Forgiven, Not Forgotten

The Corrs are four Irish siblings whose folk-rock brings traditional Celtic sounds into a remarkably polished pop setting. Clannad and Moving Hearts had explored related ground, but few groups had made it quite this bright and accessible. David Foster’s involvement as producer helped shape this debut into a record with an unusually assured commercial touch.

Six instrumental pieces introduce the colours of Irish tradition, cleverly interwoven with melodic pop songs. The three sisters’ harmonies are clear and deep, at moments recalling Wilson Phillips, while fiddle and tin-whistle phrases conjure an almost mysterious sense of Ireland. Ballads such as ‘Runaway’ and ‘Closer’ are particularly memorable.

‘Toss the Feathers’, also familiar from Fairport Convention, is given a supple arrangement with Simon Phillips on drums. The group would later reach an even wider audience with ‘Breathless’, but the essential balance of Celtic character and pop craftsmanship is already here.