Gaelia

Released in late 2022, Gaelia represents a late-career masterclass in restraint from Donovan. Moving away from the baroque pop and jazz-fusion experiments of his middle period, this album finds him embracing his 'Gaelic' identity with a collection of songs that emphasize his roots in the British folk revival. Recorded with a clear focus on intimacy, the album features contributions from guests like Pink Floyd's David Gilmour, yet remains stubbornly minimalist. The tracklist includes a notable setting of W.B. Yeats' poetry, a nod to Donovan's long-standing literary fascinations. Critically, the album was noted for the beauty of his aging voice, which has traded its youthful vibrato for a rich, gravelly wisdom. It stands as a companion piece to his earliest acoustic works, but viewed through the lens of seventy years of life, making it one of his most grounded and emotionally resonant releases in decades.