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HORSLIPS

Prog Folk • Ireland


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Horslips biography
Founded in Dublin, Ireland in 1970 - Disbanded in 1980 - Regrouped intermittentely since 2004

This creative quintet is considered Ireland's most critically acclaimed folk-prog band ever and possibly the genuine purveyors of the term 'Celtic Rock'. At one point, they enjoyed a bigger fan base (domestically) than Rory Gallagher, THIN LIZZY and The BOOMTOWN RATS put together. Often likened stylistically to STEELEYE SPAN and FAIRPORT CONVENTION, they drew on their distinctly Irish roots to combine traditional Celtic mysticism with driving hard rock. They consisted of Barry Devlin (bass, vocals), Sean Fean (lead guitar, vocals) Eamonn Carr (drums, vocals), Charles O'Connor (violin, mandolin, vocals), and Jim Lockhart (flute, tin whistle, keyboards, vocals). As opposed to bands such as JETHRO TULL, for example, who were a vehicle for one performer's antics, no single member of HORSLIPS really dominated the group. Long after their break-up in 1980, they have (and still) maintain a strong cult following.

During the course of a decade, they recorded nearly a dozen studio albums and two live ones; numerous compilation LPs/CDs were also later released by various labels. Their first six studio albums are by far considered their best although the 5th one, "The Unfortunate Cup of Tea", was a bit of a disappointment; luckily, the following (and excellent) "Book of Invasions: A Celtic Symphony" amply made up for it. With the subsequent albums, however, their folk approach took a back seat to more mainstream rock and by the end of the 70's, each new album sank so low into commercialism that some of their material has been likened to that of John Cougar Mellencamp or Bruce Springsteen. The original cast has recently reformed for the release of "Roll Back" in 2004, an album featuring some old favourites getting a rich acoustic treatment while others, performed in the band's original style, are completely reinvented.

The first half of HORSLIPS' repertoire will definitely delight any serious Celtic folk prog fan. Highly recommended.

: : : Lise (HIBOU), CANADA : : :

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HORSLIPS discography


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HORSLIPS top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.36 | 52 ratings
Happy To Meet, Sorry To Part
1972
4.13 | 98 ratings
The Táin
1973
3.76 | 34 ratings
Dancehall Sweethearts
1974
2.81 | 24 ratings
The Unfortunate Cup Of Tea
1975
3.08 | 26 ratings
Drive The Cold Winter Away
1975
3.94 | 95 ratings
The Book Of Invasions - A Celtic Symphony
1976
3.38 | 28 ratings
Aliens
1977
3.15 | 25 ratings
The Man Who Built America
1978
2.29 | 17 ratings
Short Stories / Tall Tales
1979
3.54 | 14 ratings
Roll Back
2004

HORSLIPS Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

4.36 | 14 ratings
Horslips Live
1976
2.90 | 11 ratings
The Belfast Gigs
1980
4.03 | 7 ratings
Live At The O2
2010
3.56 | 7 ratings
Horslips and the Ulster Orchestra at the Waterfront, Belfast
2011

HORSLIPS Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

4.67 | 3 ratings
The Return of The Dancehall Sweethearts (A film by Maurice Linnane)
2005
4.50 | 2 ratings
The Road To The O2 - A Film About Getting To The Gig
2010

HORSLIPS Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

2.71 | 8 ratings
Tracks From The Vaults
1977
4.08 | 3 ratings
The Best Of Horslips
1982
5.00 | 1 ratings
Horslips History Vol.1 (1972-1975)
1983
4.00 | 1 ratings
Horslips History Vol.2 (1976-1980)
1983
3.05 | 2 ratings
Folk Collection
1984
1.50 | 3 ratings
The Horslips Story: Straight From The Horse's Mouth
1989
2.05 | 2 ratings
Celtic Collections
1997
0.00 | 0 ratings
Best Tracks
2000
0.00 | 0 ratings
Greatest Hits
2001
4.00 | 2 ratings
Treasury - The Very Best of Horslips
2009
0.00 | 0 ratings
The Essential Recordings
2010
2.23 | 3 ratings
Biography
2013
5.00 | 1 ratings
More Than You Can Chew
2023

HORSLIPS Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

3.00 | 1 ratings
Johnny's Wedding / Flower Among Them All
1972
3.00 | 1 ratings
Green Gravel / The Fairy King
1972
4.00 | 1 ratings
The High Reel / Furniture
1973
4.50 | 2 ratings
Dearg Doom / The High Reel
1973
3.00 | 1 ratings
Nighttown Boy / We Bring The Summer With Us
1974
4.50 | 2 ratings
King of the Fairies / Phil the Fluters Rag
1974
3.00 | 1 ratings
(If That's What You Want) That's What You Get / The Snakes Farewell to the Emerald Isle
1975
3.00 | 1 ratings
Daybreak ( Excerpt from a Celtic Symphony ) / Oisin's Tune
1976
4.00 | 1 ratings
Warm Sweet Breath Of Love / King Of Morning Queen Of Day
1976
3.00 | 1 ratings
Exiles / Speed the Plough
1977
3.67 | 3 ratings
Sure the Boy was Green/Exiles
1977
4.50 | 2 ratings
The Power and the Glory/Sir Festus Burke
1977
0.00 | 0 ratings
Tour - A - Loor - A - Loor - A - Loor - A EP
1978
2.50 | 2 ratings
Guests Of The Nation - Excerpts From Short Stories/Tall Tales
1979
0.00 | 0 ratings
Horslips presents Horslips The Man Who Built America
1979
0.00 | 0 ratings
Loneliness
1979
3.00 | 1 ratings
The Man Who Built America / Long Weekend
1979
0.00 | 0 ratings
Rescue me / Rescue me
1979
0.00 | 0 ratings
Shakin' all Over / Shakin' all Over 12 Promo
1980
4.00 | 1 ratings
Dearg Doom
2002

HORSLIPS Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 Short Stories / Tall Tales by HORSLIPS album cover Studio Album, 1979
2.29 | 17 ratings

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Short Stories / Tall Tales
Horslips Prog Folk

Review by ralphgmw

4 stars I am currently listening to this album as part of the magnificent "More Than You Can Chew" box set, where it is presented in it's own mini-gatefold sleeve with proper art work, and notes in a separate hardback book which comes in the box. Although the notes are frank, saying this was produced by a band worn out by touring and record company apathy, it was not an impression which I got from the actual music - this is largely upbeat and even jaunty in places. Highlights for me are "Rescue Me", with an acoustic Simon & Garfunkel feel, that should have been an huge hit, and Unapproved Road (it's interesting how both of these songs touch on very dark subjects, whilst keeping things melodic and avoiding the usual cliches). As for it's prog rock credentials: I'd say this is one of the more straight-forward albums in the Horslips catalogue, and perhaps The Book Of Invasions or Aliens would be a better place to start, but I don't think there are any fillers and I listen to the album all the way through without skipping anything.
 Horslips and the Ulster Orchestra at the Waterfront, Belfast by HORSLIPS album cover Live, 2011
3.56 | 7 ratings

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Horslips and the Ulster Orchestra at the Waterfront, Belfast
Horslips Prog Folk

Review by fenman

5 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.

 Treasury - The Very Best of Horslips by HORSLIPS album cover Boxset/Compilation, 2009
4.00 | 2 ratings

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Treasury - The Very Best of Horslips
Horslips Prog Folk

Review by SteveG

4 stars Few compilations are worthy of interest to an artist's dedicated fans, as they more than likely have most of that artist's most important albums. Treasury is one of those albums. It features virtually every great song by Horslips, as well as being an informative look of how the band progressed from combining Celtic influences with contemporary rock styles, to Celtic infused prog rock, to straight AOR rock to new wave-ish tunes. Included are all of the best tracks from the band's 10 studio albums with fan favorites like "Furniture", "Faster Than The Hound", "Dearg Doom", "The Power And The Glory" and "Trouble With A Capital T". These tracks were culled from the band's studio albums that were excellently remastered 2009 at Abbey Road studio, and are a great way to get a shot of Horslips' best without wading through those albums. This double CD compilation, of 34 songs(!), closes with a previously unreleased acoustic reading of "Dearg Doom" as a great parting shot. Fantastic. 4 stars.
 The Book Of Invasions - A Celtic Symphony by HORSLIPS album cover Studio Album, 1976
3.94 | 95 ratings

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The Book Of Invasions - A Celtic Symphony
Horslips Prog Folk

Review by Hercules
Prog Reviewer

5 stars Go back to the late 60s in Ireland, and 3 styles ruled. One was the showbands, another traditional and dull folk, the other the Irish folk crooners singing songs like My darling Killarney mammy. Or something equally ****. Then, in 1970, an advertising agency in Dublin was commissioned to shoot an advert for Harp lager, which was to be a party with a band called The Gentle People playing to lots of young people drinking Harp. Some of the members played instruments, so they decided to form the band themselves, miming. From this, Horslips was born. After some singles, a lot of gigging, a controversy when they were banned from playing by the Catholic Church, they released their debut album, Happy to Meet, Sorry to Part. This was, at the time the fastest selling album in Irish history, mixing traditional Irish music with progressive rock. It was like lobbing a hand grenade into the quiet Irish music scene and founded Celtic rock. Roll on to 1976, and after another four albums, including the utterly brilliant The Tain, Horslips were trying to recover from the utter flop that The Unfortunate Cup of Tea had been. They wisely decided to revisit the concept format that had made The Tain so brilliant, and to reach back into the mythology of Ireland to recount the Lebor Gabala Erenn, which tells the story of Ireland from the Creation to the Middle Ages. The complex story is split into three parts: Geantrai (when Giants walked the Earth), Goltrai (the pursuit of Diarmaid and Grainne, and Suantrai (the living end). It's marvellous stuff: a blend of Celtic rock and prog which is often catchy and memorable and always brilliantly composed, played and sung. There are no weak tracks: it moves from one superb track seamlessly into the next. Many (Trouble with a Capital T, The Power and the Glory, Sword of Light and the Warm Sweet Breath of Love) were live staples and influenced a young David Evans, better known as The Edge, and Paul Hewson, better known as Bono. But my personal favourite is the closer, Ride to Hell, with its gentle folky intro, which morphs into a chunky riff and a fine organ solo with excellent guitar and violin before returning to a quiet folky end. But I could eulogise about all the tracks, because there isn't a weak moment. In summary, this rivals The Tain as Horslips' crowning glory and is a true masterwork, well worthy of 5 stars. It's shame it's not more widely known beyond the shores of Ireland, where Horslips are still revered to this day.
 The Book Of Invasions - A Celtic Symphony by HORSLIPS album cover Studio Album, 1976
3.94 | 95 ratings

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The Book Of Invasions - A Celtic Symphony
Horslips Prog Folk

Review by friso
Prog Reviewer

2 stars Horslips is an Irish band that combined rock, folkrock and light progressive rock. On 'The Book of Invasions' the band clearly sets out tot create an ambitious progressive rock album, but yet it lacks any layered depths. To me it sounds like the're just summing up undeveloped instrumental bits, unfinished songs and overly happy unauthentic feeling folk(rock) passages. To me it sounds like a big game of pretending. From the progressive point of view, the music is way to simple and lacks any originality in both the compositions of performance style. This is rather a dressed-up folk-pop album. Must be quite a fun album if you don't expect any of that Fairport Convention soul or Jethro Tul finesse.
 The Book Of Invasions - A Celtic Symphony by HORSLIPS album cover Studio Album, 1976
3.94 | 95 ratings

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The Book Of Invasions - A Celtic Symphony
Horslips Prog Folk

Review by SteveG

4 stars The Book of Invasions is one of the best albums by the Irish Rockers Horslips. It's very difficult to place this melodic Celtic rock album alongside any of the prog masterpieces of the era like Yes' Close To The Edge or Selling England By The Pound by Genesis as Horslips were just not that type of electric/symphonic prog group. However, The Book Of Invasions does have many prog motifs such as it's concept of Celtic mythology driven battles and a sense that the music might just jump head long into long improvisations even if it never quite reaches that musical apex. But a stellar collection of anthemic rockers that showcase lead guitar and flute melodies playing together to create an eerie other worldly hybrid on "Trouble With A Capital T", a charging B3 driven organ riffing on "The Power And The Glory", along with the weariness felt after a battle that's expounded in the dreamy ballad "Sideways To The Sun", all puts one in mind of the grandeur that can only be found in progressive rock music.

But make no mistake, The Book of Invasions is full blown Celtic rock that owes as much to it's heritage as Fairport Convention owes to British folk music. The music of Horslips' forbearers is just so entwined that even a full blown rock song like "The Rocks Remain" cannot help but exhibit the echo of traditional melodies from Irish folk songs, reels and slip jigs. If you enjoy Jethro Tull's Songs From The Wood then the Book Of Invasions is right up your alley, Or bog. 4 stars as the album's production is also top notch.

 Happy To Meet, Sorry To Part by HORSLIPS album cover Studio Album, 1972
3.36 | 52 ratings

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Happy To Meet, Sorry To Part
Horslips Prog Folk

Review by SteveG

3 stars Horslips' first album "Happy To Meet, Sorry To Part" is a nice precursor to their following prog opuses, mainly "The Tain" and "The Book Of Invasions-A Celtic Symphony", as it puts the listener both at ease as what to expect next and also apprehensive at the same time. That's mainly due to the band's penchant for both jigs and reels Celtic music and contemporary rock with varying degrees of psychedelic rock and folk rock incorporated into the mix. "Happy to Meet..." starts off with a brief snippet of a traditional instrumental before segueing into a dreamscape of echoing guitar and spacey keyboards before Charles O'Conner starts singing about examining oneself at the outset of falling in love. "After you've been through the tunnel of love its the hall of mirrors for you' he sings accompanied by darkly warped carnival-like music that breaks down into raucous hard rock before returning the listener to O'Conner's bizarre carnival ride. Following directly is a proggy instrumental titled "The Clergyman's Lament" that fits well with "The Hall Of Mirrors" before the band turns to excellent versions of the Irish Trad. and popular tunes "An Bratach Ban" (sung in Gallic I presume), "The Shamerock Shore", and "Flower Among Them All". All are delivered with great verve and taste as does the album's second side which follows the formula plotted out on the first side. Modern compositions are again interspersed with traditional and Irish popular tunes. Standout songs on side two include "Furniture", "Ace And Deuce", and "The Musical Priest".

"Happy To Meet..." is an excellent introduction to Horslips as well as a template of what many called their forte while assigning the group as it's originator: Celtic Rock. 3 stars.

 Horslips and the Ulster Orchestra at the Waterfront, Belfast by HORSLIPS album cover Live, 2011
3.56 | 7 ratings

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Horslips and the Ulster Orchestra at the Waterfront, Belfast
Horslips Prog Folk

Review by SteveG

2 stars 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.

 The Unfortunate Cup Of Tea by HORSLIPS album cover Studio Album, 1975
2.81 | 24 ratings

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The Unfortunate Cup Of Tea
Horslips Prog Folk

Review by kenethlevine
Special Collaborator Prog-Folk Team

2 stars Among aficionados, some of the lesser works of established artists can be victimized by the harsh judgments that plague the overly familiar. A specific "yardstick album" becomes that against which all other offerings are compared, and these rank and file releases may suffer more by unfair comparison than by "objective" lower quality. In the case of Irish legends HORSLIPS, the standard bearers would be "The Tain" and "The Book of Invasions", although their debut might also qualify. "The Man Who Built America" would exemplify a worthwhile alteration of their sound that has not always been judged by its own considerable merits. Conversely, "The Unfortunate Cup of Tea" receives more praise that it warrants, as even measured against conventional rock albums of its day it is remarkably pedestrian; when factoring in the band's legacy, it's best ignored.

The previous "Dancehall Sweethearts" had already veered uncomfortably into undistinguished hard rock on a number of tunes, somewhat balanced by a few outstanding tracks, but here the trend is extended, and so are the worst songs. The seven minute (!) dumbed down hard rock of "If that's what you want", the 6 minute "Self Defense" and the five and a half minute "High Volume Love" all signify a band with a dearth of inspiration and a surprise studio booking. Luckily, "Flirting in the Shadows" suggests they did have a few ideas in the can, as it's an eerie and progressive ballad that tackles the mundane with imagination. The closing instrumental "The Snakes Farewell to the Emerald Island" demonstrates that they were capable of parlaying conventional blues rock into a captivating instrumental, which only accentuates the enfeebled attempts elsewhere. Luckily, the stain left behind by "The Unfortunate Cup of Tea" was dispensed with the following year.

 Roll Back by HORSLIPS album cover Studio Album, 2004
3.54 | 14 ratings

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Roll Back
Horslips Prog Folk

Review by SteveG

4 stars Putting Horslips' "roots rock" album back into perspective after ten years time.

When Horslips announced their reformation and issuing of a "new" album in 2004, it shocked and delighted many that were caught off guard. Unfortunately, the reworking's of past classic songs into near acoustic treatments was not so welcomed at the time, especially among fans of the Irish group's prog fans.

However, with two truely progressive concept albums under their belts (The Tain from 1972, and The Book Of Invasions from 1974), this album has been viewed in a very skewed light. The band was always a roots/folk band at heart and the reshaping of the songs found on Roll Back was not the group's version of jumping on the unplugged band wagon that was left over from the nineties, as was the case with the Strawbs and Fairport Convention, who also had financial interests in their acoustic touring line ups. It was simply cheaper to tour without a drummer and keyboard player's instruments.

Roll Back gave Horslips the ability to play these tracks in the original way that the songs were demoed or envisioned by their creators and the results are stunning. The newer versions of both The Man Who Built America (redone in waltz time!) and Flirting In The Shadows are now the definitive versions of these songs to me as is the wonderfully evergreen Faster Then The Hound. Guitarist Johnny Fean's voice has developed a wonderful deeper timbre which really nails all his vocals as well as the fact that fiddle/guitar/mandolin player Charles O' Conner's voice hasn't changed at all in thirty years and is still as expressive and mysterious as ever.

Bassist Barry Devlin's voice has not fared as well and has picked up a more gravelly tone that works well for the more world weary songs such as Furniture and Guests Of The Nation.

Musically, this is still a world class group and three songs are great solo guitar instrumentals incredibly performed by O'Conner on acoustic slide guitar (Huish The Cat and My Love Is In America) while Jonny Fean resurrects the old piper practice tune Ace And Deuce.

So, is the Roll Back album a Prog Folk essential? Perhaps not. Then is it a Folk Rock essential? Definitely. 4 stars and get your Irish up.

Thanks to ProgLucky for the artist addition. and to Quinino for the last updates

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