For those not in the know, a super-talented collection of musicians have come together to bring forth Poxmen Of The Horslypse: A Tribute To Horslips, a punk 'n' roll tribute to legendary Celtic rockers Horslips.

Horslips are an Irish Celtic rock band that compose, arrange and perform songs frequently inspired by traditional Irish airs, jigs and reels.

Furthermore, the group are regarded as 'founding fathers of Celtic rock' for their fusion of traditional Irish music with rock music and went on to inspire many local and international acts.

They formed in 1970 and retired in 1980 for an extended period. Their name originated from a spoonerism on The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse which became "The Four Poxmen of The Horslypse."

Featuring music from: The Langer's Ball, Bill Grogan's Goat, The Mahones, Jake Burns (Stiff Little Fingers), Mark Cunningham, The Radiators from Space (Phil Chevron of The Pogues), The Indulgers, Dun Ringles, The Teraways, Gerard Smith, The Gobshites (with help from Richie Ramone), and The Larkin Brigade, Poxmen Of The Horslypse: A Tribute To Horslips (out and being reviewed today on lush vinyl) is, quite easily, one of the most passionate and heartfelt recordings I have heard in such a long time.

Originally released back on January 2nd, 2017 (but being given a fresh spin today here at AnneCarlini.com), Poxmen Of The Horslypse: A Tribute To Horslips (released via Shite 'n' Onions Records, and which has also been dedicated to the memory of Anne McConnell-Strong), is a collection of 12 tracks spread over the vinyl LP and a lovely 7" vinyl single.

Side A:
1. 'Sword of Light' - The Langer's Ball
2. 'Dearg Doom' - Bill Grogan's Goat
3. 'The Shamrock Shore' - The Mahones
4. 'Warm Sweet Breath of Love' - Jake Burns
5. 'Fantasia (My Lagan Love)' - Mark Cunningham

Side B:
6. 'The Lady Wrestler' - The Radiators from Space
7. 'Trouble (With a Capital T)' - The Indulgers
8. 'Speed the Plough' - Dun Ringles
9. 'Come Back Beatles' - The Teraways
10. 'Ferdia's Song' - Gerard Smith

7" Single (Side A)
1. 'The Man Who Built America' - The Gobshites

7" Single (Side B)
2. 'New York Wakes' - The Larkin Brigade

This Celtic-punk tribute to Horslips opens with the frenetically controlled 'Sword of Light' (The Langer's Ball), and backs that up with the rocker 'Dearg Doom' (Bill Grogan's Goat) and then the melodic Celtic ramblings found within the traditional 'The Shamrock Shore' (The Mahones).

The first side of this completely brilliant vinyl album rounds out with Jake Burns (the lead singer of veteran Irish rockers Stiff Little Fingers) on 'Warm Sweet Breath of Love,' and then some sumptuous underlying '80s synth work on 'Fantasia (My Lagan Love)' from Mark Cunningham.

The second side of the vinyl record opens with the storytelling of 'The Lady Wrestler' (The Radiators from Space), the upbeat, lo-fi Celtic rocker 'Trouble (With a Capital T)' (The Indulgers), and then the mid-tempo guitar rock of 'Speed the Plough' from Dun Ringles.

The second side then comes to a close with the joyous jam and ode to the Beatles on 'Come Back Beatles' (The Teraways) and wraps with the Celtic warmth of 'Ferdia's Song' from Gerard Smith.

The 7" single that accompanies this excellent album has 'The Man Who Built America' (The Gobshites, featuring drums by Richie Ramone) as it's lead track, with the flip side being the excitable 'New York Wakes' from The Larkin Brigade.

Poxmen Of The Horslypse: A Tribute To Horslips is available as a vinyl LP that comes complete with a lovely 7" single. 250 copies have been pressed, with 50 green vinyl and 200 black (both containing the aforementioned 7" single on black vinyl).

Official Vinyl LP Purchase Link

www.GerardSmith.net