Despite the impact they made in the ‘80s with their magical brew of trad, folk, rock and jazz, Moving Hearts never shifted product to the level merited by their individual and collective artistry. Last February they reformed for a live gig at Vicar St. and this CD is the result of that night’s collision of some of the top musicians to be found on Planet Earth: Donal Lunny, Davy Spillane, Keith Donald, Eoghan O’Neill, Noel Eccles, Matt Kelleghan and the rest.
From the off, their zest and breathtaking energy serve to remind us how lacking in invention most of the live music scene has been since they were last among us. Lunny’s rhythm pulses the band into overdrive for ‘Downtown’, while ‘The Storm’ is truly electrifying. ‘Tribute To Peadar O’Donnell’ offers some spectacular fireworks from Spillane and ‘Category’ glides smoothly along, flashing off sharp phrases over an infectious rhythm as Donald, Spillane and Sinnott effortlessly toss off their fiery solos.
But this is not a band who simply know how to play fast and loose, and the lad Spillane is back on top form for the limpid ‘May Morning Dew’ which he miraculously renders both melancholic and uplifting at the same time. ‘Finore’ is a beguiling widescreen piece with remarkable work from Keith Donald, and ‘Lake Of Shadows’ is heartbreakingly beautiful, most notably the playing of Donald and Sinnott.
Being present at a live gig is one of the few unique experiences left in music. Neither CDs nor DVDs can replicate that experience, but with Live In Dublin Moving Hearts get as close as possible.