To Drive The Cold Winter Away is Loreena McKennitt’s second album after 1985’s Elemental. At this point, she has already gathered fervent followers. This was also a period in her career when she was still selling albums from the trunk of her car. She was also basking around Toronto to promote her songs.

With a background in theater, McKennitt possesses a dramatic and powerful voice suited for live performance.That voice was still in its pristine period in this recording. To Drive The Cold Winter Away retains the simplicity of old carols and the natural sounds that add a distinctive touch to this album.

According to her Wikipedia page, this album ” pays homage to her childhood memories of music for the winter season, the most vivid of which “came from songs and carols recorded in churches or great halls, rich with their own unique ambience and tradition.”

One of the standout tracks is Snow with lyrics by Canadian poet Archibald Lampman -17 November 1861 – 10 February 1899.