Only Time: The Collection cover

Only Time: The Collection

Enya · 2002

176 min · 50 tracks · new age music · Celtic music · operatic pop

Ethereal soundscapes blend with haunting melodies, creating a dreamlike atmosphere that transcends time.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • dreamlike atmosphere for relaxation
  • wave-like pacing for contemplation
  • evocative soundscapes for introspection
  • soothing melodies for quiet evenings
  • long-form listening for daydreaming

Maybe skip if you want

  • seeking upbeat, fast-paced tracks
  • prefer concise, standalone songs

Where this album fits

Themes
ethereal landscapes· Celtic mysticism· cinematic spirituality
Career context
Released in 2002, 'Only Time: The Collection' marks Enya's transition from mainstream success into a reflective compilation of her earlier works. This album followed her commercially successful album 'A Day Without Rain,' which further solidified her status as a leading figure in new age music. By this point, Enya had established a distinctive sound characterized by layered vocals and lush instrumentation.
Stylistic neighbors
Loreena McKennitt· Clannad· Sarah Brightman
Sounds like this from elsewhere
The Book of Secrets by Loreena McKennitt — Shares ethereal soundscapes and Celtic influences, blending mysticism with lush arrangements.
Lore by Clannad — Combines haunting melodies with atmospheric production, rooted in Celtic themes and layered vocals.
Within the Realm of a Dying Sun by Dead Can Dance — Explores cinematic spirituality through rich, ethereal textures and world music influences.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

Disc 1

  • 1 Watermark 2:26
  • 2 Exile 4:22
  • 3 Aldebaran 3:07
  • 4 March of the Celts 3:17
  • 5 Boadicea 3:32
  • 6 The Sun in the Stream 2:56
  • 7 On Your Shore 4:01
  • 8 Cursum Perficio 4:08
  • 9 Storms in Africa 4:04
  • 10 The Celts 2:58
  • 11 Miss Clare Remembers 2:01
  • 12 I Want Tomorrow 4:01

Disc 2

  • 1 Orinoco Flow 4:28
  • 2 Ebudæ 1:56
  • 3 River 3:12
  • 4 The Longships 3:37
  • 5 Na Laetha Geal M’óige 3:59
  • 6 Book of Days 2:56
  • 7 Shepherd Moons 3:44
  • 8 Caribbean Blue 4:00
  • 9 Evacuee 3:51
  • 10 Evening Falls 3:49
  • 11 Lothlórien 2:09
  • 12 Marble Halls (Trad) 3:53

Disc 3

  • 1 After Ventus 4:07
  • 2 No Holly for Miss Quinn 2:43
  • 3 The Memory of Trees 4:20
  • 4 Anywhere Is 3:59
  • 5 Athair Ar Neamh 3:41
  • 6 China Roses 4:49
  • 7 How Can I Keep From Singing? (Trad) 4:24
  • 8 Hope Has a Place 4:46
  • 9 Tea‐House Moon 2:43
  • 10 Pax Deorum 4:59
  • 11 Eclipse 1:33
  • 12 Isobella 4:27

Disc 4

  • 1 Only Time 3:39
  • 2 A Day Without Rain 2:37
  • 3 Song of the Sandman (Lullaby) 3:41
  • 4 Willows on the Water 3:04
  • 5 Wild Child 3:47
  • 6 Flora’s Secret 4:07
  • 7 Fallen Embers 2:31
  • 8 Tempus Vernum 2:24
  • 9 Deora Ar Mo Chroí 2:48
  • 10 One by One 3:54
  • 11 The First of Autumn 3:09
  • 12 Lazy Days 3:43
  • 13 May It Be 3:33
  • 14 Oíche Chiúin (Silent Night) 3:47

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata