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Clannads music has its roots in the traditional sound of Irish folk, but even from the early days of the band there was obviously more going on in their music that met the eye. After over a decade of touring and releasing beautiful but only moderatly successful album, the mid eighties saw Clannad take wing and soar into a different league. Ironically it was their work on soundtracks that really got them noticed, first the Theme from Harrys Game and then 1984s Legend the sound track to the Robin of Sherwood TV series. After this they were in a different league and maybe that explains some of the reasons behind the change of direction that resulted in their biggest and most successful album to date, Macalla.

Macalla provoked a divided response amongst Clannad fans, the traditional element saw it as being a sell out as it had a contemporary and dare I say mainstream element to many of the songs. Others welcomed the more into more commercial areas. Whatever your thoughts on the direction of the music, Macalla contains a collection of haunting yet at the same time accessible songs, and Im sure many new fans were won over by this move into more chart friendly territory.

The album opens with Caislean Oir, a mainly vocal piece sung in gaelic. This is not as of putting as it sounds as the voices become the music itself and the words almost become irrelavant, its the sounds that hold your attention, in the same way that bands such as Runrig often sing in a language that not many understand today. A harp drifts around in the back ground and the song finally merges with the next track. The Wild Cry. More contemporary in its use of instrumentation but still with that haunting feel but given a sultry overtone with the use of saxaphone and Maire Ni Bhraonains angelic tones.

Closer to Your Heart is by far the furthest push into mainstream territory on the album, but is still a fantastic song none the less. Unusually guitar based but still with the rich vocal sounds that the band are reknowned for this song bridges the gap between the traditional sound of the Clannad music machine and the newr modern direction and the sees them playing on their new found prominance. In A Life time was also a single from the album, but in a style more asociated with the band. Heavy on the vocals, U2`s Bono providing half of the lead alongside Maire, but with some lovely picked guitar and harp sounds and and oboe winding its way through the gaps.

Almost Seems and Indoor continue in the pop/folk cross

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