As Gerrard is complex in her vocal range and flow, she is simple in her mission— to create music that stirs the listener. She remains now, as always, a stunning voice soaring above any accompanying strings and ritualistic drums. All songs on The Best of Lisa Gerrard, out this November, have been chosen and sequenced by Gerrard herself to better imbibe the listener with this thick blanket of her work.

This album blends much of her solo work and compilations including some soundtrack highlights, Dead Can Dance snippets, and more. A personal highlight from the album is the live version of "Sanvean". This track can fill an empty room, can quiet a crowd. The production value on this track, much like the rest of the album, is stellar. Forgetting it was a live cut, I was startled at the cheers of the crowd upon the song's completion.

Although much of the music on The Best of Lisa Gerrard has an almost ancient or medieval feel, it still offers a modern vibe with its minimalist approach to voice as instrument. Lisa's vocal capabilities have never been better showcased in a collection. Her direction and arrangements are more than impressive, they are enigmatic.

On top of her stand alone talent, Gerrard has an uncanny ability to partner with others both within and from outside her genre. Though with Lisa, genre is a limiting term, she moves through myriad collaborations with grace and apparent ease. Some of her collaborators, both in the past and on this album include: Hans Zimmer, Brendan Perry (from Dead Can Dance, of course), Pieter Bourke, and so many more. The album also showcases some of her soundtrack work including pieces from Gladiator, The Whale Rider, and The Insider.

If you are already a Gerrard fan, this new album will feel very personal to you as a listener. Gerrard chose from her vast portfolio specific works to make one feel connected to the music—give the album a continuity that is missing from many "best of"s. This is a personal guide through Lisa's work by Lisa herself. If you are new to Gerrard, then make no mistake, this album will give you almost all of her best work. The Best of Lisa Gerrard By Lisa Gerrard gives any listener a clear idea of why she is an internationally renowned musician.

To learn more about Lisa Gerrard, please visit her official site at: www.lisagerrard.com