Reviewing Donovan's New Album, "Gaelia"

On December 2nd, Scottish singer Donovan released his new album, "Gaelia" to streaming platforms, which featured ten fabulous musicians over the course of thirteen tracks. It blends the styles of folk, rock, and traditional Scottish music in a manner that makes each track timeless. But as an album, does it stand well in Donovan's catalog? Here are my opinions on each track:

Picture credit: Donovan's official site. shorturl.at/fzUX3

1. "Moon over Clare"

One of my favorite things about this track is the fife that sort of weaves through the rest of the song, kind of like it's dancing around Donovan and his guitar. It also features a brief section involving strings that I wish could have been utilized in more of the song, however, "Moon over Clare" is a lovely piece nonetheless. 8/10

"Watching the Sun Go Down"

The very first thing that stood out to me was the usage of the lute, but the didgeridoo caught my attention rather quickly. Donovan's vocals carry an almost mournful feel to them, which is represented by the lyrics as well. 9/10

"Glasgow Town"

This track features the fun, upbeat feel that many traditional Scottish songs are known for. It feels fit for a celebration. 8/10

"The Ferryman's Daughter"

The Ferryman's Daughter has a much gentler mood, and is slowed down compared to the other tracks. The violin and fife duo make a comeback, and this time, there seems to be more of both. 9/10

"The Ghost of Pagan Song"

The longest song on the album. This song tells a story of the "Ghost of Pagan Song", and does so beautifully. With detailed scene setting and narration, I can very well see people gathering around Donovan to hear it as he sits in a rocking chair with his guitar near a fire. I mean, I definitely would. 9/10

"Where Are You Now?"

A beautifully written song of heartbreak. The string accompaniment highlights it well, but the sad, slow simplicity of the song really drives it home. 9/10

"Living on Love"

A short little song with a very slow, romantic feel. It is, lyrically, more of a "Make love, not war" kind of song. I can dig it. 8/10

"The Lake Isle of Innisfree"

This song actually brings back some good memories, as I actually know it. I sung it as a member of my old high school's madrigal singers and remember discussing the peaceful imagery we often came up with with my former choir director. But nostalgia aside, This version really shows the serenity meant to be experienced on Innisfree. 9/10

"Madrigalinda"

This song also paints a rather serene picture, but in the sense of finding peace within a beautiful romantic relationship. One can feel both happy and relaxed listening to this track. 8/10

"Down by the Harbour"

This song is unique in the sense that it is the only one on the album to feature sound effects. They are of the ocean, however, the quality did come off as a tad bit abrasive. The song itself is much gentler on the ears. 7/10

"Rock Me"

Released as the first single off of the album, this track gave Donovan fans a rather promising taste of the newly released album. I personally really like David Gilmour's contributions to the song (speaking as a major Pink Floyd fan) as they gave the song a minor psychedelic rock touch that made it unique to the album. 8/10

"Love O' Lover"

The second and final track featuring David Gilmour, this song brings both musicians' sounds to the forefront of the track. It gives me somewhat of a similar feel to Comfortably Numb while keeping much of Donovan's signature sound. 9/10

"Awaking Year"

As an outro, it certainly delivers. Descriptions of overgrown gardens and whatnot really give listeners the feeling of finishing an old story told by many generations before them. I think it was rather creative and very well done. 9/10

Overall:

I rather enjoyed listening to this album. I think it can certainly find its place in Donovan's catalog, as it has a lot going for it. I rate the overall album 8.5/10.

Have you listened to the album yet? How do you feel about it?

Happy Listening!