Macalla

Clannad

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Original Release Date: 1985
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B000002WBT
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #199,955 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording

Macalla is hands down one of the strongest albums of Irish family band Clannad. Mournful, delicate, and deliciously down tempo, Macalla bridges the early traditional folk of the band with their later pop leanings, twining largely acoustic accompaniment with lead vocalist Maire Brennan's reflectively pliant pinings. Where early work was all sung in Irish, here all but two tunes are sung in English, effectively blending rooted Celtic musicianship with a more mainstream sound, helped along in no small part by a guest spot from U2's Bono on the evocative pop ballad, "In a Lifetime." Though early era fans may be put off with protestations of sellout, Macalla, next to Anam, is likely the record most appealing to fans on either end of the Clannad spectrum. --Paige La Grone

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Clannad between folk and pop...still works VERY well, July 22, 1998

By	George Washington III "Voice Actor" (Charlotte, NC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This was the first Clannad album I ever heard, and I was caught by the very spare, almost bleak backing. Caieslan Oir remains one of my favorite pieces by them, now 10 years later. Without a doubt, it was a superior effort to the followup Sirius. I would also point listeners to the track "Almost Seems Too Late to Turn" as one of the best here. All in all, this album seems to give glimpses of the Irish land, and some of the fun as well ("Journey's End"). Still from time to time makes it into the CD player...

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No attempts at "pop" in this one, just classic Clannad, September 22, 1999

By A Customer

i've been listening to Clannad for over a decade and have purchased every one of their albums to date. i'd have to say that Macalla is my favorite. over the years i've seen the group try out many formats from pop to folk festival and this one epitomizes their best unique sound: "beautifully haunting" would describe most of the melodies on this collection-- the harmonies are tight and the lyrics are moving. there's nothing "dated" about the musical styles expressed on this collection, and the engineering done on it was superb. if you're a Clannad fan, this one's a must.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My introduction to this group., April 7, 2002

By	JOHN CHANT (Canvey Island, Essex, England) - See all my reviews

I had heard of Clannad but was not aware of the quality of the work the group produces. This was the first of their CDs I bought and I have been a firm fan ever since. For the most part Maire Brennan dominates the voices when she is taking part. I enjoy her tones and so now buy her solo efforts as well.
This is the Clannad disc I play the most frequenly. The songs, those sung in Irish particularly, have the sometimes ethereal quality I associate with the group.