Emerging from the giant shadow cast by the greatness of Thin Lizzy, this obscure band with a venomous guitar attack, and dual vocalists that kick ass and take names, puts the ‘ire’ in Ireland and delivers with a sound that’s not for the squeamish.
Initially self-released in 1975 by the Drumcondra, Dublin-based Cromwell, At The Gallop is a blistering, heavy, loud’n’lascivious ten track offering (thirteen in this expanded edition) of infused street rock’n’roll from a time when Ireland was still under the sway of conservative showbands, quasi-religious, sentimental pop pap and traditional Irish music.
Despite their cultural struggles, Cromwell crafted a creative and compact catalog—five fuzzed’n’ferocious 45s and this footlong—led by co-vocalist/bassist Michael Kiely’s come hither coo and fey Jagger pose’n’preen, the in-the-pocket drumming of Derek Dawson and minor-guitar hero moves of Patrick Brady, exercising taste, talent and towering mountains of fuzz’n’fury as comfortably as greasy ‘70s raunch and rural modes. At The Gallop is a rare—fetching upwards of 400€ when the original LP does appear—little heard classic in the pub/ fried rock’n’roll /proto-punk terrain.
Tracks
1. Ireland (The Wild One) (Michael Kiely, Patric Brady, Derek Dawson) - 3:26
2. Down On The Town - 3:32
3. First Day - 3:23
4. You Got It Made - 3:36
5. At The Gallop - 2:24
6. Guiness Rock - 4:14
7. Hoodwinked (Michael Kiely, Patric Brady, Derek Dawson) - 2:22
8. Nothing Left To See - 4:07
9. Deal Me In - 2:47
10.Dawson's Fun Palace - 3:22
11.Stomp Stomp Stomp - 2:48
12.You Hate It To Turn On - 3:40
13.Guiness Rock - 3:47
All compositions by Michael Kiely, Patric Brady except where stated
Bonus Tracks 11-13
Cromwell
*Michael Kiely - Vocals, Bass, Acoustic Guitar, Piano, Synthesizer
*Patric Brady - Vocals, Electric, Slide Guitars
*Derek Dawson - Drums, Percussion Jews Harp
With
*Joylon Jackson - Piano (Track 7)
*John O'Callaghan - Organ (Tracks 3,8)
*Finin O'Callaghan - Guitar, Harmony Vocals
*John Keogh - Piano (Track 4)
Many thanks for this Music in uncompressed!!!
ReplyDeletein 1975 Ireland was no longer under the sway of showbands, etc. etc. - that's just absolute rubbish! by this time Rory and Lizzy and Gary Moore etc. had all been established
ReplyDeleteNo reason to disagree with you, to my knowledge the showbands in Ireland lasted until the early 80's.
Delete