A CELTIC LEGACY

This compilation album features three tracks from each of Cruachan's first four studio albums, presented in chronological order (plus two previously unreleased tracks tagged on at the end). It starts out well enough with the lovely little instrumental I Am Tuan that also opened the band's 1995 debut album, but the other two tracks taken from this same raw and badly produced album provides a rather weak beginning of this compilation. It gives a somewhat mistaken impression of the band. The tracks taken from The Middle Kingdom, Folk-Lore, and Pagan (tracks 4 through 12 of this compilation), are however all excellent, though not necessarily the best songs from these albums. But for those fans who already own those studio albums, hearing them in this new constellation adds nothing of value. And for those who don't own those studio albums, they should better start there than with this compilation anyway, as the songs are better heard in their original contexts.

The only reason to get this compilation in addition to the original studio albums would be to hear the two previously unreleased tracks. However, anyone expecting something in line with the band's normal output is bound to be sorely disappointed here, as was this reviewer. Little Timmy Scumbag is nothing but a complete throwaway, a less than two minute long Punk song that sounds like it was "composed" while being recorded in a single take. It is rather embarrassing that they choose to include it here at all. The other song is an acoustic version of Bloody Sunday. Nice, but nothing very special.

Neither newcomers nor general fans really need this compilation. Only for collectors and hard core fans, I suppose. Prog fans looking to discover Cruachan are strongly advised to begin with the band's normal studio output from 2000's The Middle Kingdom through 2006's The Morrigan's Call.

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