Moving Hearts disbanded several times the first time, in 1985. Their last concert, was in the National Stadium in Dublin. It was called "The Final Reel", and tore me apart to see, what I thought was the best band, we ever produced, go out, albeit, in such a blaze of glory. That night, there were two lead singers, Christy Moore and Mick Hanly. Two Uilleann Pipers, Davy Spillane and Declan Masterson and all the usual suspects, from some of the other versions over the years. Now, here we are, twenty something years later and here they are again!
All I can say is, thank God! They were and still are, every bit as vibrant and exciting, as way back then. This cd is a compilation of Moving Hearts, their first, Dark end of the street, their second, Live Hearts, the third and their instrumental fourth, The Storm.
There are some of my favourites on here, but strangely one of their most dynamic, because of it's jazzy roots, Category, is missing! And where in the name of the Divine, is, Irish Ways and Irish Laws? An explanation to all and sundry of why Ireland, has been at odds with it's neighbour for 800 years. Who is the clown that put this compilation together, I ask myself?
It just should have been a double cd. I mean how much more, would that have been to produce?. How and ever, in all fairness, there is simply too much good stuff on here to ignore.
They start the cd off, with possibly one of the finest anti-war protest songs ever written. From the pen of Jim Page from this side of the canal, it twists and turns on saxophone from Keith Donald soaring into the stratosphere and the pipes of Davy Spillane screaming up behind him and even overtaking him. Although Declan Sinnott's solo on his stratocaster is for me one of the finest solos I have ever heard.
On Lake of Shadows, the low whistle and pipes, of the aforementioned Mr Spillane, are in evidence, as is the mastery, of Donal Lunny's keyboards.
Downtown, a tune written by Davy, is flat out superb and what adds immense credibility to it's fusion sound, is the exquisite fretless bass work, of one of the most under rated bassists of all time, Eoghan O'Neill. Listen to him roll through Strain of the Dance, another contemporary sounding tune with the Irish instruments to the fore and this time, with Mick Hanly on vocals from their live gigs in Hammersmith in London, in the '80's.
2-1 Freddie, is another outing for Mick from the same gigs and he sings this humourous song with such great aplomb. The storyline of the tune is a real hoot! McBrides from the live cd too, is all the lads at full pelt and just listen to Eoghan shred on fretless. Incredible stuff, from a Band you are not likely to forget in a hurry. This is a great insight into what they did and now finally, where they will be when you get your breath back. They are back, but buy this one first!