Planxty - PLANXTY****

Raggle Taggle Gypsy-Tabhair Dom Do Lamh/Arthur McBride/Planxty Irwin/Sweet Thames Flow Softly/Junior Crehan's Favourite-Corney Is Coming/The West Coast Of Clare/The Jolly Beggar/Only Our Rivers/Si Bheag Si Mnor/Follow Me Up To Carlow/Merrily Kissed The Quaker/The Blacksmith

Self titled debut album from the Irish folk group Planxty. This well received release featured a variety of traditional and modern Irish folk songs and tunes. Although this was recorded in London, they made relatively little impact in Britain.

“One of the most engrossing folk albums I've ever heard. It runs the gamut too, between lively fun stuff to listen to in the pub to eerily beautiful material to meditate about.”

“These guys were a cracking group of instrumentalists (as their stomping reels plainly prove) and featured soulful vocalists rendering ballads almost unbearably poignant.”

“This is the peak of Celtic music and my only gripe with it is that it set the bar so high that nobody in the genre could and still can’t ever hope to match it.”

“There is an amazing amalgamation of energy, sounds and styles on this album. I cannot but imagine the impact it had on the world of traditional music. This is just bursting with energy and virtuoso musicianship the likes of which has been rarely heard before in this genre of traditional music.”

“Combining traditional jigs, reels, airs and songs with some of the best work of Ireland's fine folk-revival songwriters, Planxty gave the world living proof that folk music could be every bit as exciting as rock and roll. Astoundingly talented, infinitely inventive and respectfully traditional, Planxty were a deceptively powerful band.”

“Simply the best Irish music record I've ever heard, mixing traditional reels and tunes with latter-day folk revival compositions. From the rousing to the touching, this album delivers everything you might desire with crystal clear production highlighting the extraordinary musicianship of all involved. Everything about this record screams passion, expertise and authenticity. It is that good.”

“A ground shattering masterpiece from the Emerald Isle that stoked the fires of revival in traditional music and reminded us Irish of what a powerful culture we are so lucky to be part of.”