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Clannad Greatest Hits



It's amazing that in current times Enya is more famous than Clannad, when in the beginning Enya was simply a member of the Clannad family. It goes to show the power of the Lord of the Ring movie series, with Enya providing elven music to the soundtrack. Clannad, and its celtic roots, is where this all began.

Enya fans might find the Clannad Greatest Hits a little too traditional, not New Agey enough. Ironically, traditional Celtic music fans might complain that there is too little Gaelic singing here, too much done in English! It goes to show the range of interest there is even in the "celtic New Age" corner of the world. For me, Clannad is just about perfect. It fits the merging of the traditional Celtic themes with the gentle soothing tones of drifting calm.

Harry's Game is the perfect place to start. This was the theme for a famous show about IRA issues. The song is short but haunting. The same is true for two other TV themes, both done for the Robin Hood BBC TV show. I loved this pagan Robin series, and have it on DVD. Robin and Lady Marian both evoke the love these two had for each other and their roots in their native traditions.

Some songs are instrumental pieces, others involve voices, but all draw you into a lilting, almost ethereal world of Celtic beauty. These aren't fast fiddle pieces that make you whirl. They are intricately crafted, delicate whispers that make you think of foggy evenings, of the drifting intertwining of the world of humans and faeries. There is longing and love, the comfort of a warm home, the security of a loyal partner.

It's always hard to choose a "best" album for any band. There are many other Clannad songs I adore that aren't in this set. Still, this is a great introduction to the band. If you don't have any Clannad CDs yet, this is a fine place to start. Learn what they're all about, and then begin expanding your horizons to other CDs. You won't be disappointed!

Highly recommended.

Clannad Greatest Hits CD from Amazon.com

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