Enya's piano solo work, and it is the first for a lead single to do so. Enya's vocals span 2 octaves from the low note of B2 to the high note of E5. The lyrics describe the feelings of a long journey home, travelling through night and through day, with the verses detailing how the surroundings and emotions change throughout the journey.

"I Could Never Say Goodbye" is a classic Irish lament Enya has become well known for, with "a sparse, hymnal arrangement".

"Sancta Maria" is a blending of synthesisers and classical instrumentation, to go with the melody that gathers both new and old styles together. The press release called it "almost a history of sound encapsulated in four hypnotic and otherworldly minutes".

Jump to lyrics, videos list, and credits.

Release dates

  • November 20, 2015 — CD digital download
  • December 18, 2015 2015 — Vynil

Lyrics list

  1. The Humming
  2. So I Could Find My Way
  3. Even In The Shadows
  4. The Forge Of The Angels
  5. Echoes In Rain
  6. I Could Never Say Goodbye
  7. Dark Sky Island
  8. Sancta Maria
  9. Astra Et Luna
  10. The Loxian Gates
  11. Diamonds On The Water
  12. Solace (deluxe edition bonus track)
  13. Pale Grass Blue (deluxe edition bonus track)
  14. Remember Your Smile (deluxe edition bonus track)

Videos

  1. "Echoes In Rain"
  2. "So I Could Find My Way"
  3. The Humming
  4. Even In The Shadows

More videos in EnyaTube »

Lyrics

The Humming lyrics

Roma Ryan

And all the light will be revealed
And all the future prophecy
And all the waves deceive the sea
And on the road are you and me

Mmmhmmm, mmmhmmm
Mmmhmmm, mmmhmmm
Mmmhmmm, mmmhmmm
Mmmhmmm, mmmhmmm

And all the winds are like a kiss
And all the years are nemesis
And all the moments fall in mist
And all is dust, remember this

Mmmhmmm, mmmhmmm
Mmmhmmm, mmmhmmm
Mmmhmmm, mmmhmmm
Mmmhmmm, mmmhmmm

And all the light will be, will be
And all the waves deceive
And all the waves deceive the sea
When all the light will be

And all the dust will drift away
And all the nights and all the days
And all the heavens go their way
And only change is here to stay

Mmmhmmm, mmmhmmm
Mmmhmmm, mmmhmmm
Mmmhmmm, mmmhmmm
Mmmhmmm, mmmhmmm

And all the light will be, will be
And all the waves deceive
And all the waves deceive the sea
When all the light will be

And all the stars without a name
And all the skies that look the same
And all the clouds that fade and then
Then all of this begins again

Mmmhmmm, mmmhmmm

So I Could Find My Way lyrics

Roma Ryan

A thousand dreams you gave to me,
You held me high, you held me high.
And all those years you guided me,
So I could find my way.

How long your love had sheltered me,
You held me high, you held me high.
A harbour holding back the sea,
So I could find my way.

So let me give this dream to you,
Upon another shore.
So let me give this dream to you,
Each night and evermore.

Yet only time keeps us apart,
You held me high, you held me high.
You're in the shadows of my heart,
So I could find my way.

You held me high, you held me high…

So let me give this dream to you,
Upon another shore.
So let me give this dream to you,
Each night and evermore.

A thousand dreams you gave to me,
You held me high, you held me high.
And all those years you guided me,
So I could find my way.

So I could find my way…

Even In The Shadows lyrics

Roma Ryan

Even in the shadows
I turn around
to find you walk away
And even when I whisper
the winds will come
to steal the words I say

I could fall and keep on falling
I could call and keep on calling
Wonder why this love is over
Wonder why it's not forever

Even in the silence
I hear my heart
It's still a part of you
And even in the morning
when light has come
I don't know what to do

I could fall and keep on falling
I could call and keep on calling
Wonder why this love is over
Wonder why it's not forever

So high, so low
Love is gone and love is gone...

The Forge of Angels lyrics

Roma Ryan

`day o um day o um
day o um day o um ay o um
ee o rhay a rhay menemmay
a day rhay da rhay dayee
o phen ayla may ayee ayee
a ay rhayee o ay
ee o ay dada ay ayoay dadanay
dadanay o nay o nay
ee o ay ahay menemmay
o rhay moay
ee o ay a menemmay
ee o ay ee o ay

Translation:
Always wondering what came before the beginning
Always wondering what comes after the end
But one must first love their journey through the stars for,
though the night may seem forever,
the first stars have already gone…

Echoes In Rain lyrics

Roma Ryan
Wait for the sun, watching the sky
Black as a crow, night passes by
Taking the stars, so far away
Everything flows. Here comes another new day!

Into the wind, I throw the night
Silver and gold turning into light
I'm on the road, I know the way
Everything flows. Here comes another new day

Alleluia
Alle-Alle Alleluia
Alleluia
Alleluia

Echoes in rain, drifting in waves
Long journey home, never too late
Black as a crow, night comes again
Everything flows. Here comes another new day!

Alleluia
Alle-Alle Alleluia
Alleluia
Alleluia

Alleluia
Alle-Alle Alleluia
Alleluia
Alleluia

I Could Never Say Goodbye lyrics

Roma Ryan

Night has gone
Without my tears
Now I walk alone
You're no longer here

The days turn to years
I could never say goodbye
To the silence in my eyes
You know you are in my heart
But the miles keep us apart

Time moves on
In the falling grey
I still dream of you
And whisper your name
Where I see you once again

I could never say goodbye
To the silence in my eyes
You know you are in my heart
But the miles keep us apart

I could never say goodbye

Dark Sky Island lyrics

Roma Ryan

Listen to the waves speak up
The blue voice of the sea
And they whisper us they taught the shore
Come back to me, come back to me

Boat by boat upon the waves
All come to find the light
In the darkness of the sky above
Come back to me, come back to me

Capella...auriga...eta carinae...
Sagitta...aquila...alpha centauri...

Twilight comes to close the day
And let the night break free
And from deep blue skies
The heavens rise
Come back to me, come back to me
Come back to me, come back to me

Capella...auriga...eta carinae...
Sagitta...aquila...alpha centauri...

Moonlight brings the ocean's storms
Like waves upon the sea
And the midnight shore calls out once more
Come back to me, come back to me
Come back to me, come back to me
Come back to me, come back to me

Sancta Maria lyrics

Roma Ryan

Sancta Maria Sancta Maria
Sancta Maria Sancta Maria

Sancta Maria, Maria, Maria
Sancta Maria, Maria, Maria
Sancta Maria, Maria, Maria
Sancta Maria, Maria, Maria

(Repeat 3 times)

Astra et Luna lyrics

Roma Ryan

Caelum noctis;
in tenebris
astra et astra et luna
non nubilae
caelum serenum
tantus cantus ventus

Amoenum mare
Amoena terra
Amoena orbis terrarium

Salum et aestas
et via procul
Navis noctuabundum

Amoenum mare
Amoena terra
Amoena orbis terrarium
Amoenum mare
Amoena terra
Amoena orbis terrarium

Translation:
The night sky;
in the darkness the stars
and the stars and the moon,
no clouds, a clear sky,
the great song of the wind;

The beauty of the sea
the beauty of the earth
the beauty of the world around me

The open sea and summer and a distant journey.
A ship travelling by night.

The Loxian Gates lyrics

Roma Ryan
`ora beyhe o llay ay o ay a bey ah llay
`ora beyhe o llay ay o ay a bey ah aday

phormmayonay
menemmay bayrr o no
orpirrrommay
eepha lyi kul ay o no

oooo vaya vee oooo daya dee
oooo vaya vee oooo daya dee

orluuammay
oanrro a kaleean
orberummay
essa phayr mayvollan

oooo vaya vee oooo daya dee
oooo vaya vee oooo daya dee

orjummay
rro llay kollan ju
orrommayanay
kammay a menemmay

oooo vaya vee oooo daya dee
oooo vaya vee oooo daya dee

horoommay
no bey a errusay
eella erkaka
`huruhuru netheejan

horkanmmaynay
seva beru sevaran
nay a korheeay
`huruhuru netheejan

Translation:
Through the gates of night
there is wisdom is waiting to be found…

That first place of night
was an island in the colour of stars.
Spring;
green grew and the flowers blossomed.

…a lost time, for in the distance…

Summer;
the sun and the sand,
Autumn;
the shape of yellow leaves falling.

…a lost time, far in the distance…

Winter;
the sky sang snow.
Written into the night;
a world of stars.

…a lost time, for in the distance…

Now, is the season of water;
the island, the cities, the darkness.
Through time this became our world,
but our quest is not yet over.

Now, is the season of the moon;
soft breezes whispering,
night and day.
But our quest is not yet over.

Diamonds on the Water lyrics

Roma Ryan

Listen to the river
It echoes softly
Drifting in my memories
The sound of summer

Listen to my heart beat
As I lie dreaming
Everywhere is whispering
The sound of summer

The diamonds on the water
Are falling from the sun
The diamonds on the water
Are...are...

Solace lyrics

Roma Ryan

What can I do to comfort you?
Don’t hide away in solitude.
What can I say to show the way?
Let tears become a soft rain…

Why do you hide the loss inside?
The love you feel is in your eyes.
Why do you go upon this road
when you could find your way home?

Pale Grass Blue lyrics

Roma Ryan

A silver hue on wings of blue as all
around me shadows dance in light
Sun is high above and winds are still
enough and all I want to do is stay

And everywhere the blues are moving
in the air I see them in their flight
Sun is high above and winds are still
enough and all I want to do is stay

For seven days they make the sky look
down upon them as they go their way
Sun is high above and winds are still
enough and all I want to do is stay

For seven nights they wait the moment
for the morning light to come again
Sun is high above and winds are still
enough and all I want to do is stay

And one by one they wander one by
one meander never go astray
Sun is high above and winds are still
enough and all I want to do is stay

And so I stand and gaze and so I watch
the maze of blues depart the day
Sun is high above and winds are still
enough and one by one they fly away
Sun is high above and winds are still
enough and one by one they fly away

Remember Your Smile lyrics

Roma Ryan

Lost in the mountains
far from the crowds
we would wander together
walking for miles
with the night still before us
and day passing by
I always remember your smile

Cool in the evening
warm in the sun
the clouds moving slowly
time was undone
yet the days fell before us
and nights rolled on by
I always remember your smile

Every step and each moment
were all so worthwhile
I always remember your smile

I always remember your smile

And it’s strange how for a moment
the heavens were mine
I always remember your smile

Each one has a journey
that’s how it goes
sometimes we’re together
sometimes alone

Credits

Everything you hear on the album is Enya multi-layered to perfection:

MUSIC COMPOSED BY ENYA
LYRICS BY ROMA RYAN
PRODUCED BY NICKY RYAN

All instrumentation* and vocals performed by Enya.
All titles arranged by Enya and Nicky Ryan.
Engineered by Nicky Ryan. Mixed by Nicky Ryan and Enya.
Recorded at Aigle Studio.

Mastered by Dick Beetham at 360 Mastering, Hastings.
Digital advisor and technician: Daniel Polley.

Album sleeve conception by Nicky Ryan and Simon Fowler.
Booklet layout: Richard Welland. Photography: Simon Fowler.
Commissioned by Michael Wliitham.

*other than Eddie Lee on Double Bass on ‘Even in the Shadows’

Loxian language and font by Roma Ryan.

Lyrics reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
All titles © 2015 Sony/ATV Music Publishing Ltd.

Recorded in the digital domain by an analogue brain.

Enya, Nicky and Roma would like to thank:
All of our friends at the Warner Music. family worldwide.
Thanks in particular to our Warner UK Team,
especially Max Lousada and Miles Leonard.
Also to Stu Bergen, Cameron Strang, Jeremy Marsh and Bernd Dopp.

To Fran Malyan and Guy Moot of Sony/ATV Music Publishing Ltd.
To all of our Moderators, both past and present, we say “Thank-you”
with particular thanks to Nigel Sellens and Jackie Lane.
To all our Forum members, thanks for your support and encouragement.

To Ronny Schreinzer and Robert Trebus and Fairlight EU.
To Phillip Lawo of Lawo AG and the Lawo team.

A special mention also for Dick Beetham,
Lee Tobin, Aran Gues, Nadia Pfeiffer,
Brian Curtin of DC Chauffeur Drive, Frank Byrne,
Ailish McKenna and Alan Lander.

And finally, to Daniel Polley.

www.enya.com
www.romaryan.com
www.nickyryan.net

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