Clannad
The Royal Philharmonic Hall,
Liverpool
Friday March 14th, 2008
It might be that the music delivered by Clannad will be viewed by many as to being something from the past; that they belong in the rhythmic eighties and ninety’s and that multi-layered harmonies, unusual instrumentations and ethereal lyrics should be consigned to the musical bin of history. After all, it’s 10 years since the band have been on the road and there must be a better reason than “musical differences” for that, such as a lack of demand for their material?
Utter Hogwash.
On this evidence Clannad are back and raring to go, with a two hour set that was both stirring and surprisingly soothing, with superb musicianship and vocals that quite simply filled the hall and the hearts of this sold out audience with equal grace and beauty and so proving beyond doubt that form is temporary and that class is permanent.
Supported beautifully by the two sisters that make up Saphira – who’s version of Queen’s Love Of My Life played a fitting homage to the original album version of what has become a real crowd pleaser of a ballad – the 10 members of Clannad took to the stage and immediately allayed all fears that their multi-edged record production could never be transferred to the live event experience, with magisterial elegance and style.
Of the performance itself, the playing of The Robin Of Sherwood anthems in full, Two Sisters and, of course, The Theme From Harry’s Game stood out, but the fabulous harmonies and big band arrangements will all live long in the memory and brought the crowd rightly to its feet at the end.
http://www.clannad.ie/index.html
break the rules as I see fit.” - Chris High 2003.