Ronan Hardiman - Solas 1998

"Ronan Hardiman is one of Ireland's premier composers of traditional music, responsible for the score to Lord of the Dance as well as many Irish films and television series. Born in Dublin to a father highly placed in Irish broadcasting, Hardiman listened to rock & roll and pop as a child (while his siblings preferred traditional Irish music). He worked as a clerk at the Bank of Ireland for twelve years, and occasionally playing in pop bands during the 1980s. After quitting his job, though, he composed material based more on Irish traditions than pop music, specifically for radio and television; months later wrote the theme music to the documentary My Riviera, which became quite well-known in Ireland.

During the next few years, Hardiman composed for Coca-Cola and Guinness and gained his reputation as Ireland's best contemporary composer. He was approached by Michael Flatley, creator of Riverdance, to compose the score to the new production Lord of the Dance. Thanks in large part to the success of the production, Hardiman gained a recording contract through Philips and released his debut album, Solas, in early 1998." -- John Bush (All Music Guide)


"Ronan Hardiman established himself as a composer through his score for Michael Flatley's dance extravagenza Lord of the Dance. The soundtrack to the production was a rousing success, giving Hardiman the opportunity to record his first solo album, Solas. Like Lord of the Dance, Solas has its foundation in Celtic music, but it sounds more like worldbeat-influenced new age artists like Enya and Enigma. In other words, it relies on sounds more than songs, but sometimes sounds are enough for a good album. That's not necessarily the case here, since the music meanders a bit, but the best moments on the album are as enchanting as those on Lord of the Dance." -- Rodney Batdorf (All Music Guide)


Hardiman's style is similar to Enya's with the snap and crispness lost in her latest releases such as "Amarantine." You will enjoy if you like Enya...


Release date: 10.03.1998
Recording date: 11.1996-06.1997
Label: Philips / Polygram


Styles: Contemporary Celtic, Adult Alternative, Ethnic Fusion, Celtic Fusion, New Age, Worldbeat, Electronica


Similar projects: Enya, Enigma


Tracklist:
01. Love Song
02. All The Way Back Home [LP version]
03. Dreaming
04. Heaven
05. New Lands
06. Take Me With You
07. Angel
08. Far Away
09. Communication
10. Secret World
11. All The Way Back Home [album remix]

Total playing time: 52:24 min


Format: mp3
Bitrate: 256kbps/CBR/stereo


Sample tracks (in wma):