Phil Coulter may have made his name way back when as a writer of pop hits, but since then he’s practiced his craft on a broader musical canvas. Here the art becomes more intimate, dealing as it does with a most specific place in Ireland, Lough Swilly, and its associations, both warm and tragic, with his own history. In the ’80s, the lake claimed the lives of both his brother and sister, but he remains drawn to it, and its pristine memories of his childhood vacations. The musical result isn’t a million miles from the neo-classical Celticisms of Peadar O’Riada -- who helps out here -- but also tinged with sorrow, as on "The Shores of the Swilly," beautifully and sparely sung by Sinead O’Connor, which is the tale of Cyd Coulter’s death. There’s history in actor Liam Neeson’s spoken-word piece, "The Flight of the Earls," and the mournful simplicity of the hymn "For Those in Peril on the Sea." There’s also plenty of orchestral sweep to the melodies, evoking the water, which brings some of the album perilously close to new age music. Always, though, Coulter knows when to back off and not let things go too far. Even "Prayer for the Fishermen," with Roma Downey’s invocation, never reaches overkill. In essence, this album is a catharsis of spirit and a memorial, and Coulter’s touch ensures that it succeeds as both.

    Phil Coulter也许在编写流行音乐方面崭露头角，但从那以后他便投身于更宽广的音乐艺术。在这里他与艺术变得更亲密，在爱尔兰的Lough Swilly，带有温暖和悲剧色彩的一个很特别的地方，那里也带有他自己的历史。

    在80年代，湖是他和兄弟姐妹一起的童年生活记忆。...音乐与Peadar O’Riada的新古典凯尔特没有相距甚远的感觉，却略显悲哀。由Sinead O’Connor演唱关于Cyd Coulter死亡的故事The Shores of the Swilly简直美极了，The Flight of the Earls在歌手Liam Neeson’s的说词里的故事，For Those in Peril on the Sea纯粹悲痛的赞美辞，...随着荡漾的湖水，带给我们更贴近newage的凯尔特新世纪音乐。Phil Coulter的表达总是能适可而止，即便是Prayer for the Fishermen的祷告或是Roma Downey的引用，也不会渲染太过分。

    本质上来说，这张专辑是一次灵魂的导泻，也是一个历史的纪念碑，Coulter获得了这两方面的成功。

    爱尔兰音乐一直是世界音乐、新世纪音乐的显学，凯尔特音乐象征着欧洲文化的精华，也是欧裔美籍移民的精神依靠。phil coulter是位优秀的爱尔兰钢琴演奏家、编曲家，专辑<american tranquility>曾经登上了billboard新世纪音乐排行榜。phil coulter充满想象力的创作才华，让专辑散发出一股神秘力量，结合爱尔兰音乐的优雅美学，以及排笛吹奏着古代爱尔兰的民谣旋律，听着空灵的排笛声，伴随着爱尔兰的坚琴拨奏，我们仿佛随着悠扬乐声飘荡在爱尔兰的草原上，轻松、无忧、怀古，拥有属于自己的优雅美学。

                                                01 Lake of Shadows
                                                02 Sunlight on the Water
                                                03 Farewell to Inishowen
                                                04 Flight of the Earls
                                                05 Star of the Sea
                                                06 Lough Swilly Railway
                                                07 For Those in Peril on the Sea
                                                08 Lonesome Boatman
                                                09 Year of the French
                                                10 Shores of the Swilly
                                                11 Back to the Island
                                                12 Vive la Hoche
                                                13 Prayer for the Fisherman
                                                14 Take Me Home