Review Summary: A great Irish prog/folk work. A must have for who have a spot for Celtic music.
“The Tain” is the second studio album of Horslips that was released in 1973. The line up on the album is Charles O’Connor, John Fean, Jim Lockhart, Barry Devlin and Eamon Carr.
Horslips is an Irish progressive rock band that compose, arrange and perform songs usually inspired by the traditional Irish airs, jigs and reels. Regarded as the “founding fathers” of the Celtic rock for their fusion of traditional Irish music with rock music, the band went on to inspire many local and international acts. Horslips was formed in Dublin in 1970. The band went on an extended hiatus in 1980. The band reformed for two Irish shows, (the Odyssey Arena in Belfast and the 3 Arena in Dublin) at the end of 2009. Horslips, regrouped intermittently continuing to play shows since then.
The name of the band was originated from a “spoonerism” on “The Four Horsemen Of The Apocalypse”, which became “The Four Poxmen Of The Horslypse”. But, in reality, Horslips had a limited commercial success when the band was playing in the 70’s. However, there was a revival of interest in their music in the late of the 90’s and they became to be regarded as one of the defining bands of the Celtic progressive rock music genre. Horslips released, till now, ten studio albums, between 1972 and 2004. The three best studio albums released by the band are in general considered their sixth studio album “The Book Of Invasions – A Celtic Symphony” that was released in 1976, their third studio album “Dancehall Sweethearts” that was released in 1974 and “The Tain” that was released in 1973, the subject of this review.
“The Tain” is a conceptual album that is based around an original and interesting idea, to reviving the Celtic sagas based around the exploits of the legendary hero Tain Cu Chulainn. This is the most ambitious and successful of their earlier albums and probably Horslips’ most progressive creation. “The Tain” is based on the Irish saga Tain Co Chulainn (The Cattle Raid of Cooley), part of the Ulster Cycle of heroic tales. It tells us 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. “The Tain” is a fusion, a mix of rock and the traditional Irish music. With “The Tain”, Horslips continued their Celtic Rock style of fusing traditional Irish music and rock, using traditional jigs and reels and incorporating them in a progressive way.
About the tracks, “Setanta” is a very short instrumental piece with some psychedelic infused guitar and keyboards that leads directly to the next track “Maeve’s Court”. “Maeve’s Court” is a more traditional Irish folk track, where concertina, flute, fiddle and mandolin weave a wonderful melody. “Charolais” is a rock track where the band channels the style of the music of Jethro Tull, especially in the vocal, guitar and flute departments. On “The March” we can listen to some more hints of the Jethro Tull’s music, with their folk rock charmer. On “You Can’t Fool The Beast”, an extremely catchy track, we can listen to a bit more of some excellent flute and guitar works made by this amazing Irish progressive folk band. As the tempo speeds up the fiddle really gets a workout. “Dearg Doom” is another rocking track that became as another catchy earworm piece. “Dearg Doom” leads us into another track, the softer “Ferdia’s Song” with its gentle acoustic guitar and vocal works. “Gae Bolga” is a psychedelic track where we can clearly see the band’s progressive roots. The guitar work on this track is particularly inspired. “Cu Chulainn’s Lament” is a trippy folk rock piece where we can clearly see the Celtic influences on Horslips’ music. “Faster Than The Hound” with its 60’s psychedelic pop/rock flavourings in The Beatles’ like style is another highlight. “Silver Spear” represents another traditional Irish folk track with its Irish fiddle jig and an upbeat tempo. “More Than You Can Chew” has an excellent Uilleann pipe’s performance that blends effortlessly into a progressive rock song. “The Morrigan’s Dream” is another great track written in a traditional dance tune but that add to it a lovely Baroque feel. “Time To Kill!” that closes the album, fuses a traditional Irish jig into one harmonious and excellent finish to a great progressive folk rock work. This is a great end to the album.
Conclusion: “The Tain” is, undoubtedly, a great album of this very interesting Irish progressive rock band, one of the most accomplished progressive bands in the 70’s. This is Horslips’ first great album, but there were more to come from this fantastic band. In my opinion, this is an eternal classic from a musically really brilliantly developed band. “The Tain” has an ambitious concept that doesn’t deserve to be damned with faint praise. I find it very pleasing to listen to. It has been well thought out and the adaptations of all the tunes and words for the progressive rock are pitched just right. Besides that, the impact of Horslips on the young Irish people, particularly outside Dublin, was enormous at the time. “The Tain” is a super entertaining and tight little album, perfect listening for any 70’s concept progressive rock fan. If you like 70’s rock in the vein of Jethro Tull, Steeleye Span or Fairport Convention this is an album that you mustn’t lose.
Music was my first love.
John Miles (Rebel)
