Review of Clannad : Macalla
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

Users's Reviews - Clannad : Only the Irish could do this
This is an album (CD) that suits the overused term "haunting" better than almost any other title I've ever heard. I say haunting because every single time I've heard Macalla over the last fourteen years it takes me back to one gray early morning with a lost love. Not many titles are able to faithfully hold a single memory or vision untouched by others for a lifetime. Even the more uplifting tunes on Macalla have, in context, an almost tragic ache that could only come from a truly Irish musical heritage.

It's impossible to describe a sound this rich and full yet bleak and sorrowful so I think you really have to hear this CD rather than take anyone's word for it.

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Wow, there must be more Clannad compilations than actual albums by now...

I was a big Clannad fan at the end of the 80's, and picked this up for old time's sake. I was already familiar with all the songs here, which I have on cassette.

It contains many of my favourites, but I have nevertheless a few gripes with this release. I feel that it gives a slightly skewed picture, being somewhat narrow in scope with regards to the selection of tracks. Only four albums are represented here, from Clannad's substantial discography, with the emphasis being upon two (which happen to be my personsal favourites), Magical Ring and Macalla. This is a 19-song compilation, but those two albums provide 13 of the songs, which seems a little over the top. Indeed, 60% of Magical Ring, and 70% of Macalla is to be found here, which must surely lessen the incentive in new fans to buy the actual albums, which would be a shame.

The compilers could at least have chosen a track or two from Fuaim, Atlantic Realm, and Anam, without straying far from the concept of showcasing this particular stage in Clannad's history. It would also give more of a notion of where they came from, and in which direction they headed after their decidedly dodgy album, Sirius.

I sometimes find it a better listening experience to re-programme the tracks in chronological order - it makes more sense that way. It seems silly to place Second Nature second, just because of it's name, and rather crude to follow the delicate beauty of Theme From Harry's Game, and The Fairy Queen, with the jolt into joviality that is Journey's End.

So, all in all, I would say that it isn't the best place to start, but of course the content is for the most part great stuff. There are superior Clannad compilations out there, certainly, and their classic albums, Magical Ring, and Macalla, shouldn't be missed.