DANCEHALL SWEETHEARTS

thugamar fein an samhradh linn has a haunting melody which has never left me. To hear it in We Bring the summer with us was moving.

there is a stangre raw beauty to this album which transcends The Tain and stands in stark contrast to the polished feel of the seminal Bookk of Celtic Invasions.

As I've said before this is neither Planxty nor the Bothy Band but the Horslips filled an enormous void in irish music. this was 1974 there may have been mayhem on the streets in the north but: Thin Lizzy had already brought out Vagabonds and Nightlife; Rory Gallagher was touring; the nadir of politically sentimal folk would not been reached for a good few years (Moving Hearts).

Dancehall Sweethearts was an irish answer to Jethro Tull. Steeped in folk but breaking away from the shackles of traditional and introducing a 70s rock feel.

An essential for any folky prog types.