MACALLA

Macalla may be considered their 'anti-folk' album. Almost every track is in conflict with the concept of 'classic' Clannad. Only two tracks sung in Gaelic (Caislean Oir and Buachaill On Eirne). Only one traditional song (Buachaill On Eirne), all the rest was written by the band members, mostly Pol and Ciaran. And the overall sound is... ambient? New age? Dream pop? Every definition seems to be more or less related, and all are good for nothing. It's the specific, distinctive, diagnostic sound of 1980s Clannad, that's the only possible definition. And this sound is unique, even when the music tends to something poppy. Macalla is an album of amazing integrity and expressiveness, all the tracks demonstrate the artists' blameless taste. Highlights are Caislean Oir, The Wild Cry, In A Lifetime, Almost Seems (Too Late To Turn), Buachaill On Eirne... well, too much highlights for a 10-track album, time is right to brake. But isn't it a circumstantial evidence that Macalla is a masterpiece?