To Drive the Cold Winter Away

Released in 1987, 'To Drive the Cold Winter Away' is Loreena McKennitt's second studio album and represents a deliberate departure from the emerging New Age trends of the late 80s. Seeking to capture the 'authentic' spirit of winter, McKennitt recorded the tracks on location at Glenstal Abbey in Ireland, the Church of Our Lady in Guelph, and Annaghmakerrig in County Monaghan. This site-specific recording process is central to the album's identity, as the natural acoustics of these stone buildings provide a reverb that cannot be replicated by digital processors. The repertoire consists of traditional carols and songs that pre-date the commercialization of Christmas, focusing on the transition of seasons and the spiritual gravity of midwinter. Critically, it is regarded as one of her most 'pure' folk recordings, showcasing her technical proficiency as a harpist and the operatic clarity of her voice before she moved toward the more complex, world-music-influenced textures of 'The Visit' and 'The Mask and Mirror'.