Horslips - Drive The Cold Winter Away (1975)

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. progarchives.com