"Shepherd Moons" is the third studio album by Irish singer, songwriter, and musician Enya. Released on 4 November 1991 by WEA Records, the album was mainly recorded and mixed at Aigle Studio in Dublin, Ireland. Nicky Ryan served as the album's producer with Roma Ryan and Enya herself providing the lyrics and composing the music.
"Shepherd Moons" continues the style of atmospheric, multi-layered soundscapes featured in Enya's previous albums. However, the material on this album is considered less dark, more pop-oriented, and more accessible to the mainstream audience than its predecessor, "Watermark." Enya plays a variety of instruments on the album including keyboards, synthesisers, and percussion instruments, while Nicky Ryan arranged and conducted the choral parts and string arrangements.
The album contains a mix of upbeat tunes, reflective ballads, and fusion of both traditional Celtic music with new age elements. The album's lyrical themes revolve around various topics, from love and relationships to songs inspired by Roma Ryan's poetry, as well as a number of tracks thematically connected to planets and space.
"Shepherd Moons" was a commercial success, topping the charts in various countries including the UK and Australia. It sold more than 13 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time. It also won Enya the Grammy Award for Best New Age Album, her second in the row for that category.
Notable tracks from the album include "Caribbean Blue," "How Can I Keep from Singing?", and the title track "Shepherd Moons." Enya released several singles from the album, including "Caribbean Blue," which peaked at number 13 on the UK Singles Chart and number 79 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Overall, "Shepherd Moons" is often cited as a seminal release in the new age music genre, further establishing Enya's status as an international music icon.
