THE STORM

Long overdue on here, Moving Hearts are a loose aggregation of some the finest folk musicians in Ireland. Based round Piper Davy Spillane (who was at the heart of Riverdance) and Donal Lunny (Bothy Band/Planxty), they made some astonishing albums, The Storm probably being the finest of them. Don't expect a rock influenced folk album (or vice versa) a la Horslips; this is much more influenced by traditional music.

The first side starts with one 13 minute piece, The Lark, which is in several parts, all of which are based on traditional tunes and adapted by the band. The pieces flow beautifully, the musicianship is stellar, especially Eoghan O'Neill's astonishing bass playing and the twin piping of Spillane and Declan Masterson. The pace and intensity ebbs and flows, gradually building towards a powerful climax. The second track, the Titanic, is a couple of band-composed tunes in traditional vein. Strangely, I find The Lark so emotionally draining that I usually take a break after it before resuming listening to the rest!

The second side follows in similar vein to The Titanic, being mostly band composed; the highlight being the astonishingly beautiful and poignant tribute to Irish nationalist writer Peardar O'Donnell.

The music is incredibly complex, with fabulous rhythmical changes, pounding bodhrans and thundering bass over which the melody instruments weave complex, beautiful tunes. Some of the wild sax playing towards the end of The Lark is reminiscent of Van Der Graaf Generator but much better. The recording quality is also truly wonderful, allowing the instruments to be clearly distinguished and yet delivered with astonishing power.

Some will argue that this is really Irish folk, not prog, but the complexity and variety stands it well apart from more traditional (though excellent) Irish folk bands like Boys Of the Lough, Planxty and the Bothy Band. It's an astonishing album, well worth the full 5 stars. A genuine masterpiece which no lover of good music should be without.