Search - Horslips :: Belfast Gigs (Mlps)

Fitting epitaph for a fine folkrockband (in this case more r

J. Talsma | Amsterdam, Netherlands | 07/05/2006

(1 out of 5 stars)

"After playing together for a decade and recording somewhat 10 (very good) albums Horslips split up, due to lack of succces in combination with intern strubbles about the musical direction (rock or folk). Before doing so they played 3 concerts in Belfast in the spring of 1980, from which this album is a registration. Not fully as I presume because it only contains a mere 9 songs, one of them being (a rousing, that is) cover of

"Shakin All Over". Being a rockband blended with lots of Irish folk (or vice versa, dependable on the kind of songs they wrote and recorded) this is far less a folk(rock)album. Admittedly you can actually hear some folkinfluences here and there but overall this breathes rock with a capital R. Hard driven rock with soring guitars, thanks to the courtesy of the remarkable John Fean (who is also capable of fine acoustic playing as demonstrated on the several studiotracks elsewhere) with great playing from his bandmates in fine form, they performed stomping versions of better known songs (3 of the excellent "Book of Invasions"). They showed their craft as a peoplesband and although knowing this was the last of a series of concerts they never let down and delivered. As so this is a fitting epitaph of a band now sorely missed. Still there are the albums to enjoy."