Clannad Macalla

Celebrating the 40th anniversary of Clannad's 1985 album, Macalla (meaning "Echo" in Irish) and newly remastered by Phil Kinrade at Air Studios.

 This ninth studio album became their first international success and marked a significant point in the band's career, showcasing a blend of their traditional Irish folk roots with a more mainstream, pop-influenced sound.

Building on the momentum from previous successes like "Theme from Harry's Game" (1982), which gained international attention and was even used by U2 as concert outro music, and their award-winning soundtrack for the TV series "Robin of Sherwood" (released as the album Legend in 1984), Clannad was poised for a breakthrough in markets like America. Macalla achieved this, largely thanks to the iconic duet "In a Lifetime" featuring U2's Bono. Bono, already an admirer of Clannad, collaborated with lead singer Moya Brennan on this evocative track, which became a significant hit. The collaboration came about through mutual admiration and their shared Irish heritage.

"In a Lifetime" was a chart success, reaching No. 5 in Ireland and No. 20 in the UK. The album Macalla itself also performed well, charting in the UK and other territories. For instance, it reached number 29 in New Zealand. While some long-time fans of their purely traditional folk sound may have found the album's more pop and electronic-influenced production a departure, Macalla is widely considered one of Clannad's strongest and most pivotal albums. It successfully bridged their folk origins with a more contemporary, atmospheric, and new-age influenced sound, appealing to a broader international audience. The album features songs in both English and Irish, including "Caisleán Óir" and "Buachaill Ón Éirne" sung in their native Gaelic.