Similar Albums:
- Artist:
Various Artists - Release Date: October 12, 2004
- Type: Collection (various artists), Compilation (best of)
- Genre: World
Review
Fans of modern Celtic music will rejoice in the presence of The Celtic Circle, Vol. 2 -- it truly is a great compilation, recycling fine material from principals of Irish folk music like Phil Coulter, Clannad, Máire Brennan, and (surfacing alone and in collaborative mode) the Chieftains. The 30-song, two-disc set launches with "The Foggy Dew," a haunting ode to freedom beautifully sung by Sinéad O'Connor and augmented by the dramatic musical effect of the aforementioned Chieftains. Clannad generously include keepers like the soothing "Almost Seems (Too Late to Turn)," "Newgrange," and "Caislean Oír," but the finest song here arguably belongs to Susan McKeown and Natalie Merchant, who join forces for the uplifting, cascading "River." Coulter's gorgeously orchestrated "Tranquility" and the expressive, charismatic "Ay Fond Kiss," a track from Fairground Attraction that dates to 1990, are high points of the second disc. Of course, "Mo Ghile Mear," the closing number, which pairs the omnipresent Chieftains with Sting, is a fine way to round out a collection with enormous value. ~ John D. Luerssen, All Music GuideTracks
CD 1
| Track Title | Composers | Performers | Time |
| The Foggy Dew | Traditional | Sinéad O'Connor, The Chieftains | (5:20) |
| Almost Seems (Too Late to Turn) | Clannad | (4:46) | |
| River (Lyrics) | Susan McKeown | Natalie Merchant, Susan McKeown | (3:45) |
| Carrick Fergus | Traditional | Brian Kennedy | (5:00) |
| Love Theme from Barry Lyndon | Paddy Moloney | The Chieftains | (3:31) |
| Uná Bhán | William Coulter, |
(4:28) | |
| An Fharraige | Máire Brennan | (5:07) | |
| Cailín Na Gruaige Baine | Traditional | James Galway, Phil Coulter | (4:51) |
| A Place Among the Stones | Máire Brennan, Davy Spillane | Davy Spillane | (7:00) |
| O'Farrell's Welcome to Limerick | Traditional | Paul Winter | (4:35) |
| Newgrange (Lyrics) | Clannad | (4:06) | |
| She Moved Thro' the Fair/Ann Cran Ull | Traditional | Rory Gallagher, Bert Jansch | (2:20) |
| Behind Walls of Stone | David Arkenstone | David Arkenstone | (5:20) |
| Erin Grá Ma Chrói (Ireland of My Heart) | Traditional | Cherish the Ladies | (5:17) |
| Now We Are Free [From Gladiator] | Lisa Gerrard, Klaus Badelt, Hans Zimmer | (4:19) |
CD 2
| Track Title | Composers | Performers | Time |
| Tranquility | Phil Coulter | Phil Coulter | (3:59) |
| Drawn to the Rhythm (Lyrics) | Sarah McLachlan | Sarah McLachlan | (4:10) |
| In London So Fair | Traditional | Susan McKeown | (5:15) |
| The Time Has Come | Christy Moore, Dónal Lunny | Christy Moore | (3:20) |
| Evenstar [From the Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers] | Howard Shore | (3:13) | |
| Rosemary Faire (Song of Lughnasadh) | Traditional | Áine Minogue | (3:42) |
| Ay Fond Kiss | Fairground Attraction | (3:19) | |
| Against the Wind | Máire Brennan | (5:29) | |
| Pilgrim's Way | Phil Coulter | Phil Coulter | (4:57) |
| My Heart Will Go On [From Titanic] | Will Jennings, James Horner | (5:07) | |
| Way of the Warrior | (3:57) | ||
| Fields of Gold | Sting | Lisa Lynne | (4:36) |
| Sauvie Island | Johnny Cunningham, |
Nightnoise | (4:28) |
| Caislean Oír | Clannad | (2:09) | |
| Mo Ghile Mear (Our Hero) | Traditional | Sting, The Chieftains | (3:20) |
