LORE

The ratings (and the initial review) claim Lore to be a weaker Clannad album than the preceding one, Banba (1993), but I disagree. These two albums sound pretty much the same in their cleanly produced combination of English-language pop and Irish world music sung in Gaelic, and Banba had a hit in 'I Will Find You (Theme from "The Last of the Mohicans")', but in the end Lore has finer highlight moments for me.

The opening track 'Croí Cróga' has a bit mysterious atmosphere. Máire Brennan's harp is almost buried under the low- note choirs. Because of the dominance of the chorus, 'Seanchas' is among my least faves here, although the arrangement is sophisticated in a Peter Gabriel-like way, except for the unnecessary sax of Mel Collins. 'A Bridge (That Carries Us Over)' is a beautiful serene song, a perfect platform for Máire's ethereal lead vocals and the breathy vocal harmonies.

'From Your Heart' is a slow and sensitively calm song, sung half in Gaelic, half in English. Perhaps it's slightly overproduced with a rhythm-centred ENIGMA flavour. The lively and folky 'Alasdair MacColla' resembles the early days of Clannad. 'Broken Pieces' is a fresh-sounding, melodic song, among the nicest ones on the album. I agree with the previous reviewer that 'Tráthnóna Beag Aréir' is unnecessarily extended in length, as pretty as it is.

I'm fairly fond of 'Trail of Tears', even though it has became clear by now that the album offers mostly more of the same in its soft, nocturnal calmness, and this feeling is further underlined by the following slow track in Gaelic. But then comes my personal highlight, 'Farewell Love'. The melodies are emotionally deep and the harp brings lovely brightness to the sound. This is among my favourite Clannad songs ever. The album closes with the serene instrumental 'Fonn Mhárta'.

My copy had a bonus disc compiling six tracks of Clannad's commercially strongest output, e.g. 'Theme from Harry's Game' and 'In a Lifetime', and 'Something to Believe In' which I like very much. I'm rating Lore 3½ stars but I guess it's more logical to round it down since it's mostly just offering more of the same and perhaps lacks some spark as a whole.