Christmas must be near.  When I find myself reviewing a Christmas album, you know it cannot be the middle of summer (although some times I wish it was).  Well, when I first received this album for review, I read the title, And Winter Came, but did not think I would be reviewing a holiday album, but something Enya-like that goes into songs that express the moods and feelings of the season.  Within minutes of the radio stations (and the canned elevator music in shopping malls) playing continuous non-stop Christmas music, I seem to usually avoid it or to tune it out.  A little bit is nice, but it is not what I want to hear every moment of every day for a month.

Enya provides non-traditional songs for the winter and Christmas season.  Most of that songs have that quiet choiresque feeling to them that provide a mystical veil to this time of year.  The initial thoughts I had while listening to the first few tracks went directly to the music she provided for the soundtrack to Lord of the Rings.   It is not the pop music you hear regularly on the radio and TV commercials, but it has a calming and tranquil quality that is perfect for the winter season.  Although

Close your eyes while listening to her music and you can see the imagery she is describing in her songs.  A perfect example is "Trains and Winter Rains" in which you can picture a winter/Christmas scene in a small town or village with snow lightly falling on the trees and on the ground of Main Street, with a train going by slowly in the background.  You can even smell the fire burning from some of the chimneys in town.

This album encompasses many of the things that has made Enya so wonderful over the past two decades, but with a winter holiday twist.  A perfect album for the holidays, be it big Christmas dinner with all the trimmings, opening up the gifts on Christmas morning, or just to relax and take in the day.