Streets of Arklow is magical, and shows a clear line to his much later collaboration with major traditional group The Chieftains. Interestingly, Arklow is an ordinary town in Wicklow, south of Dublin, totally prosaic, but he infused it with wonder. He plays by his own rules, 100%. Amazing body of work over 60 years.
The penny whistle (Jim Rothermel, I think) provides the sort of counterpoint Richard Davis gave the music on Astral Weeks, the sense of gravity and weightlessness… Country Fair and Comfort You open a window into bucolic hope and dream, before Streets of Arklow turns those dreams to dust. And the piano opening to Linden Arden is a world unto itself….
Love this review. TY.
Streets of Arklow is magical, and shows a clear line to his much later collaboration with major traditional group The Chieftains. Interestingly, Arklow is an ordinary town in Wicklow, south of Dublin, totally prosaic, but he infused it with wonder. He plays by his own rules, 100%. Amazing body of work over 60 years.
Country Fair is heavenly.
Nice piece on a great album. I think it's even better than Astral Weeks -- so did Sinead O'Connor!
This is one of my all time favourite albums. I love it! I love it! I love it!
The penny whistle (Jim Rothermel, I think) provides the sort of counterpoint Richard Davis gave the music on Astral Weeks, the sense of gravity and weightlessness… Country Fair and Comfort You open a window into bucolic hope and dream, before Streets of Arklow turns those dreams to dust. And the piano opening to Linden Arden is a world unto itself….
The song is pure poetry Rich, moody but certainly not threatening. This is Van at his visionary best.
Not sure I follow the Motown/Streets of Arklow comment. Off hand can’t think of a Motown song that feels so threatening (at least to me).