February 19-25, 2004

musicpicks

Moya Brennan

by Nicole Pensiero

irish

Despite the now-phonetic spelling of her first name, Moya (formerly Mire) Brennan likely will not become a household name like younger sis/New Age star Enya (whose non-phonetic name, by the way, is Eithne). While Brennan's voice is spellbinding -- anyone remember those early '90s VW ads with the soaring "Harry's Theme"? -- the woman behind it is quite content with her level of non-fame.

"I can sit and chat with people after the shows," the 51-year-old singer/harpist says by phone from her Dublin home. "There's something to be said for having that kind of intimacy with your listeners."

For her latest solo album, the ambient/Celtic Two Horizons, Brennan has taken on the ancient site of Tara, where, according to legend, the High Kings of Ireland met in pursuit of reconciliation and art. She traveled to Tara seeking musical inspiration and left with a concept album about an ancient harp as "kind of my Holy Grail."

"I wanted to create music that was ethereal and earthy at the same time," Brennan says. "I painted on a very big and very colorful canvas, so to speak."

After 30 years with Clannad (a band made up of all family members), Brennan says it's fun to work on her own music, though "Clannad is always there, rock-solid." Onstage, she'll perform on harp, backed by four musicians. Brennan's put out five solo records since '92, but you can expect a few otherworldly, sung-in-Gaelic Clannad numbers, too.

Wed., Feb. 25, 8:30 p.m., $20, Tin Angel, 20 S. Second St., 215-928-0770.

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