The band, The Horslips were a seventies Irish rock band who tried to combine 'prog rock' with Irish traditional instruments and tunes. This album has got to be the closest thing musically you will ever find to a fantasy book or game! It (apparently) tells the story thus:
(as anyone who's read Kenneth Flint on Morgan LLewellyn(?) will know Lug (Lugh) is an upstart halfblood who presents himself at the court of the Tuatha de Danann demanding recognition and acceptance, and proceeds to becoming super warrior/artist/poet, and is the Lugh in Lughnasa in the Celtic calendar)The Book of Invasions (Leabhar Gabhala Eireann)
The Book of Invasions is a twelfth century chronicle of the various pre-Christian colonisations of Ireland. The race who occupied the country before our Gaelic ancestors were the Tuatha De Danann -the Peoples of the Goddess Danann. While their origins are unclear we do know that the Tuatha were a mystical race, handsome and learned, elegantly dressed, expert in every art and science and supreme masters of wizardry.
In the Mythological Cycle their place is among the traditions of Immortals. In fact the Tuatha were so magnificent their existence embarrassed scholars who, when transcribing the legends centuries later did not know whether to regard them as men, demons or fallen angels.
Bravest of all peoples their leaders were wizards first and warriors second whose victories were gained more by superior knowledge and magic than by warfare. The Agatha De Danann occupied the country and lived in relative peace from 3303 Age of the World until the coming of the Milesian warriors in 3500 Age of the World.
After their defeat at the Battle of Tailteann the Tuatha simply vanished from these islands. Tradition and popular belief has it that the Tuatha, through their esoteric powers, became the Sluagh Sidhe (The Fairy Host) and, taking their secrets and mysterious arts with them, entered an occult realm where they remain till this day.
A Celtic Symphony
In the old Ireland there were three principal categories of song, called geantrai, goltrai and suantrai—the joyous strain, the lamenting strain and the sleep strain. When Lug was proving himself expert in every art before the Tuatha hierarchy his musical contribution was an immaculate performance of the three strains.Later, after the Second Battle of Moytura, Lug and The Dagda (The Good God) pursue the Formorians who have stolen The Mighty One's harp.When the instrument is located the Dagda bids it come to him. As it flies to his hands it kills those enemies standing in its path.
Then he plays the three strains and when the opposing host are sleeping, from the magic of the suantrai, he departs safely, taking his harp with him.
Listening to it today, I just love the way it fits in with Pantheon 3. there are 2 tunes called daybreak and dusk (think sunrise and sunset!)
The tracklisting itself, just screams fantasy!
1st movement - Geantrai
1. Daybreak
2. March into Trouble
3. Trouble with a capital T
4. The Power and The Glory
5. The Rocks Remain
6. Dusk
7. Sword of Light
8. Dark
2nd movement - Goltrai
9. Warm Sweet Breath of Love
10. Fantasia - My Lagan Love
11. King of Morning, Queen of Day
3rd movement - Suantrai
12. Sideways to The Sun
13. Drive The Cold Winter Away
14. Ride To Hell
Here's the theme music to Pantheon bit (from 'Trouble')
Here's how we left Eiran after P2.... (from 'The Rocks Remain')High on the mountain stands a boat,
But are they gods or real folk?
Can't see the fire but we smell the smoke...
who'll take the plough, who'll be the yoke
And continuing on for Brid...Precious stones, stolen thrones,
Will vanish in a day,
Golden rings, and silver rings,
Will crumble and decay,
Silks and satins and crimson velvet,
will some day fade away,
But the stones will stand,
across the land,
& love will have it's day
Change will come to everyone.....
The sun will shiver, the moon will crumble
and vanish from the sky.
But the hills remain...
Sword of Light, simply the best tune ever written! This could refer to various P2 godsSticks and stones will break your bones, and words will make you cry
'Warm Sweet Breath of Love' makes me think of Bhakti complaining to Xar...My home is such a long way away,
and I'm older than i seem,
Come along I love the goodness
I know you need my help,
Don't ask me to be your guide,
I'm a stranger here myself
This one is 'King of Morning, Queen of Day' and it sums up how I feel about the start of P3...Let me ask you this one question...
was it really such a sin
To love too much
To be closer than touch,
You know, there was no way we could win!
Oh and now I hear their voices
they're closing in
But before they make their final move,
Take me in your arms and let me feel it one more time
The warm sweet beath of love
'Sideways to The Sun' harks back to P2 (or does it prophesize P3?)With your face to the wind,
I'm beginning to think of a new life!
And you pull tight your cloak
'Round your throat
and the wind seems to sing
Though we're both on the run from a place in the sun
and its raining
And there's strangers and dangers and darkness
we're still going to win!
So don't you cry!
And don't you fear!
Wipe away each lonely tear, if I was......
(Crap! now I'm thinking Eztlicoatl's gonna get the Iksphikix!)We were wise, oh so wise
Not given to lies or deceit!
Juggled secrets, at our fingertips
Wore diamonds at our feet
We showed you ways
to play all ways
We said we could be friends
But when our backs were turned
You got us in the end
...
We're the laughter, in the twilight
You can hear beyond the hill
We'll stay around to watch you laugh
Destroy yourselves for fun!
But you won't see us, we've grown
Sideways to the Sun
I'm not even going to quote 'Ride to Hell' because that is just about the Worldbreaker!
'Trouble with a capital T' (long after their prime !)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sE7K7hCPLg
'The Rocks Remain' pub jam
www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9gCuUwLIBg
'Warm Sweet Breath of Love' (still a pub jam )
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAX44Cbg19A