The Celtic Circle 3

Artist: Celtic Circle (Various)
Type: Album
Release date: 2004
Run time: 134:36
My Rating: 9

Disc 1 (66:42)

1. Sarah McLachlan, Fallen (3:49)
2. The Corrs, Somebody For Someone (4:02)
3. Clannad, Caislaen Õir (2:08)
4. Rory Gallagher with Bert Jansch, She Moved Through the Fair/Ann Cran Ull (2:21)
5. Dave Bainbridge, Until the Tide Turns (4:30) Featuring Joanne Hogg
6. Fiona Joyce, Lifting the Veil (4:13)
7. Brian Kennedy, Carrick Fergus (5:00)
8. James Galway & Phil Coulter, Cailín na Gruaige Baine (4:52)
9. Waterson:Carthy, Midnight on the Water (7:04)
10. Runrig, Abhainn An T-Sluaigh (The Crowded River) (5:00)
11. Altan, Island Girl (4:08)
12. Dick Gaughan, Erin Go Bragh (4:30)
13. The Bothy Band, The Maids of Mitchelstown (3:23)
14. Karen Matheson, One More Chance (3:42)
15. Angus Lyon, 10,000 Miles (4:40)
16. Capercaillie, Coisich a Ruin (3:13)

Disc 2 (67:54)

1. Sinéad O'Connor, Three Babies (4:46)
2. Eva Cassidy, Songbird (3:43)
3. Ryan & Rachel O'Donnell, Martha's Harbour (3:40)
4. Eden's Bridge, Amazing Grace (1:52)
5. Máire Brennan, Against the Wind (5:29)
6. Fairground Attraction, Ay Fond Kiss (3:20)
7. Loreena McKennitt, Bonny Portmore (4:22)
8. Skilda, Airfailarin (4:31)
9. Corún, Glendalough (4:40)
10. The Hudson Swan Band, O'er the Ocean (2:48)
11. Davy Spillane, Port Na bPúcaí (3:45)
12. Runrig, An Ubhal As Airde (The Highest Apple) (3:46)
13. The Campbells, Rhana Laddie (4:27)
14. Canterach, McPhee's Reel (Medley) (5:25)
15. Iona, Divine Presence (5:28)
16. Fiona Kennedy, Riverdance (5:46)

Comments

CD1: And straight into tracks by series-favourites Sarah McLachlan, the Corrs and Clannad. Until the Tide Turns is quite groovy, and Brian Kennedy's rendition of the traditional song Carrick Fergus is very soulfully sung. Meet Runrig. Runrig are cool and very Celtic, so I'm surprised they haven't appeared in this series before, but here they are with two very good tracks. I can't decide if I like the traditional sounding tracks (Midnight on the Water, Erin go Bragh) or the more new-age/ambient tracks like Runrig's offerings. Disc 1 is rounded off by the very pop-sounding 10,000 Miles and a synthy track from Capercaillie, another series favourite.

CD2: Coincidentally both Three Babies and Runrig's An Ubhal As Airde are on World Moods, an unrelated release. The start of disc 2 is pretty cruisy up to about track 8 (barring Maire Brennan's track). Eden's Bridge's version of Amazing Grace is an interesting Celtic take on a classic American song. Against the Wind is typically brilliant work from stalwart Maire Brennan. O'er the Ocean is fairly neat. Iona's Divine Presence sounds much like their track from the previous album... We end with an orchestralish version of Riverdance.

Like the rest of this series, a high-quality, well-chosen set of Celtic music.