Clannad celebrate 20 years
Banba
Clannad
BMG
Reviewed by Ian Jamieson
This year marks the 20th anniversary for the Irish band Clannad. To mark the occasion, BMG have released their sixteenth album, Banba.
The eleven tracks are equal to the unique quality Clannad have developed over the past two decades. Ably produced by member Ciaran Brennan, who also wrote the music, the refreshing fusion of pop and traditional Irish musical idioms remains at the heart of Banba.
This ability to transpose Celtic traditions in a popular framework is one of the chief hallmarks of Clannad. Vocalist Maire Brennan explained recently: "There's a feeling in all our music, an ambience, that stems directly from where we were brought up.
"When people ask me to define the Clannad sound, I always say that if they were to visit Donegal they wouldn't need to ask".
The distinctive roots of Clannad stem from their home in County Donegal. The groundwork was laid years ago as they collected ballads from the area. Clannad's musical talent reflects these roots as well as hinting at earlier Celtic musical idioms.
Central to this style is the use of Gaelic in many songs. The lyrical qualities of the Irish language, its metre and poetic expression, find their reflection in Clannad's work.
Another reason for Clannad's enduring popularity is the distinctive harmonies and vocal qualities of the Brennans. Maire's voice has the same quality as Sinead O'Connor, family member Enya, and the more folk oriented Mary Black or Rita Connelly. It haunts the soul.
Banba has a number of memorable tracks. Two Gaelic numbers, "Na Laetha Bhi" ("The Bygone Days") and "Banba Oir" (a journey through a tunnel from the mythological era to the Celtic age) are stunning in their presentation of harmony and lyrical quality. "I Will Find You", the theme to film The Last Mohican, and the final track "A Gentle Place" have similar ethereal qualities.
The Irish have produced many great musicians over the past thirty years covering many styles and genre. Clannad continue to make their unique mark on Irish and popular music as they enter their third decade.