From Amazon.com
absolutely amazing
Album Rating: (5 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: I'm 17 year old guy who only came across the band Clannad by chance, and after buying this album I know i made the right choice. I've always been a fan of Irish Music, and this cross between traditional and modern is a remarkable combination. There are dueling guitar and flute riffs, soothing old Celtic melodic songs, and my favorite, a beatle-esque song, LIZA. This is truly a masterpiece, especially since it is only the band's first album
Thank the Dutch for this CD!
Album Rating: (5 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: This CD is a definate 'must have' for any Clannad fan. This first album was originally released on vinyl in 1973. Sometime after it's release, and before the CD era, the master tapes were either lost or destroyed. After Clannad gained worldwide recognition and popularity (around the time of "Harry's Game"), this record became a very scarce, and highly sought-after item. I searched for years before locating this record in Canada. Then several years ago, a small independent company in the Neatherlands got their hands on a pristine vinyl copy of this record, cleaned up the scratchy vinyl sound electonically, and printed a limited number of CD re-issues. The 13th track on this CD was a vinyl single release that was added to this CD as a bonus track, and did not appear on the original 1973 record. The sound quality of this CD is amazing considering that it was mastered from a record, rather than from master tapes. I'm grateful that someone put forth the time and effort to bring this album back into existence...not only because I consider it to be one of Clannad's best, but also because they reincarnated Clannad's very first album that most of us would never have had the chance to hear!
Best of Clannad
Album Rating: (5 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: Clannad's first album may be a bit scratchy. But this was recorded in 1973 or so, so of course equipment back then probably wasn't as good as todays. The songs are beautiful, Track 7 is haunting as it is about a man who leaves Ireland to the new land, and finds himself wanting to go back and the music in this track is beautiful, and the talent of all members is clearly audible. Maire's voice is just as beautiful in this album as is in the later albums. I strongly recommend this cd. This is one I always put in first to listen to.
A beautiful and interesting first album
Album Rating: (5 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: This album, originally released in 1973, was Clannad's first offering to the world. Already on this first album Clannad made its mark (at least in my opinion). As the band's name indicates, Clannad (which means family), was comprised of one sister, Maire her brothers Ciaran, Paul Brennan and their twin uncles Noel and Padraig Duggan (Paul would later leave the group to pursue a musical career of his own). Certainly an intensely Irish musical family and their joy in making music together is evident throughout.
This first album displays all of the strengths which characterize their work in general: - Maire's ethereal and hauntingly beautiful voice, perhaps Clannad's most powerful musical asset. The harmonious choruses of Maire and the men which pave the way for later songs like 'Theme from Harry's Game'. And she's in glorious voice here. - The wonderful and sparkling interplay between the various instruments. - Clannad's unique brand of interpreting traditional songs and pieces and creating their own distinctive sound. With the exception of 'Liza', 'An Phairc' and 'Morning Dew' all other songs and instrumental pieces are traditional. No lyrics or translations are included, there's only a short note by Colin Somerville. For more information I consulted a website dedicated to this group.
Personal favourites here were: the rousing 'Nil Se Ina La' or the song of the drinking nomad, the wistful 'Thios Chios Na Tradomh' about a seaside graveyard, the instrumental and sombre 'Brian Boru's March' which was written to commemorate the Battle of Clontarf (1014) in which the Irish succeeded in repelling the Vikings but lost Brian Boru, the lovely song about a mermaid and her mortal love 'An Mhaighdean Mara', Maire's beautiful and playful duet with one of her brothers (?) in 'The Pretty Maid', the rollicking instrumental 'Harvest Home' or Clannad's interpretation of 'Morning Dew' with truly beautiful vocal contributions by Maire.
If you are not familiar with Clannad, this first album is a wonderful introduction to their music. But for those who are already familiar with the group this is an indispensable item in your Clannad collection.
Clannad's Roots
Album Rating: (4 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: I have been a long time fan of Clannad, and I was excited by the re-release of their very first album. This album has 13 tracks and contains a plentiful selection of Traditional Irish songs.
By the sound quality of the album, you can tell they were in the infancy of their career.
At this point in their career, as the insert puts it "Clannad had scarcely scanned musical horizons beyond their home territory of Gweedore, Donegal, but hindsight hints at a group gently threatening to evolve into much more than lusty interpreters of traditional tunes."
I couldn't have said it better myself.
Clannad are excellent musicians and bring a lot of passion to songs that have been performed by many before them.
They have a haunting childlike presence. They are playful and treat these traditional songs as if they were angels.
Each song glows with a deep warmth.
If you ever wanted to visit Ireland but could never afford it. This album gives you the heart of Ireland in the purest and chronicled form.
There are many instrumentals on this album but this only serves to set up the exquiste vocals Maire Brennan lends to the remaining.
This CD is a must have for any serious fan of Clannad.
I give this album 4 stars out 5 only because the quality of transfer is sketchy. However, I am sure that by this date and time the master tapes are kind of worn in.
Purchases
1 Nil De Ina La
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