Horslips 's debut is exactly what I expected, except for four surprises. The title of their debut is taken from the two short numbers that book ends the album.<br />First my expectations: sound Celtic-Folk music including jigs and other traditional songs that make up the Irish traditions. Horslips manages those tunes in a much more meticulous manner than say Amazing Blondel and Steeleye Span and reach for the Malicorne way of rpresenting an old tune in a truthful but actualized rendition.<br /><br />Now for the surprises: Squished in betweenall these Celtic-folk tunes are four superb progressive tracks that although much different in the instrumentation do not stick out (or stay out of line) of the album. Hall of Mirrors , Furniture , Clergy's Lamentations and Musical Priests are actually such folk-tinged prog masterpieces , that most of us would have liked to have an albumful of those kind. For the album's sake , those particular tracks appear maybe too early (second and third )and too late (second last) in the the sequence of tracks , that small deceptions are around the bend during the next two or three tracks because one is disappointed not to have this kind of stuff any<br />more. This however should blind from listening to the whole album because it is quite worth it<br /><br />.Songs / Tracks Listing<br />1. Happy to Meet (0:48)<br />2. Hall of Mirrors (5:29)<br />3. The Clergy's Lamentation (4:39)<br />4. An Bratach Bán (2:04)<br />5. The Shamrock Shore (4:34)<br />6. Flower Amang Them All (2:04)<br />7. Bím Istigh Ag Ól (3:43)<br />8. Furniture (5:13)<br />9. Ace and Deuce (3:35)<br />10. Dance to Yer Daddy (4:37)<br />11. Scalloway Ripoff (1:54)<br />12. The Musical Priest (4:33)<br />13. Sorry to Part (1:32)<br /><br />Line-up / Musicians<br />- Charles O'Connor / electric & acoustic fiddles, electric & acoustic mandolins, concertina, vocals<br />- John Fean / electric & acoustic guitars<br />- Jim Lockhart / keyboards, concert flute, whistle, percussion, vocals<br />- Barry Devlin / bass, vocals<br />- Eamon Carr / drums, percussion, bodhrán
