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"...Our Love Will Not Decay..."
Being a Dubliner I instantly knew what "Tír na nÓg" referred
to – translated - it's Gaelic for "Land Of The Young" (locally
pronounced Tier Nah Nogue). We had the stories rammed down our willing throats
in History class in school. It comes from the ancient Irish tales of warrior
king Ossian (or Oisin in Gaelic).
I've had this Prog-Folk duo's debut album on vinyl for decades (as well
as the other two they did for Chrysalis - "A Tear And A Smile" from April 1972 and "Strong In The Sun" in October 1973) and loved them all to bits.
In
truth though - some of the hippy-dippy fay lyrics ("Aberdeen Angus")
might make even the strongest constitution cringe more than 50 years on. So why bother?
Because, in-between all that mythology are strangely beautiful melodies and
tunes wrapped up in strings and acoustic guitars that are fabulous - as
sophisticated as Roy Harper on Harvest and just as cleverly constructed. In
fact in places they sound like Tyrannosaurus Rex and what they might have
become if Bolan hadn't gone completely Rock in 1970 - or even the acoustic side of
early Seventies Jethro Tull with a little of Nick Drake's string arrangements thrown
in for colour.
Formed in Dublin in 1970 - guitarists and singers Sonny Condell and Leo O'Kelly made a lovely racket and gathered fans far and wide very quickly – supporting Jethro Tull through their "Aqualung" period on high profile tours. I even followed Sonny Condell (one part of the duo) when he teamed up with Phillip King and Greg Bolland to form the trio of SCULLION in Ireland in the late Seventies. Scullion were a fantastically eclectic and musical Folk-Rock band who put out about five albums – the second of which "Balance And Control" was produced by none other than John Martyn in 1980 on WEA Ireland (I've reviewed that CD Remaster on Prog Temple separately).
In the meantime, here are the mushroom and fairy details for the 1971 debut LP of Scullion's former Land of the Young incarnation Tír na nÓg...
UK released November 2012 - "Tír na nÓg" by TÍR na nÓG on Esoteric Records ECLEC2357 (Barcode
5013929435742) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue and Remaster of their Debut Album/LP from 1971 and plays out as follows (51:54 minutes):
1. Time Is Like A Promise [Side 1]
2. Mariner Blues
3. Daisy Lady
4. Tir Na Nog
5. Aberdeen Angus
6. Looking Up
7. Boat Song [Side 2]
8. Our Love Will Not Decay
9. Hey Friend
10. Dance Of Years
11. Live A Day
12. Piccadilly
13. Dante
Tracks 1 to 13 are the album "Tír na nÓg" UK released May
1971 on Chrysalis/Island ILPS 9153.
BONUS TRACKS:
14. I'm Happy To Be (On This Mountain)
15. Let My Love Grow
Tracks 14 and 15 are a
UK 7" single on Chrysalis/Island WIP 6090 issued in October 1970 (both non-album
tracks at the time).
The 16-page booklet features liner notes by noted writer
TREVOR BOYD and reproduces the lovely gatefold sleeve of the original LP,
pictures that rare 7" picture sleeve (out of Europe) - features music mag
reviews and even sheet music.
A word about the sound - the remaster handled by MARK POWELL and PASCHAL
BYRNE is truly gorgeous - clear instruments, warmth on every track with the top
quality original production values of Bill Leader now fully on display. It
really is a fantastic job done. I've done tags on both of these guys before
(pictorial lists of their work).
SONNY CONDELL plays Guitar, Mandolin, Moroccan Pottery, Drums, Tabla,
Jews Harp and sings while LEO O'KELLY plays Guitar, Electric Bass, Dulcimer,
Tin Whistle and alternates lead vocals with Condell. All songs excepting
"Hey Friend" (by Dolan) are original compositions.
It opens with the mid Sixties Simon & Garfunkel folk of "Time
Is Like A Promise" (features ANNIE CROZIER on Psaltry) and progresses very
nicely into "Mariner Blues" which is where Condell's quirky chord
changes first come into focus. The title track even has UK Folk hero BARRY
DRANSFIELD on Fiddle (his albums on Polydor Folkmill are hugely collectable). "Looking Up" is superb because it leaves much
of the mythology behind and becomes sophisticated Acoustic Rock. But Side 2 opens
with probably the most haunting song on the album - O'Kelly's "The Boat
Song". It sounds beautiful with its Nick Drake string arrangements (done
by Nick Harrison who later did work on The Rolling Stones "Angie")
and stories about leaving (lyrics from it title this review). Harrison's work
also turns up on the pretty "Piccadilly". The album finisher is
another wonderfully off-the-cuff Condell melody "Dante". But you can
see why the A of the single failed (nice to finally see it on CD). But its
B-side is a gem - a lovely air by Condell called "Let My Love Grow".
"Tír na nÓg" morphed in the late Seventies into the affectionately remembered
SCULLION who made 5 albums in Ireland (only one is on CD unfortunately, to my knowledge)
including the fab "Balance And Control" in 1980 produced by the
mighty JOHN MARTYN (see sep review). Condell even made a CD album in 2013.
TÍR na nÓG would definitely be an acquired taste for some. But for me
there was always something magical in those hooks and songs - and now their
albums have the properly beautiful sounding remasters their catalogue has
always deserved...
