Personnel: Enya (vocals, keyboards); Davy Spillane (pipe, Uilleann pipe); Neil Buckley (clarinet); Chris Hughes (drums, percussion).

Audio Mixers: Jim Barton; Ross Cullum.

Recording information: Orinoco Studios.

Photographers: David Hiscook; Russell T.

Arrangers: Enya; Nicky Ryan.

Thanks to its distinct, downright catchy single "Orinoco Flow," which amusingly referenced both her record-company boss Rob Dickins and co-producer Ross Cullum in the lyrics, Enya's second album Watermark established her as the unexpected queen of gentle, Celtic-tinged new age music. To be sure, her success was as much due to marketing a niche audience in later years equally in love with Yanni and Michael Flatley's Irish dancing, but Enya's rarely given a sense of pandering in her work. She does what she does, just as she did before her fame. (Admittedly, avoiding overblown concerts run constantly on PBS hasn't hurt.) Indeed, the subtlety that characterizes her work at her best dominates Watermark, with the lovely title track, her multi-tracked voice gently swooping among the lead piano, and strings like a softly haunting ghost, as fine an example as any. "Orinoco Flow" itself, for all its implicit dramatics, gently charges instead of piling things on, while the organ-led "On Your Shore" feels like a hushed church piece. Elsewhere, meanwhile, Enya lets in a darkness not overly present on The Celts, resulting in work even more appropriate for a moody soundtrack than that album. "Cursum Perficio," with her steady chanting-via-overdub of the title phrase, gets more sweeping and passionate as the song progresses, matched in slightly calmer results with the equally compelling "The Longships." "Storms in Africa," meanwhile, uses drums from Chris Hughes to add to the understated, evocative fire of the song, which certainly lives up to its name. Watermark ends with a fascinating piece, "Na Laetha Geal M'Oige," where fellow Irish modern/traditional fusion artist Davy Spillane adds a gripping, heartbreaking uilleann pipe solo to the otherwise calm synth-based performance. It's a perfect combination of timelessness and technology, an appropriate end to this fine album. ~ Ned Raggett

One of Enya's most popular releases, WATERMARK is an enchantingly dreamy album, featuring washes of keyboards and ethereal vocals. On the title track, the gentle piano melody mimics the sound of falling water, and Enya's multi-tracked voice cascades over the music like a calm wind on a rainy night.

The most memorable composition on this 1988 record is the hit "Orinoco Flow (Sail Away)." Marked by its keyboard-generated staccato strings and infectious vocal hook, this piece is probably the singer's best-known (and best-loved) song. "Cursum Perficio" features a gloomy vocal reminiscent of Carl Orff's CARMINA BURANA, while "On Your Shore," "Na Laetha Geal M'Oige," and "Evening Falls..." reflect Enya's traditional Celtic roots. WATERMARK is one of the finest New Age/pop crossover albums on the market, though its distinctive compositions transcend that label, making for much more than just a series of tranquil soundscapes.

Rolling Stone - 3.5 Stars - Very Good