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.

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?

This album takes you into the tradition of Ireland: with the Gaelic pieces, sung so beautifully by Maire; with the mysterious Newgrange; with the Fairy Queen. Then there are the more pop-ish songs like Passing Time and I See Red which are just fun.

When Clannad's music is playing I feel like the sounds surround me, calming and happy.

Enjoy the weaving of Irish folk with a New Age feel and the mystery of the Magical Ring.

While I must say this CD is wonderful it still doesn't compare to Trance music. Chicane's remix of "Harry's Game" has become a classic trance song. It's not just a great song to dance to, but it's also, like any regular Clannad song, a great sond to listen to on its own. I recommend it to anyone who likes to listen to Clannad or Irish, Celtic or New Age music. Just search for Chicane or Best Trance Anthems Ever and give it a try.