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Moya Brennan Live At Joes Pub New York 3-02-04
By Alice Farrell in New York


Moya Walking into Joe’s Pub tonight I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. How could Moya, on her own possibly capture the depth and breadth of the music on her new CD “Two Horizons”, and I was pleased to find a keyboard, and an additional harp waiting there to help flesh out the sound. And flesh it out she did! Loads of reverb and synthesizers did help, but there is definitely more at play here.

Arriving onstage, looking every bit the celtic goddess she is, she and the band launched into “Tara” immediately establishing the lush atmospheric quality that is so much a signature of the album which she is now touring to support.

Her band included Sam Jackson on keyboards, Fionán Debarra on guitar, low whistle and bodhran, Sinéad Madden on fiddle, and Cormac Debarra on harp and bodhran and all of them providing backing vocals. They were all so accomplished and played so beautifully together that I wondered why I hadn’t heard them all play before. Especially the guitar work of Fionán Debarra was exceptional.

The concert wove its way through the journey behind the “Two Horizons” album, being the story of the search and eventual discovery and playing of this mythical Irish harp. The harp playing of both Moya and Cormac Debarra was beautifully highlighted throughout the set, and most poignantly on the song towards the end where she finally plays the harp called “Harpsong”.

Other highlights from the album included “Bright Star”and “Bí Liom” with their rich harmonies, showcasing the incredible vocal blend that she has achieved with her band.

She also included songs from her Clannad days, such as the ever popular “The Theme from Harry’s Game” and “I Will Find You” from “The Last of the Mohicans”, both wonderfully rendered, and leaving me to doubt that they could have been anymore wonderful if all of Clannad had been present. The antiphonal vocals from the backing musicians were particulary beautiful on “I Will Find You” taking me right into my memories of the film. “A Mhuirnin O” from “Landmark” included an invitation to the audience to join in and sing along, and had a driving, almost rock feel to it.

Moya was in amazingly clear and full voice, her singing almost effortless and truly lulling you along with her into a relaxed, warm and comfortable state where you want to remain for the rest of the evening.

Having enjoyed quite a few nights relaxing and letting the beauty of her music wash over me, it was terrific to be able to see it realized in person and lose none of it’s richness and luster. I told Moya afterwards that her voice to me is deep and rich like the most decadent cup of hot chocolate, and just as satisfying, live.

She finished off the show with “Women of the Desert” and the title track “Two Horizons” bringing us through the end of the journey and the playing of the harp. I’d take this journey again anytime!

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