Customer Reviews

Crann Ull

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is an outstanding, classic Clannad recording. Many of these are traditional tunes or have that traditional sound. Interesting vocals on these tracks. You need to add this one to your collection !!!

This is the last of Clannad's purely traditional albums, later on followed by Magical Ring and the success of Theme from Harry's Game. Maybe this one doesn't have really strong and sparkling moments as in case of Dulaman or Fuaim, but even this more peaceful sounds from Donegal turn into masterpieces after Clannad's rearrangement. The most notable ones are for sure Maire's harp instrumental Lá Coimhthioch Fan Dtuath, Gathering the Mushrooms and Cruiscin Lan, song that got very popular after Flann O'Brien's columns for The Irish Times of the same title, which is now quite hard to find recorded or performed. This is also the last album with Enya as a vocal and instrumentalist, after which her career went only upwards. This is a great CD for collectors of Clannad's albums and Irish folk in general.

This album was released in 1980, three years before "Magical Ring" would signal Clannad's entrance into the world of soundtracks, New Age, and rock. It is the mature, final stage of their life as a traditional Irish group, and in about thirty sweet minutes, it shows their unparalleled strength as traditional musicians. The arrangements are better than on any of the albums that went before, as fine as those were (and you should own them all). Lyrical and beautiful, traditional and heartfelt... what can one say? This is Irish music at its finest. No rip-roaring instrumentals, however; it's gentler than that, quiet and lovely, each song a gem. I bought it when it was released (or rather, my tolerant parents bought it for me) and have been listening to it ever since, and have never grown tired of it. Especially Maire's haunting "Strange Day in the Countryside" seems to have inexhaustible depths. I'm a bit sad nowadays as I listen to the hyper-produced sound of Clannad's new albums (and Maire's -- sorry, but ugh!) Crann Ull was a time when Maire didn't need Enya's banks of synthesizers and vocal effects. It's pure and clear as water from a holy well, which in fact it is -- water from the holy well of Celtic tradition. Buy it, buy it, buy it -- do it now!

I love traditional Irish music, and this is definitely one of the better Irish CD's I've come across. I have only one minor objection here, and that's the fact that there are no liner notes giving Enya credit. She is on some of the instruments on this album, but no credit is given.

I was surprised to find that Amazon doesn't have this on digital download, but I ordered it cheaply from a seller anyway. I was disappointed to receive a delivery date quote for a month later, but they actually got it here faster. I wish they'd been a bit more on the ball about that, as I was buying it for a gift and bought something else for the person instead because of the misquote.

The disc was in perfect condition, and the music of Clannad can't be beat. I recommend this album to anyone who likes Enya or other celtic music.

I already had this album on cassette, but wanted it on CD so that I could rip certain tracks to my computer and play along with tracks from Clannad's "Fuaim" album and other music by Enya and those she collaborated with early in her career. Some internet sources claim that the ONE track featuring Enya on this album is "Gathering Mushrooms"; perhaps she is featured on this track, but certainly not lead vocals, which are by her older sister Maire (Moya). However, you can clearly hear Enya doing lead vocals on "La Coimhthioch fan dTuath (A Strange Day in the Countryside)" toward the end of the song.