Macalla

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  • Artist: Clannad
  • Rating: StarStarStarStarHalf Star
  • Release Date: 1985
  • Total Time: 37:11
  • Genre: World

Review

1985's Macalla is one of Clannad's strongest albums. The songs are mainly mid-tempo or slower, and combine the poignant beauty of Irish balladry with the immediacy of a rock band line-up. Traditional Irish instruments come and go, along with touches of sax and on "In a Lifetime," soulful guest vocals by fellow Irishman Bono, of U2. Macalla is a well-rounded album of melodic folk pop, infused with that beautiful warm sadness that seems to pervade Irish music and culture. ~ Backroads Music/Heartbeats, Rovi

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Macalla

Macalla was Clannad's first internationally successful album.
Studio album by Clannad
Released 1985
Recorded Power Play Studio, Zurich, Switzerland, Ridge Farm Studio, Surrey, England and Windmill Lane Studios, Dublin, Ireland
Genre Folk
Length 37:11
Label RCA
Producer Steve Nye
Clannad chronology
Legend
(1984)
Macalla
(1985)
Sirius
(1987)
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic 4.5/5 stars[1]

Macalla is a 1985 musical album by Irish folk group Clannad. It is their ninth album and became prominent with a collaboration between Clannad's singer Moya Brennan and U2 vocalist Bono on the enchanting duet In a Lifetime. Furthermore, it featured some internationally renowned artists such as art rock saxophone player Mel Collins, an ex-King Crimson member and famous for his solo on The Rolling Stones' "Miss You", and Anton Corbijn's photography.

The album's title is Irish for "echo". Two of its songs are sung entirely in Irish: "Caisleán Óir", which translates as "golden castle", and "Buachaill Ón Éirne", which means "boy from the Erne".

Contents

Track listing

  1. "Caisleán Óir" (Ciarán Brennan, Máire Brennan) – 2:06
  2. "The Wild Cry" (Pól Brennan) – 4:41
  3. "Closer to Your Heart" (C. Brennan) – 3:29
  4. "In a Lifetime" (a duet with Bono) (C. Brennan, P. Brennan) – 3:08
  5. "Almost Seems (Too Late to Turn)" (P. Brennan) – 4:51
  6. "Indoor" (P. Brennan) – 3:53
  7. "Buachaill Ón Éirne" (Traditional) – 3:08
  8. "Blackstairs" (P. Brennan) – 4:15
  9. "Journey's End" (Noel Duggan, Pádraig Duggan) – 2:42
  10. "Northern Skyline" (C. Brennan, P. Brennan) – 4:58

Charts

Chart (1986) Peak
position
U.S Billboard Billboard 200 131
UK Albums Chart 33

Singles

  1. "In a Lifetime"
  2. "Closer to Your Heart"
  3. "Almost Seems (Too Late to Turn)"

Personnel

Band

Additional Musicians

  • Bono – vocals
  • Mel Collins – saxophone
  • Danny Cummings – percussion
  • James Delaney – keyboards, synthesizer
  • Anto Drennan – guitar, electric guitar
  • Paul Moran – drums
  • Steve Nye – keyboards

Production

  • Steve Nye – producer
  • Louis Austin – engineer
  • Justin Birt – assistant engineer
  • Ron Kurz – engineer
  • Martin Pearson – assistant engineer
  • Kevin Maloney – engineer
  • John Grimes – assistant engineer
  • Kevin Metcalfe – mastering
  • Anton Corbjin – photography
  • Jill Furmanovsky – photography

Additional information

  • Engineered by Martin Pearson and Ron Kurz (Power Play Studio)
  • Engineered by Louis Austin (Ridge Farm Studio), Assistant engineer - Justin Birt
  • Engineered by Kevin Maloney (Mindmill Lane Studio), Assistant engineer - John Grimes
  • Mixed at Windmill Lane Studio
  • Mastered at Townhouse Studios by Kevin Metcalfe
  • Sleeve direction by Mainartery
  • Photography - Jill Furmanovsky
  • Clannad photography by Anton Corbijn

References

External links


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Copyrights:

Mentioned in

Macalla (1985 Album by Clannad)
The Best of Clannad: In a Lifetime (2004 Album by Clannad)
Almost Seems (Too Late to Turn)