The album MAGICAL RING by Clannad is essential for anyone curious about Irish/Celtic music. It is the first Celtic CD I have purchased (though I also own Clannad's "Pastpresent" compilation, which is more pop than Celtic). Magical Ring captures Clannad at a high point in their career, when they still had a semi-traditional folk sound, but were adding just enough modern touches to their music to give it an edge. Thus, they are able to maintain their integrity while still making their music accessible to a wider audience. A good example is the track "Passing Time", which has a very Irish-sounding melody added to a modern pop hook, with synthesizers unobtrusively added to the mix. On a few songs, Clannad serves up traditional Irish folk without any pop touches at all, as on the song "Coinleach Glas An Fhomhair", which is sung in Gaelic. No matter what language they use, Clannad's music is filled with haunting melodies and rich vocal harmonies, which give the album a mystical atmosphere. It is easy to get swept up in the mood of music, and when the CD ends, I usually end up pressing the repeat button and taking the journey all over again. This masterpiece album is a great introduction to Irish music, and captures Clannad at their most focused and creative! I will definitely be buying more from this genre-bending, barrier-breaking band.

The first time I listened to this disc I was amazed at how quickly it had passed... I thought I had just lost track of the time being immersed in the music... but alas at a shade over 1/2 hour this disc goes fast... oh well, that's what shuffle and repeat settings are for! I've litterally left this disc in shuffle-repeat for an entire work day and was still typing to the music at the end of the day.

While I don't listen to this album as much as say "Macalla", this is still one of my favorite Clannad albums. Here they (mostly) successfully transitioned from being a traditional Irish folk act to carving their own unique niche in the musical landscape -- undoubtably the founders of the whole "new age" music genre.

In particular, there are some very interesting tracks that really stick with you -- "NewGrange" is one of those songs that send shivers down your spine. The often-heard "Theme from Harry's Game" is simply beautiful. No other word describes it. There's a reason it's been used so often in commercials and movie soundtracks.

After a handful of great folk-albums, it is time for Clannad to achieve the worldwide popularity with Theme from Harry's Game. The bearer of this ambiental hit is a beautiful, haunting mystical album, still under strong influence of pure folk, but undergoing the newcoming pop and new age sounds. The pop part is still very subtle here, very dear to everyone and it would have been great if it have stayed so. But who would think of future with Magical Ring in the CD player? Who would even think of past?

In a career spanning over thirty years Clannad has risen from a family trio performing in their Fathers' bar in Gweedore parish, Donegal to a group of five (with the addition of two uncles) who have consistently impressed an evergrowing worldwide fanbase. Who would have ever thought a little Irish folk group singing primarily in Gaelic would achieve such notoriety and fame. If the truth be told, they've probably saved their native language from extinction.

Of all their albums/CD's, there are quite a few, 'Magical Ring' was the first Clannad album I ever bought and to this day remains my undisputed favorite. It's absolutely magical, the perfect blending of voices and music, it captures the very heart and soul of Ireland and the mythical landscape it's famous for. From track 1 - Theme from Harry's Game - to the sweet melancholy of track 5 - Coinleach Glas an Fhomhair - and track 9 - The Fairy Queen, you'll feel something stir inside of you that no other music has ever touched before.

Simply the most haunting, harmonious sound you'll ever hear.