HORSLIPS AND THE ULSTER ORCHESTRA AT THE WATERFRONT, BELFAST

This is an odd curio from the revamped Irish band Hoslips. Accompanied by the Ulster orchestra, the band takes on material from their two most progressive albums, The Tain and The Book of Invasions, first released in 1973 and 1977 respectively. However, this is not straight run through of both albums performed live from beginning to end, but a mix up of the songs with the Ulster Orchestra fleshing out the many flute, whistle, fiddle and keyboard sections of the songs.

This all quite pleasant and puts a touch of highbrow into the songs, but it's only when the band takes over and plays their original instrumental parts does Horslips' music really come to life. Especially on the hard rocking Dearg Doom, the majestic Sword Of Light, and the incredible guitar and flute interplay on Trouble With A Capital T.

Horlips were never even close to being any kind of orchestral or symphonic based rock group and adding an orchestra does not bring out any nuances hidden in the music of a straight up rock band. Even one with heavy Celtic influences. Very well recorded with clear, detailed sound, but it is still only worthy of 2 stars.

I missed this when it first came out. Coming from a suggestion by Declan McGovern, then BBC executive producer of music, this really did turn out to be good night out. A concert which focusses on Horslips two most revered works, The Tain and The Book Of Invasions, is very well orchestrated, played and recorded.

The setlist, where tracks from each album are interspersed, works well and demonatrates that the pieces are good enough in their own right to sound convincing outside of the concepts of the two albums they come from. It avoids the dull patches that sometimes occur when bands play entire albums from start to finish.

The final four pieces, from elsewhere, round to proceedings off well. I can't fault it. Five stars. It should appeal to both fans of the band and also new listeners. The BBC did well on this one, as did Horslips.