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Britain had The Beatles, America had The Beach Boys, and Ireland had Planxty. Yes, they were that good. Forget U2, Thin Lizzy or The Boomtown Rats. This is the greatest musical group ever to emerge from Ireland, and here is their first and arguably best album.
Even more so than their rivals and peers, Planxty was truly a supergroup in which each of the original four members was a great artist in his own right. Christy Moore is probably the finest folk-singer Ireland has produced in the last half-century. His style is unmistakable and every song is drenched in emotion. Andy Irvine is almost Christy's equal. A magnificent voice. Where Moore is steel, Irvine is velvet. Listen to the melancholy West Coast of Clare to hear Irvine's extraordinary way with a song.
Donal Lunny is a a musical renaissance man: multi-instrumentalist, arranger, producer. He was the bedrock of Planxty, his guitar and bouzouki laying down the essential rhythm over which the others could weave their magic. Finally, Liam Og O Floinn. If you have never heard the uileann pipes, you have a treat in store. They begin where the human voice ends, and O Floinn uses them to create a sound that evokes the mythical mermaid's cry in all its plangent keening.
And if that sounds like four prima donnas who could never work together, listen to the wonderful ensemble playing on the opening and closing medleys: Raggle Taggle Gypsy - Tabhair Dom Do Lamh and The Blacksmith. The last will make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck!
This album is Ireland's Sgt. Pepper's and Pet Sounds rolled into one. Essential listening for anyone who has ears.
Even more so than their rivals and peers, Planxty was truly a supergroup in which each of the original four members was a great artist in his own right. Christy Moore is probably the finest folk-singer Ireland has produced in the last half-century. His style is unmistakable and every song is drenched in emotion. Andy Irvine is almost Christy's equal. A magnificent voice. Where Moore is steel, Irvine is velvet. Listen to the melancholy West Coast of Clare to hear Irvine's extraordinary way with a song.
Donal Lunny is a a musical renaissance man: multi-instrumentalist, arranger, producer. He was the bedrock of Planxty, his guitar and bouzouki laying down the essential rhythm over which the others could weave their magic. Finally, Liam Og O Floinn. If you have never heard the uileann pipes, you have a treat in store. They begin where the human voice ends, and O Floinn uses them to create a sound that evokes the mythical mermaid's cry in all its plangent keening.
And if that sounds like four prima donnas who could never work together, listen to the wonderful ensemble playing on the opening and closing medleys: Raggle Taggle Gypsy - Tabhair Dom Do Lamh and The Blacksmith. The last will make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck!
This album is Ireland's Sgt. Pepper's and Pet Sounds rolled into one. Essential listening for anyone who has ears.