Horslips - The Tain '1973 [2008]

Tracks list

The most ambitious and successful of their early albums, Horslips most
progressive creation, and maybe the most successful rock concept album ever
done, The Tain is rock put into the service of epic storytelling (or is it the
other way around?). Based on the Irish saga Tain Bo Cuailgne (The Cattle Raid of
Cooley), part of the Ulster Cycle of heroic tales, it tells of war and carnage
brought about over the possession of a white bull, inspired by events estimated
to have taken place around 500 B.C. This is a long way from Chuck Berry or
Little Richard, but it does rock hard, and unlike a lot of progressive rock, The
Tain displays considerable tension and momentum. Some listeners will detect
modest similarities to Jethro Tulls work (especially on Charolais), but theres a
lot less meandering here than there is on Tull albums, the flute playing is
better, and the material moves forward in a fairly nimble fashion. It would be
easy to praise John Feans guitar, but Jim Lockharts flute is just as impressive,
Charles OConnors violin playing is gorgeous, and Eamonn Carrs drumming is
dazzling. And the vocals are quite good too, sweet but earthy and honest, and
not self-consciously profound – these boys had ambition, but they werent
full of themselves or too given to pretensions.

Tracks:

01. Setanta (1:53)
02. Maeves Court (1:41)
03. Charolais (4:04)
04. The March (1:34)
05. You Cant Fool The Beast (3:41)
06. Dearg Doom (3:06)
07. Ferdias Song (2:44)
08. Gae Bolga (1:12)
09. Cu Chulainns Lament (3:02)
10. Faster Than The Hound (5:38)
11. The Silver Spear (2:01)
12. More Than You Can Chew (3:15)
13. The Morrigans Dream (3:26)
14. Time To Kill (5:02)

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