Very sad to read that Clannad’s Moya Brennan has left us at the age of 73.
They produced beautiful music over the years, and every one of their albums has some treasures on it.
As a child of the 80s, the sound of Moya and her comrades singing “Robin… the hooded man” will instantly take me back to happy Saturday afternoons watching TV.
I was only lucky enough to see them live once, but it was terrific. I recall them being spotlit on a darkened stage and singing the theme from Harry’s Game to a completely spellbound audience. It sent shivers down my spine.
What a voice she had – never overdone, never any unnecessary notes, and plenty of space for her bandmates to harmonise. They deserved to be much bigger than they were.
They did better songs, but here, in memory of a wonderful concert and a great singer, is Theme from Harry’s Game.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crm112y4jyzo
Sad news indeed. I was never a big fan of Clannad’s 80s and onwards music but they were a fine band, she and Enya had great voices, and their roots were firmly in traditional music of Donegal and Ireland, as in this performance in 1979. I have a recording of the song by Brennan on the excellent Common Ground album of ‘voices of ‘modern Irish music compiled and produced by Donal Lunny
That’s sad news and somewhat surprising – I didn’t realise she was 73 (I guess they have been going a lot longer than their commercial success period).
Can’t say I am a massive Clannad fan, but I absolutely adore the “Anam” album, especially this track “In Fortunes Hand”
Mel Collins!
Whenever I hear the name Mel Collins, I still automatically think of Marks Knopfler saying “Mel Collins on the saxophone” from Alchemy…..
That said, I’ve probably listened to him more in his King Crimson role.
“This is from the EP too, follow us lads, here we go…”
I saw them quite a few times in the 80s and 90s. Always had a soft spot for their ‘thing’, whatever it was. A sort of ethereal prog-folk-rock hybrid. I still rate the album Macalla (warning: features Bono).
Her second solo album from 1994 features The Blue Nile as her backing band. Here’s her take on Joni’s Big Yellow Taxi:
Caught them at Cropredy a few years ago – I think they were doing a farewell tour. Absolutely marvellous to hear their music drifting out across the field on a summer’s day.
Saw her at a charity gig in Vicar Street in Dublin a few years back. She and her young band came on after Elvis Costello put a dampener on things by only doing songs from his new album. Was quite emotional to hear her beautiful voice live and she saved the night!
This is a moody track with Bono.
Saw their final UK gig at The Royal Albert Hall, last year. Moyà’s kids were in the band and she was so happy. Sad news indeed.
I just listened to Harry’s Game for the first time since probably the 90s. My goodness, it slayed me. All the sadness I’ve felt in the last few years was able to find an expression. It’s so sad.
Geek mode: engineer Richard Dodd (later worked on Petty/Lynne projects, and many other interesting things) used the 10cc “I’m Not in Love” method of turning a tape machine into an instrument on the track. In fact he might have worked with “The 10s” (as nobody calls them) on that very track. I know he did stuff with associates of the band and their studio.