Search - Moving Hearts :: Platinum Collection

The "Hearts" are back and maybe for good!

An Irishman in Florida | U.S.A | 01/08/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Moving Hearts disbanded several times the first time, in 1985. Their last concert, was in the National Stadium in Dublin. It was called "The Final Reel", and tore me apart to see, what I thought was the best band, we ever produced, go out, albeit, in such a blaze of glory. That night, there were two lead singers, Christy Moore and Mick Hanly. Two Uilleann Pipers, Davy Spillane and Declan Masterson and all the usual suspects, from some of the other versions over the years. Now, here we are, twenty something years later and here they are again!

All I can say is, thank God! They were and still are, every bit as vibrant and exciting, as way back then. This cd is a compilation of Moving Hearts, their first, Dark end of the street, their second, Live Hearts, the third and their instrumental fourth, The Storm.

There are some of my favourites on here, but strangely one of their most dynamic, because of it's jazzy roots, Category, is missing! And where in the name of the Divine, is, Irish Ways and Irish Laws? An explanation to all and sundry of why Ireland, has been at odds with it's neighbour for 800 years. Who is the clown that put this compilation together, I ask myself?

It just should have been a double cd. I mean how much more, would that have been to produce?. How and ever, in all fairness, there is simply too much good stuff on here to ignore.

They start the cd off, with possibly one of the finest anti-war protest songs ever written. From the pen of Jim Page from this side of the canal, it twists and turns on saxophone from Keith Donald soaring into the stratosphere and the pipes of Davy Spillane screaming up behind him and even overtaking him. Although Declan Sinnott's solo on his stratocaster is for me one of the finest solos I have ever heard.

On Lake of Shadows, the low whistle and pipes, of the aforementioned Mr Spillane, are in evidence, as is the mastery, of Donal Lunny's keyboards.

Downtown, a tune written by Davy, is flat out superb and what adds immense credibility to it's fusion sound, is the exquisite fretless bass work, of one of the most under rated bassists of all time, Eoghan O'Neill. Listen to him roll through Strain of the Dance, another contemporary sounding tune with the Irish instruments to the fore and this time, with Mick Hanly on vocals from their live gigs in Hammersmith in London, in the '80's.

2-1 Freddie, is another outing for Mick from the same gigs and he sings this humourous song with such great aplomb. The storyline of the tune is a real hoot! McBrides from the live cd too, is all the lads at full pelt and just listen to Eoghan shred on fretless. Incredible stuff, from a Band you are not likely to forget in a hurry. This is a great insight into what they did and now finally, where they will be when you get your breath back. They are back, but buy this one first!"

Mediocre Choice Of Songs....

FRANKIE GRIFFIN | Cork City,Ireland | 03/31/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Moving Hearts were a traditional irish,Jazz,Rock, band from Dublin back in the early 80s.They produced 2 studio albums and one Live album before bowing out in 84 with an instrumental album called The Storm of which none of the tracks appear here.The band consisted of Christy Moore,Donal Lunny,Davy Spillane,Keith Donald and others.There were a few line up changes thru their careers.Christy left to be replaced by Mick (past the point of rescue)Hanley and later he was replaced by Female vocalist Flo Mc Sweeny.By the time they got to record the final album The Storm,there were even more musicians involved.The tracks on this bad offering come from the first Hearts album Moving Hearts,the second album Dark End Of The Street and finally from the badly recorded Hearts Live.The selection here is weak and has possibly been put together for the american market.There's a better one out there now called The Defenitive Collection and I reckon this is a better bet.I would even go further and say the new release Moving Hearts Live In Dublin 2007 is a better bet but it doesnt have any vocal tracks on there,it's totally instrumental and if you have liked Afro Celts then take a listen to the real masters."