Solas

1	Love Song 4:08
2	All the Way Back Home 4:50
3	Dreaming 5:16
4	Heaven 4:09
5	New Lands 3:25
6	Take Me with You 4:36
7	Angel 5:06
8	Far Away 4:40
9	Communication 5:10
10	Secret World 5:14
11	All the Way Back Home 5:48

Barnes & Noble

Ronan Hardiman, the composer behind the Michael Flatley blockbusters Lord of the Dance and Feet of Flames, has a sensitive side, too. Solas captures the ethereal qualities of Enya and the grooves of Enigma, without the latter group's ominous tinges. Hardiman layers and processes Leslie Dowdall's breathy vocals until she sounds like a band of angels flying on the wind or sirens beckoning from the rocks, while steady beats, a pounding bass, and stunning electro-atmospherics keep the music moving infectiously. Though the English and Latin lyrics aren't readily intelligible, the message is clear: peace, joy, release, love, and dreaming. Hardiman's piano breaks provide most of the melodic elements, while Dowdall's vocals soar in lush patterns over the rhythms. The dramatic "Angel" stands out among these memorable and inviting tunes. Indeed, Solas makes lovely background music: Groove into the rhythms to be invigorated, or tap into its angelic realms and bliss out. Carol Wright

All Music Guide

Ronan Hardiman established himself as a composer through his score for Michael Flatley's dance extravagenza Lord of the Dance. The soundtrack to the production was a rousing success, giving Hardiman the opportunity to record his first solo album, Solas. Like Lord of the Dance, Solas has its foundation in Celtic music, but it sounds more like worldbeat-influenced new age artists like Enya and Enigma. In other words, it relies on sounds more than songs, but sometimes sounds are enough for a good album. That's not necessarily the case here, since the music meanders a bit, but the best moments on the album are as enchanting as those on Lord of the Dance. Rodney Batdorf