Planxty
Live 2004
Columbia
517391 2; 68 minutes;
2004
Planxty’s
reunion gigs at the beginning of 2004 were among the most anticipated in living
memory. This, after all, is one of Ireland’s most enduringly influential bands
even though the original line-up last appeared on stage together in 1982. That
ensemble featured four musicians whose prominence and reputations have never
dwindled: singer, guitarist and bodhrán player Christy Moore; uilleann piper
and whistler Liam O’Flynn; and multi-instrumentalists and singers Dónal Lunny
and Andy Irvine. Their eponymous 1973 debut (a.k.a ‘The Black Album’) is one
that can rightly be termed a landmark recording. 
Live 2004 draws upon those aforementioned concerts
and reveals a foursome who might have less fire in their bellies than in their rip-roaring
years, but still have more than enough pizzazz to wow an obviously appreciative
audience which roars its delight whenever Liam O’Flynn’s pipes take flight or
there’s a notable switch from one tune to another.
As for the
songs, there’s Raggle Taggle Gypsy, which set the tone of that debut
album, and two other Christy classics, The Good Ship Kangaroo (with
crisp as a cracker harmonies) and the epic Little Musgrave. Andy’s
include the anti-conscription Arthur McBride and the whimsical The West
Coast of Clare while, as ever, Dónal’s bouzouki and guitars underpin the
simply unique Planxty sound. Liam remains the instrumental star, offering a
sumptuous rendition of the air The Dark Slender Boy, and the Balkan
influence Irvine brought to the band is apparent in Black Smithereens.
While Live
2004 could never possibly match Planxty’s initial impact, it certainly
proves there’s life in the old dogs yet!
This review by Geoff Wallis was written for Songlines magazine – www.songlines.co.uk.
Neither the album’s liner nor tray insert provides any contact information.