It is my opinion that Christy has the most beautiful voice. It reaches every corner of your soul. The songs he sings are sometimes self-penned but more often are interpretations of other writer's lyrics and melody.
The Voyage is a good album for the Christy novice listener as it is not as political, perhaps, as some of his other albums.....or at least the songs contained on this album can be interpreted on different levels.There is also a fair mixture of light and shade, of lively and contemplative songs on this album.
The title song has a haunting melody and lyrics which compare a long-term relationship with a sea voyage. The song is quite sentimental but not overly so and, I believe, it is a popular choice to be played at weddings.
The Mad Lady and Me has a wonderful narrative and it is up to the listener to conclude if the lyrics are a straight-forward piece of storytelling of are representational of something more profound. By the same songwriter (Jimmy MacCarthy) is the sublime song Bright Blue Rose which leaves the listener wishing to hear its' complex and (at times) unfathomable lyric over and over again in order to connect with its' deeper meaning.
The Night Visit, Mystic Lipstic and Elvis Costello's The Deportees Club all have melodies which lift the mood and contrast with some of the more soulful tracks.
Missing You has become an all time favourite with many of Christy Moore's fans and tells the story of a young man who has left his native land in order to find a living on foreign soil only to be disappointed (and somewhat ashamed) that finding material success and good fortune has not been easy for him.
It is my opinion that The Voyage, therefore, really does take the listener on a journey of musical experience that covers distance and time from the First World War to the modern world, from Ireland to the Soviet Union, traditional songs are combined with modern compositions to form a fine and often thought-provoking album. Some of the songs included make us smile, others bring us close to tears but none leave us indifferent.
Full track list:
Mystic Lipstick The Voyage The Mad Lady and Me The Deportees Club The Night Visit All for the Roses Missing You Bright Blue Rose Farewell to Pripchat Musha God Help Her The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face Middle of the Island
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Apr 23rd, 2009
