Post by Slinger on Sept 14, 2018 23:17:06 GMT
Horslips - The Book Of Invasions (1976)
Barry Devlin, Eamon Carr and Charles O'Connor met when they worked at the Ark advertising company in Dublin. They were cajoled into pretending to be a band for a Harp Lager commercial but needed a keyboard player. Devlin said he knew a Jim Lockhart who would fit the bill. The four enjoyed the act so much that they decided to try being proper rock performers. They joined guitarist Declan Sinnott, a colleague of Eamon Carr's from Tara Telephone and, briefly, Gene Mulvaney to form Horslips (originally Horslypse) in 1970.
The band went professional on St Patrick's Day 1972 having shed Mulvaney and released a single, "Johnny's Wedding", on their own record label, Oats. Declan Sinnott left soon after, primarily due to his annoyance at the group appearing in an advert for Mirinda orange drink (shot in the grounds of Ardmore Studios Bray in Easter 1972) and was replaced by Gus Guest briefly, then Johnny Fean.
The Book of Invasions: A Celtic Symphony is their sixth album. It was a concept album based on an adaptation of Irish legends built into a complex story. It is named for the Lebor Gabála Érenn, a book of Irish mythology known as The Book of Invasions in English. Released in 1976, it was their only UK top-40 album, peaking at #39.
The album is divided into three movements: "Geantraí" (tracks 1–8), "Goltraí" (tracks 9–11) and "Suantraí" (tracks 12–14).
I would suggest listening to this in one sitting if you can. Not for any narrative-related reasons, just because it sounds better that way. The only album I can think of that this reminds me of is, perhaps, The Snow Goose, by Camel. Not because they sound the same (although in parts they actually do) but to me, they have the same feel to them. If you enjoy this album I'd recommend pretty much anything else they put out. If pressed I'd say have a listen to "The Man Who Built America" from 1978 next.
Not an earth-shattering juggernaut, perhaps, but a nice little album all the same, from an underappreciated (at least, in England) band.
n.b. The last three tracks on Spotify are bonus tracks and were not included on the original release.
Barry Devlin, Eamon Carr and Charles O'Connor met when they worked at the Ark advertising company in Dublin. They were cajoled into pretending to be a band for a Harp Lager commercial but needed a keyboard player. Devlin said he knew a Jim Lockhart who would fit the bill. The four enjoyed the act so much that they decided to try being proper rock performers. They joined guitarist Declan Sinnott, a colleague of Eamon Carr's from Tara Telephone and, briefly, Gene Mulvaney to form Horslips (originally Horslypse) in 1970.
The band went professional on St Patrick's Day 1972 having shed Mulvaney and released a single, "Johnny's Wedding", on their own record label, Oats. Declan Sinnott left soon after, primarily due to his annoyance at the group appearing in an advert for Mirinda orange drink (shot in the grounds of Ardmore Studios Bray in Easter 1972) and was replaced by Gus Guest briefly, then Johnny Fean.
The Book of Invasions: A Celtic Symphony is their sixth album. It was a concept album based on an adaptation of Irish legends built into a complex story. It is named for the Lebor Gabála Érenn, a book of Irish mythology known as The Book of Invasions in English. Released in 1976, it was their only UK top-40 album, peaking at #39.
The album is divided into three movements: "Geantraí" (tracks 1–8), "Goltraí" (tracks 9–11) and "Suantraí" (tracks 12–14).
I would suggest listening to this in one sitting if you can. Not for any narrative-related reasons, just because it sounds better that way. The only album I can think of that this reminds me of is, perhaps, The Snow Goose, by Camel. Not because they sound the same (although in parts they actually do) but to me, they have the same feel to them. If you enjoy this album I'd recommend pretty much anything else they put out. If pressed I'd say have a listen to "The Man Who Built America" from 1978 next.
Not an earth-shattering juggernaut, perhaps, but a nice little album all the same, from an underappreciated (at least, in England) band.
n.b. The last three tracks on Spotify are bonus tracks and were not included on the original release.
