V.A. - The Celtic Circle: Legendary Music from a Mystic World (2CDs, 2003)

Already an international success story with platinum and gold sales across Europe, this specially priced 2-CD set now comes to America. These 31 tracks take you to a mystical place as you listen to superstars from Bono to Sinead O'Connor to The Chieftains and themes from The Lord of The Rings, Harry Potter and more. A beautiful gift for all fans of Irish, Celtic and film music.
Here we go again with yet another compilation of soundtrack excerpts and vaporous ditties, to be filed under "Celtic" and pronounced, one assumes, with a soft "c." Some of the selections, such as those featuring old hands like Loreena McKennit, Sinead O'Connor, Clannad, the Corrs, and the Chieftains, actually merit the moniker. But how a pair of embarrassingly twee tunes by David Arkenstone and Vangelis (!) made the cut is anyone's guess. Other choices of dubious provenance include Annie Haslam and Steve Howe's cover of an already hoary Yes tune, a squirm-inducing bit of overkill called "Elysium" (by Elysia, whoever that may be,) and Ryan and Rachel O'Donnell's flaccid reworking of Enya's "May It Be" from Lord of the Rings. "Hedwig's Theme" from the OST to Harry Potter also appears, courtesy of the City of Prague Philharmonic, even though the books never so much as hinted at the owl's nationality.

Tracklist:

Disc 1
01. Loreena McKennitt - The Mystic's Dream 7:41
02. The Corrs - Runaway 3:47
03. The Chieftains - Factory Girl 4:23 Featuring Sinéad O'Connor
04. Clannad - I Will Find You 5:17
05. Máire Brennan - Eirish Suas A Stoirin 4:02
06. Howard Shore - The Fellowship of the Ring Suite 5:52
07. Phil Coulter - The Shores Of The Swilly 4:12 - Featuring Sinéad O'Connor
08. Sarah McLachlan - Angel 4:31
09. Nightnoise - The Rose Of Tralee 3:19
10. Jeff Johnson & Brian Dunning - cùChulainn's Last Battle 2:54
11. Within Temptation - Our Farewell 5:19
12. Karen Matheson - Evangeline 2:26
13. Anuna - She Moved Through The Fair 3:07
14. William Coulter - Keening Of The Three Marys 5:55
15. David Arkenstone - The Dragon's Breath 3:28
16. Vangelis - 12 O'Clock 5:32

Disc 2
01. Ryan & Rachel O'Donnell - May It Be 3:18
02. Loreena McKennitt - Skellig 6:08
03. Clannad - Theme From Harry's Game 2:28
04. James Horner - Braveheart Trilogy 5:41
05. Capercaillie - Ailein Duinn 3:33
06. Dune - Who Wants To Live Forever 3:56
07. Elysia - Elysium 4:22
08. Lisa Lynne - Circle Of Joy 4:45
09. Mary McLaughlin - Caoineadh Na Mara / Amen (Lament of the Sea 5:05
10. Steve Howe & Annie Haslam - Turn Of The Century 6:29
11. Nightwish - Sleeping Sun 4:04
12. Annie Ebrel & Gilles Le Bigot - Ar Galon Digorr 4:30 - Featuring Davy Spillane
13. Kate Bush - Women of Ireland (Mná na hÉireann 2:52
14. Clannad & Bono - In A Lifetime 3:05
15. Alan Stivell - Brian Boru 5:30
16. John Williams - Hedwig's Theme 4:50