Crann Ull

Great early Clannad album

With a playing time of 32 minutes and being the quitest of any Clannad album, it is easy to overlook Crann Ull, their fourth studio album. Which would be a shame, as this is truly refined and beautiful music with an intimate, almost magic atmosphere all of its own. There is a new emotional depth to Maire's voice, and brother Ciaran's acoustic bass sings of long, warm summer evenings in the countryside... With its subtle introduction of electric keyboards, Crann Ull marked the first step in a direction that would soon define a whole new Clannad sound.

my Clannad collection is now complete

Arrived in good condition. Compares well with their later, more-complex work.

brilliant

Oka

The later Clannad albums, notably Banba, are very "Enya" - much synthesizer and ghostly-sounding female vocals. This album is so old I bought it on tape, and is more folksy, acoustic and even cheeky than any Clannad song that's hit the charts. (There's a similar album, the name of which eludes me, where one of the boys sings a kind of Irish rock'n'roll song. Unthinkable!)

Not to be confused with their later synth driven stadium “chill folk” this is pure, beautiful,organic folk and could sit comfortably next to your Forest and Nic Jones CDs... lovely...