Patience... this is the word that Loreena Mc Kennitt's enamoured fan is now learning to conjugate, as the Canadian's record publications with a golden voice are so rare. Eight years after her last studio album, Loreena Mc Kennitt is releasing "Lost Souls" in 2018, a collection of songs that have remained in the drawers throughout her already long career, which began in 1985 with "Elemental".
Far from being a simple compilation of B-sides, this new album is to be received as a travelling companion to the artist's different periods, taking its roots in the early 80s ('Manx Ayre') to take us back to a very recent era ('Breaking of the Sword'). And the enlightened amateur can have fun trying to bring each track closer to a studio album written at the same time.
Throughout the 48 minutes of "Lost Souls", we will discover all the facets of Loreena Mc Kennitt's music, once again accompanied by the faithful Caroline Lavelle (cello), Hugh Marsh (violin) and Brian Hughes (the three who founded the excellent Secret Sky), to whom a very long list of guests is added. Originally inspired by Celtic music, the musician's universe has gradually opened up to other horizons through her travels and encounters.
From the beginning of the album,'Spanish Guitars and Night Plazas' sets the tone: after a low-tempo first part where guitar, violin and languid cello interact with the artist's still enchanting voice, a tonic chorus mixed with flamenco guitar and castanets takes the title into another dimension.
The same analysis fits perfectly with'Sun, Moon and Stars', a Celtic folk instrumental supported by Arabic percussions, carried by a violin that passes without complex from a traditional melody to oriental harmonies.
Between these travels to the country of a world-music without borders, Loreena Mc Kennit invites us to more intimate moments, especially when she pays tribute to the Canadian soldiers who died in France during the Second World War ('Breaking of the Sword'), a moving moment of solemnity sublimated by the accompaniment of an ever more incredible voice by the orchestra and choirs of the Canadian Air Force.
"Lost Souls" then comes to a very beautiful conclusion with a very original cake, far from feeling the enclosed drawers in which the various drafts of titles were kept.
While the instrumentation is generally less abundant than on the nuggets such as "The Book of Secrets" or "Ancient Muse", "Lost Souls" is nevertheless a beautiful case containing precious and delicate musical nuggets, skilfully carved and interpreted by an artist who is becoming too rare. To listen without moderation.