C lannad, the Irish family group responsible for such timeless music as Theme From Harry’s Game, In A Lifetime and I Will Find You, recently celebrated their 40th anniversary. Their music mixes the traditional and the modern, past and future, with stunningly beautiful results. With their haunting songs, mesmerizing vocals and captivating sound the group has sold over fifteen million records worldwide. The album brings the family band, siblings Moya, Ciarán and Pól Brennan and their twin uncles Noel and Padraig Duggan, back together on record as the full original line–up for the first time since the 1989 album Past Present. Following Pól’s departure after that album, the band continued to release four highly successful albums the last being the Grammy–winning album Landmarks in 1998. Nádúr (pronounced: Ned-dur), the Gaelic word for Nature is a fitting title. I talked to Moya, Pól and Ciaran, about their new album. So how did they come up with the titles? Pól tells me “I came up with the name....I liked it instantly ....it’s got a great ring to it and the meaning is simple and evocative”. Ciaran adds “We were on the tour bus talking about natural music and people. I said to Pól Nádúr would be a good album title and we all agreed!” Nádúr is a full album, with 13 new tracks; which include Vellum with its multi–voiced harmonies and Latin chorus. It is an effective scene setter followed by Rhapsody na gCrann which blows into folk rock territory from the Maccalla period, while the emotive Transatlantic (co–written with Colum McCann) is a sterling vocal from Moya Brennan. Turas Dhómhsa chon na Galldachd, recalls the Scots Gallic work song tradition with its shared accapella vocals and jagged dance rhythms recalling Mo Horo Gheallagh. The soft rockist balladry of Brave Enough (with guest Duke Special) with its brooding coda contrasts well with the relaxed folk–bluesy Americana of The Fishing Blues. Lámh ar Lámh recalls the pastoral nature of airs like Lady Marion from Legend which was written as the soundtrack for Robin of Sherwood.Tobar an tSaoil is strident and up tempo recalling Capercaillie’s Rath Na Mona and A Quiet Town evokes strains of Passing Time from Magical Ring – the melodic lilt of Setanta, and the traditional Cití na gCumann rounds, things off. The latter song is a local ballad from Gweedore the treatment of which recalls An Mhaidin Mheara from their debut album and Neansai Mhile Ghra from Clannad in Concert. It provides a fitting end to an album which encompasses Clannad past present and augurs well for the future. So, it looks like another classic from the Clan from Gweedore, but why did they keep us waiting so long? How long did it take to create and record? Ciaran tells me it involved “About a year and a half on and off. Once we had that completed the album was recorded in 7 weeks” Pól adds “It has been written over a year and a half and was recorded in about 2 months.” Moya tells me about the process, “We’d been writing for the last couple of years but it was only once we got in and started recording properly that those ideas began to form fully. The actual recording process was quite fast by our standards.” It sounds like a very organic sounding album (very few effects/ big backings/arrangements etc) was that deliberate? “Myself and Pól produced it, so that's the way it evolved.” Says Ciaran and Pól explains that “We wanted to feel like it was played with an emphasis on the instruments. The idea was to make an album that sounded like Fuaim, Magical Ring and Macalla ....and that is what we set out to do.” The result is a Clannad album to sit comfortably with their back catalogue, and it is one of their best and most completely rounded works. It’s a very organic sounding record – the lush harmonies, harp, flute, double bass and acoustic guitar so prevalent on the early Clannad albums return centre–stage. The guest slots are kept to Duke Special and the overall sound is of Clannad re–establishing itself creatively and artistically. In 2011, Clannad were invited to perform a series of concerts at Dublin’s Christ Church Cathedral.With the intimate and historic nature of these shows, Pól was invited along to be part of the event.The concerts were a huge success and they were filmed and recorded for a DVD and CD which were released following airings on PBS in America. This event provided the catalyst for the five of them to start seriously considering a new album but before going into the recording studio they decided to embark on an extensive tour across North America and Europe ending in a triumphant UK tour in March of this year. This tour was the most extensive that Clannad had undertaken since the heady days of the late 70’s when they traversed the Autobahns of Europe and 80’s when the line–up exceeded 10 musicians and an armoury of effects to recreate their distinctive multi–layered sound on stage. This time together on the road helped shape the ideas they had for Nádúr. “The fact that we'd toured quite extensively in the months leading up to recording really had an effect on the album,” says Moya. “Playing live across various countries gave us a really good indication of not just what we wanted from a new album but also what the audience out there wanted to hear. We feel this album touches on every aspect of our forty year career. Every track is different yet every track is pure Clannad” Most acts celebrating their 40th anniversary would be in a reflective mood and the outcome would be retrospective. Clannad are ahead of the posse there, the Christ Church Cathedral CD/DVD carried a retrospective element. Now they are moving on with their new album Nádúr and are re–born and ready for action. Nostalgia is all very well but the Clann as Dobhair has a master plan to re–establish itself after its long hibernation. Nádúr is part of that plan, but the key is the return of Paul Brennan who adds a kinetic and creative energy that refuels the engines. Clannad is seriously back in action and Nádúr is as attractive, beguiling and accomplished a calling card they could wish for. The famous five has reconvened and all is right with the world again. Did everyone contribute material for the album? Ciaran says “Yes of course. ” And Pól comes in with “Yes, everyone has written a song on this album.” It seems it is always up to Moya to fill in the details and she expands by telling me “All five of us wrote material for the album sometimes individually and sometimes collectively. We even had tracks left over that didn’t fit on to the album but they may see the light of day in the future.” 16 CLANNAD CLANNAD’S Nádúr Clannad have released their long-awaited new studio album on the ARC Music Label. John O’ Regan reports.
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Clannad, the Irish family group responsible for such timelessmusic as Theme From Harry’s Game, In A Lifetime and IWill Find You, recently celebrated their 40th anniversary.
Their music mixes the traditional and the modern, past and future,with stunningly beautiful results. With their haunting songs, mesmerizingvocals and captivating sound the group has sold over fifteen millionrecords worldwide.The album brings the family band, siblings Moya, Ciarán and Pól
Brennan and their twin uncles Noel and Padraig Duggan, backtogether on record as the full original line–up for the first timesince the 1989 album Past Present. Following Pól’s departure afterthat album, the band continued to release four highly successfulalbums the last being the Grammy–winning album Landmarks in1998.Nádúr (pronounced: Ned-dur), the Gaelic word for Nature is a
fitting title. I talked to Moya, Pól and Ciaran, about their new album.So how did they come up with the titles? Pól tells me “I came up
with the name....I liked it instantly....it’s got a great ring to it andthe meaning is simple and evocative”. Ciaran adds “We were onthe tour bus talking about natural music and people. I said to PólNádúr would be a good album title and we all agreed!”
Nádúr is a full album, with 13 new tracks; which include Vellumwith its multi–voiced harmonies and Latin chorus. It is an effectivescene setter followed by Rhapsody na gCrann which blows intofolk rock territory from the Maccalla period, while the emotiveTransatlantic (co–written with Colum McCann) is a sterling vocalfrom Moya Brennan. Turas Dhómhsa chon na Galldachd, recallsthe Scots Gallic work song tradition with its shared accapella vocalsand jagged dance rhythms recalling Mo Horo Gheallagh.The softrockist balladry of Brave Enough (with guest Duke Special) withits brooding coda contrasts well with the relaxed folk–bluesyAmericana of The Fishing Blues. Lámh ar Lámh recalls the pastoralnature of airs like Lady Marion from Legend which was written asthe soundtrack for Robin of Sherwood.Tobar an tSaoil is stridentand up tempo recalling Capercaillie’s Rath Na Mona and A QuietTown evokes strains of Passing Time from Magical Ring – themelodic lilt of Setanta, and the traditional Cití na gCumann rounds,things off. The latter song is a local ballad from Gweedore thetreatment of which recalls An Mhaidin Mheara from their debutalbum and Neansai Mhile Ghra from Clannad in Concert. It providesa fitting end to an album which encompasses Clannad past presentand augurs well for the future.So, it looks like another classic from the Clan from Gweedore, but
why did they keep us waiting so long? How long did it take tocreate and record? Ciaran tells me it involved “About a year and a
half on and off. Once we had that completed the album wasrecorded in 7 weeks” Pól adds “It has been written over a year anda half and was recorded in about 2 months.” Moya tells me aboutthe process, “We’d been writing for the last couple of years but itwas only once we got in and started recording properly that thoseideas began to form fully. The actual recording process was quitefast by our standards.”It sounds like a very organic sounding album (very few effects/
big backings/arrangements etc) was that deliberate? “Myself andPól produced it, so that's the way it evolved.” Says Ciaran and Pólexplains that “We wanted to feel like it was played with an emphasison the instruments. The idea was to make an album that soundedlike Fuaim, Magical Ring and Macalla ....and that is what we setout to do.”
The result is a Clannad album to sit comfortably with their backcatalogue, and it is one of their best and most completely roundedworks. It’s a very organic sounding record – the lush harmonies,harp, flute, double bass and acoustic guitar so prevalent on theearly Clannad albums return centre–stage. The guest slots are keptto Duke Special and the overall sound is of Clannad re–establishingitself creatively and artistically.In 2011, Clannad were invited to perform a series of concerts at Dublin’s
Christ Church Cathedral.With the intimate and historic nature of theseshows, Pól was invited along to be part of the event.The concerts werea huge success and they were filmed and recorded for a DVD and CDwhich were released following airings on PBS in America.This event provided the catalyst for the five of them to start seriously
considering a new album but before going into the recording studiothey decided to embark on an extensive tour across North Americaand Europe ending in a triumphant UK tour in March of this year.This tour was the most extensive that Clannad had undertaken since theheady days of the late 70’s when they traversed the Autobahns of Europeand 80’s when the line–up exceeded 10 musicians and an armoury ofeffects to recreate their distinctive multi–layered sound on stage.This time together on the road helped shape the ideas they had
for Nádúr. “The fact that we'd toured quite extensively in themonths leading up to recording really had an effect on the album,”says Moya. “Playing live across various countries gave us a reallygood indication of not just what we wanted from a new album butalso what the audience out there wanted to hear. We feel this albumtouches on every aspect of our forty year career. Every track is differentyet every track is pure Clannad”Most acts celebrating their 40th anniversary would be in a reflective
mood and the outcome would be retrospective. Clannad are aheadof the posse there, the Christ Church Cathedral CD/DVD carried aretrospective element. Now they are moving on with their newalbum Nádúr and are re–born and ready for action. Nostalgia isall very well but the Clann as Dobhair has a master plan tore–establish itself after its long hibernation. Nádúr is part of thatplan, but the key is the return of Paul Brennan who adds akinetic and creative energy that refuels the engines. Clannad isseriously back in action and Nádúr is as attractive, beguiling andaccomplished a calling card they could wish for. The famous fivehas reconvened and all is right with the world again.Did everyone contribute material for the album? Ciaran says “Yes of
course.” And Pól comes in with “Yes, everyone has written a song onthis album.” It seems it is always up to Moya to fill in the detailsand she expands by telling me “All five of us wrote material forthe album sometimes individually and sometimes collectively.We even had tracks left over that didn’t fit on to the album butthey may see the light of day in the future.”
16 CLANNAD
CLANNAD’S NádúrClannad have released their long-awaited new studio album on the ARC Music Label.John O’ Regan reports.
Irish Music - October 23/08/2013 14:56 Page 16
I wondered how did Colum McCann come to be involved? Póltells me “Colum is a very good friend of Moya and I, both of ushaving worked with him in the past. Last November when wewere playing a concert in New York, the seed was grown when Columgave me a copy of TransAtlantic and we both spoke about the possibilityof writing together again, and it all came together perfectly!I ask did the reaction to the last tours – inspire you to want to get
the new album completed quickly? Ciaran tells me “Yes, when wewere signing past albums a lot of people were asking when is thenew one coming out. Hence the 18th album!” Pól says“Well it helped,being on tour always reminds you of having new material to play,so it made us concentrate and get it done...finally!”
Moya admits “We probably didn’t get the album completed asquickly as people would have liked! We had originally planned tohave the album done before we started touring last September butas the time approached we knew we were not quite ready to put itdown. Playing the amount of shows we have over the last few months
has definitely had a very positive effect on how the album turned out.”March 2014 will see Clannad touring the UK on a double bill with
Mary Black. This package tour will include solo sets and a joint sessionto close the night. It will be a 15 date tour across the UK. The newmusic has echoes of the past Clannad canon – the sweepingarrangements, acoustic flourishes, the harmonious wall of soundbut there is a new spark there and a cogent wish for maintainingcontemporary relevance.The new album is on a UK Label so I enquired how did the ARC
Music link come about? Moya says she was impressed by whatARC are doing and adds “We became aware of ARC originallywhen they had requested a song for a compilation they were releasing.We liked the fact that their focus was on World music and felt theyunderstood what we were about.They gave us the complete freedom
to make the album we wanted to make.” For Irish based fans thebig question is there any plans for Clannad to play live in Ireland moreoften? Pól says “We love playing in Ireland, we’ve just had a concertin Carrickfin in Donegal with Altan, Fidil and The Henry girls,which was great fun and very enjoyable, so much so, that weintend to do it annually!” Moya comes in with “We would love toplay here more. We’re looking at dates for next year and hope toplay a bit more around the entire country than we have in a while.”And after Ireland and the UK, will you be touring the albumworldwide? Pól says “Yes, we begin a world tour this Autumntaking in The US, Australia and New Zealand, Japan, China and themiddle east and then continue into 2014 in Europe and UK.”Moya tells me “We plan to visit as many places as we can over the
next twelve months. It can get a bit tough out there on the road attimes but we’ve never had an audience whose appreciation hasn’tmade it all worthwhile. And that is the nature of Clannad.
CLANNAD 17
“We love playing in Ireland,we’ve just had a concert in Carrickfin in Donegal with Altan, Fidil andThe Henry girls,which was great fun and very enjoyable,so much so, that we intend to do it annually!”
Irish Music - October 23/08/2013 14:57 Page 17
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