Clannad - Dulaman (1976) FLAC

Dulaman was the third studio album from Clannad, circa 1976. As with much of their early material, a first airing might convince listeners that they are in the presence of a fairly traditional and pleasant if somewhat unadventurous Irish band. This is a complete delusion. From day one Clannad were much more than this. The jazz and world influences, the use of harp and flute in lieu of the more standard fiddle and accordion, the unique vocal stylings, and the sense of magic and mystery have affected all of Clannad\'s work to varying degrees, and in these early years took them and their fans where even the modern Celtic bands fear to tread. Maire\'s vocals had matured considerably by this time as had the accompaniment of her kith and kin. The interpretations are liberal and yet respectful, especially on the stunning title track, the musically cheery but lyrically macabre \"Two Sisters\", the classic \"Siul a Run\", the dissonant \"Mo Mhaire\", and the gorgeous instrumentals \"Cumha Eoghain Rua Ui Neill\" and \"Cucanandy/The Jug of Brown Ale\", the latter suite being one of the most spiritually uplifting epilogues imaginable. The production is superb and the acoustic instruments blend into the channels in a gratifying way. Before Clannad were complex, before they influenced Enya and she in turn influenced them, they were deceptively simple, understated, and rock solid, as demonstrated by this timeless work.