In the summer of 1988, Van Morrison released the most meaningful musical collaboration of his career, Irish Heartbeat. Van returned to his celtic roots to record a handful of traditional Irish ballads, and a few of his own originals, with the Chieftains. The album contains no hit singles, nor does it include any of Van's colossal epics along the lines of "Into the Mystic" or "Cyprus Avenue." Still, there is an underlying passion in Morrison's vocals, and the instrumentation is superb."Star of the County Down" begins the album with a fun, traditional Irish jaunt. Van's vocals aren't exceptional in this first number, but it's a fitting and danceable opener. "Ta Mo Chleamhnas Deanta" follows, with Van and Paddy Maloney of the Chieftains sharing dueling vocals. Paddy sings the verses in gaelic, followed by Van in English. It's another traditional Irish gem, and the album is off to a fun, if not simple, start. The third song of the set is a reworking of "Irish Heartbeat" which had previously appeared on Van's Inarticulate Speech of the Heart album. This renditional is a far superior performance, with Van's voice soaring in top form, and the Chieftain's instrumentals laying a beautiful, fitting celtic backdrop to the song. Although it is lyrically simple, "Irish Heartbeat" tells a meaningful lesson: "This old world is so cold/don't care nothin' for your soul/that you share with your own ones."
A gorgeous reading of the Irish traditional "Raglan Road" follows, and it is a stunning highlight to the album. Van's vocals are sombre yet rich, and the pace of the song shifts seamlessly from a slow waltz to a celebratory swing during the bridges. "She Moved Through the Fair" is the fifth track, and it signals a tremendous drop in tempo from the previous tunes. Van treats it like a poem set to song, and the instrumentals are effective, yet secondary to the words. It's another beautiful Irish standard, and certainly a fresh take on a very old tune. "I'll Tell Me Ma" picks the tempo back up to a fiery Irish jig. It's a simple, but ultimately fun and infectious dance number. 
"Carrickfergus" is another sombre Irish ballad. Van's vocals, however, are breathtaking, and completely overshadow the instrumentation. I've rarely heard such a passionate performance from Van, and "Carrickfergus" is thus a sad, powerful, rewarding listen. "Celtic Ray" is a remake from the Van original that appeared on the "Beautiful Vision" album, and it is given new life here. It is faster, more lively, and certainly a fun listen. Van adds several vocal tricks to this new take, such as scatting, whispering, and shouting. There is no doubt that he is having the time of his life in the studio with the Chieftains. "My Lagan Love" is the weakpoint of the album, although not a complete dud. The tempo seems slow, plodding, and ultimately dull. Again, however; Van's vocals are in top form. "Irish Heartbeat" closes with a cover of the Irish jig "Marie's Wedding," which is a fun, danceable tune. Van's vocals are unspectacular, and for once they take a backseat to the joyous, wonderful musicianship of the Chieftains. We end the album in the same mood that "Star of the County Down" kicked it off with: a cheerful celebration of Van's celtic roots.
"Irish Heartbeat" likely won't be on many critics' top ten lists, and it won't be remembered as one of Van's most important albums. In my opinion, however, there is a lot to enjoy about this album. It's a perfect companion to a sunny summer afternoon, and a pleasant exploration into the roots of Van's musical journies.
1 comment:
I agree with your love for "Irish Heartbeat" -- except for the line about it never appearing on a critic's Ten Best list. I think it was the first Van Morrison disc I ever bought, and that was after reading a review of it in, I think, "Audio" magazine. What I recall is the reviewer's final comment, something along the lines of "I don't think I'll ever get tired of it." And now listening to it for almost 20 years, I haven't grown tired of it, either!
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