SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: LOREENA McKENNITT – THE MASK AND THE MIRROR LIVE

LOREENA McKENNITT
THE MASK AND THE MIRROR LIVE
QUINLAN ROAD

In 1994, Loreena McKennitt released her fifth studio album, The Mask And The Mirror, and it became her breakthrough album. It went gold in the U.S., triple platinum in Canada, and she was introduced to the world. As the album was selling, she embarked on an extensive tour to promote it. As such, some dates were recorded, including her performance at the Palace Of Fine Arts in San Francisco on May 19, 1994.  Some of the tracks were released on an EP and the concert was released to radio stations only as a promotion release. In other words, one would hear it on radio but unable to buy it in your friendly neighbourhood record store. It became a sought-after collector’s item. In celebration of the 30th anniversary of the album The Mask And The Mirror, the entire concert is being released, almost 30 years to the day of the recording. Interestingly, the album has been sold during her current European tour at her merchandise table and is now available to fans the world over.

The Mask And The Mirror Live is McKennitt’s fourth live album since 2019, and it is a welcome addition to the collection. Although McKennitt’s studio albums are remarkable, she is at heart a live musician. In this case, The Mask And The Mirror Live is an older concert and what makes it fascinating is hearing an artist on the brink of becoming a worldwide phenomenon. Her next studio album following this tour, The Book Of Secrets would be an international top ten album. It is interesting to hear a young artist developing her confidence and her ability to deal with larger crowds.

The album sounds remastered and has a very crisp, yet warm sound. The majority of the songs performed come from The Mask And The Mirror album, which makes sense as she was promoting the album. In fact eight of the ten tracks are taken from that album. McKennitt’s voice is flawless and having seen her on that tour I can attest that this recording is untouched with any modern technology. She was THAT good. She is able to bring the songs from the studio onto the stage with all the quiet majesty of the material. “The Bonny Swans”, which became a hit single for McKennitt, is exciting and full of energy. “The Mystic’s Dream”, which opens the album, is another strong song that benefits from the live treatment. It is an excellent song on The Mask And The Mirror, but here it seems atmospheric and the perfect opportunity for McKennitt to bring the audience into her world.

There are some previously unreleased songs that did not appear on the promo CD. “Huron ‘Beltane’ Fire Dance” and “Full Circle”, which are welcome additions to the overall and sound fantastic. McKennitt and her incredibly talented band sound like they are having fun with the material and never lose sight of the origins. It makes for interesting and enjoyable listening.

Although this release is somewhat of an historic document, it doesn’t sound like one. The music is as fresh and vibrant as it was when it was recorded. The music of The Mask And The Mirror is timeless and has aged remarkably well. McKennitt is still performing songs from this album and she sounds better than ever. But this is a nice souvenir from a brilliant tour. The Mask And The Mirror Live showcases a brilliant artist as she is continuing her ascent to her commercial peak. But it also shows an artist who is continuing to explore, grow and develop not only her sound but a whole new sound combining traditional folk and Celtic music. This live album is a testament to the fact that not only could she create this music in the studio but perform it perfectly on stage. The Mask And The Mirror Live is a brilliant album and an essential reminder of how great McKennitt was and continues to be.

SPILL FEATURE: THE ROAD BACK HOME – A CONVERSATION WITH LOREENA McKENNITT

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