Secret Garden

Lush, rich, full-bodied and passionate music ... this is a keeper!



Anyone into world music?

I discovered this group, Secret Garden, several years ago. Check out their album Dreamcatcher and Earthsongs. I love most of the songs in the Dreamcatcher album but my favourite is the “Song from Secret Garden” track. The collection of songs in that album is very soothing and great to wind down after a stressful day. The music arrangement is pretty simple but it’s the beauty in that simplicity that I find so refreshing.

In the words of the Amazon.com reviewer, Leslie R. Marini, on the Dreamcatcher album, “…Lush, rich, full-bodied, and passionate, Secret Garden stands eye-to-eye with other successful Celtic/world-music hybrids such as Loreena McKennitt and Clannad. Highlighted by the ethereal vocal styling of Gunnhild Tvinnereim ("Nocturne") and the tender laments of Karen Matheson ("Prayer"), Secret Garden weaves a mystical tapestry of classic Oriental notes, Irish flutes, deep bodhran, and bold violins. With the crystalline quality of pure water, Secret Garden descends over one's spirit in a tranquil waterfall of renewal, as demonstrated in "Sigma" and "Songs from a Secret Garden." "Elan," which originally appeared on the album Dawn of a New Century, reflects the fire that burns at the heart of Secret Garden. The song soars with a wild, sea-swept energy, a true soundscape of white-sand beach and blue sky. A bonus cut, "Last Present," closes out Dreamcatcher with a simple, balanced melody--poised and inspiring.”

Earthsongs is a recent discovery. I just fell in love with “Sometimes When It Rains” (the first track) the first time I heard it. The rest of the album is ok but not as good as Dreamcatcher.

So, grab a glass of wine, dim the lights, relax on your sofa with your legs up and enjoy the beautiful music from Secret Garden.

P.S. In case there are Secret Garden fans out there, let me know should you have the music notes to the songs. Would love to get my hands on them. : )