Hayley Westenra - Odyssey (Eng) (CD)

All Music Guide

Originally released in September 2005, Hayley Westenra's second international album was rereleased in April 2006 with only 14 instead of the original 16 tracks. Westenra sings a wide selection of poporiented compositions, including Joni Mitchell's "Both Side Now," Simon Garfunkel's "Scarborough Fair," and "May It Be" (as featured in The Lord of the Rings), all with the minimum of backing music, mainly just a pure soprano voice beautifully soaring like a bird and leaving its cage behind. One can't help but think of the scene in The Shawshank Redemption when Andy locks himself in the library and plays some opera over a loudspeaker. "Quanta Qualia" has something of the quality of the Clannad hit "Theme from Harry's Game," while "Dell'amore Non Si Sa" is a duet with Andrea Bocelli. There are also a few new folk ballads: "What You Never Know (Won't Hurt You)," "The Mists of Islay," and "She Moves Through the Fair." Odyssey is the ideal album to chill out and relax to after a hard day's wor...k. - Sharon Mawer, All Music Guide Read more Less