Bookended by ‘Johnny Boy’, Gary Moore’s heartfelt tribute to Phil Lynott, and Bob Dylan’s ‘I Pity the Poor Immigrant’, Flying Into Mystery is everything you’d expect from the esteemed son of County Kildare: well chosen contemporary songs, a smattering of trad.arr. and a few originals with the usual mix of politics, romance, humour and social commentary.
Right from the start Christy Moore’s unparalleled skills as a storyteller draw the listener in, whether he’s putting his own spin on traditional songs ‘Van Diemen’s Land’ and ‘Myra’s Caboose’ (aka ‘The Gander’) or taking contemporary songs, including Mick Hanly’s ‘All I Remember’ and Lynch’s ‘December 1942’, and making them his own thanks to a warm vocal performance that belies his seventy-six years.
Politically, Moore is bang on the money once again with ‘Clock Winds Down’, Jim Page’s timely and powerful reflection/reaction to the climate crisis but, as ever, he doesn’t dwell on the negative, tempering the doom and gloom with the humour of ‘Bord Na Mona Man’, his own homage to the ubiquitous Irish peat company.
Closing with ‘Zozimus & Zimmerman’, an autobiographical tale of watching Bob Dylan perform, Flying Into Mystery is yet another glorious release from a true master of his art.
Dave Haslam