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Luka Bloom: Acoustic Motorbike

 A l b u m   D e t a i l s

Artist: Luka Bloom
Title: Acoustic Motorbike
Released: 1992.01.20
Label: Reprise Records
Time: 46:28
Producer(s): Paul Barett
Appears with:
Category: Folk
Rating: ******.... (6/10)
Media type: CD
Purchase date:  2001.12.17
Price in €: 9,99
Web address: www.lukabloom.com

 S o n g s ,   T r a c k s


[1] Mary Watches Everything (L.Bloom) - 4:10
[2] You (L.Bloom) - 4:44
[3] I Believe in You (L.Bloom) - 3:10
[4] I Need Love (Ervin/Ettinger/Pierce/Simon/Smith) - 5:29
[5] Exploring the Blue (L.Bloom) - 4:00
[6] This Is Your Country (L.Bloom) - 3:49
[7] The Acoustic Motorbike (L.Bloom) - 4:14
[8] Can't Help Falling in Love (Creatore/Peretti/Weiss) - 3:37
[9] Bones (L.Bloom) - 2:12
[10] Bridge of Sorrow (L.Bloom) - 3:43
[11] Listen to the Hoofbeat (L.Bloom) - 3:04
[12] Be Well (L.Bloom) - 4:16

 A r t i s t s ,   P e r s o n n e l


LUKA BLOOM - Guitar, Vocals, Background Vocals

CHRISTY MOORE - Background Vocals, Bodhran
FRANKIE KENNEDY - Flute
GERRY O'CONNOR - Banjo
PAUL BARRETT - Organ, Bass, Keyboards, Engineer, Animal Sounds
PAUL BYRNE - Drums
GARVAN GALLAGHER - Double Bass
MAIREAD NI MHAONAIGH - Fiddle
GERRY O'BEIRNE - National Steel Guitar
FIACHNA O'BRAONDIN - Electric Guitar
LIAM Ó MAONLAÍ - Harmonica, Didjeridu
PETER O'TOOLE - Bass
BOB RILEY - Percussion, Drums, Tambourine, Bodhran, Shaker
ED TOMNEY - Bouzouki, Electric Guitar
GERRY FEHILY - Drums

SEAN DEVITT - Engineer
LOUISE MCCORMICK - Engineer
MEABH FLYNN - Assistant Engineer
GREG CALBI - Mastering
AMELIA STEIN - Photography

 C o m m e n t s ,   N o t e s


1991 CD Reprise 7599-26670-2
1991 CS Reprise 7599-26670-2



Having made his mark in America and moved back home to Ireland, Luka Bloom attempted to incorporate some of the spirit of the country where he spent four years into his Irish folk-rock, covering LL Cool J's "I Need Love" and the Elvis Presley hit "Can't Help Falling In Love." But in his own songs, he didn't go much beyond such surface aspects of the U.S. as Elvis and rap, preferring to devote himself to vague, cliched lyrics of love and longing (some of them not so much rapped as recited), once again set for the most part against his aggressive guitar strumming, various acoustic instruments, and a bottom provided by an Irish bodhran, sometimes played by his brother, Christy Moore. While Bloom's second album expanded somewhat on his first record's stylistic range and maintained its urgency, it lacked the debut's exuberance — Bloom was getting more serious when what he needed to do was to get more substantive.

William Ruhlmann, All-Music Guide, © 1992 - 2001 AEC One Stop Group, Inc.



Ireland's Luka Bloom has proved, on his remarkable debut Riverside and in live performances, that he doesn't really need a band. His voice and judiciously effected acoustic guitar are all he's really needed to hold his songs together, much like Billy Bragg on his early records, but with Bloom owning a greater sense for atmospheres and musicianship within those instrumental limitations. On The Acoustic Motorbike the few added instruments-minimalist percussion, distant synth strings and violin-allow his guitar and vocals to burn brightly above the hazier backgrounds. A cover of L.L. Cool J's " I Need Love" (which is nothing like Anthrax's Public Enemy cover, but the results are just as exciting) is a departure from his folkier sound and proves to be Motorbike's most accessible track. Bloom's folk brogue shows its kinship to rap, and the traditional Celtic percussion makes the song both unique and complete. Cruise to all the above and "Mary Watches Everything," "Exploring The Blue," the title track, "Bridge Of Sorrow" and "Bones."

© 1978-1999 College Media Inc. All rights reserved.



Der kuriose Titel von Luka Blooms zweitem Album paßt. Der Ire aus Dublin, der in Washingten DC lebt, ist ein akustischer Saitenzauberer. Und sein stark rhythmisierter Stil braust tatsächlich einem Motorrad ähnlich voran. Dabei wirkt das perkussive Schlagen der Saiten nie maniriert, spielt bei forscherem Tempo nur die Rolle des Motors. Sobald er weniger Folkrocker, mehr Troubadour ist (Be Well), werden die Fingerspiele weicher, fließender - sogar bei L.L. Cool j's I Need Love. Wem Chris Isaak zu melancholisch ist, dem gibt Bloom Auftrieb.

© Audio



Nur mit einer Akustik-Klampfe bewehrt, trat er im Juli 1990 auf einer Tour durch kleine Clubs zum Sympathie-Wettbewerb mit der Fußball-Nationalelf an. Die Zuhörer, die solch ein intimes Musikerlebnis dem Massenspektakel auf dem grünen Rasen vorzogen, waren begeistert. Denn Luka Bloom zog alle Register eines veritablen Ein-Mann-Orchesters, mit stürmisch perkussiv traktierten Saiten, lyrischen Melodien, die er mit eindringlicher Stimme vortrug und einem unverkrampften, gewinnenden Auftreten. Der Mann aus Dublin sucht die Live-Herausforderung - und er bestand seine Konzert- Prüfung erstmals im US-Vorprogramm von keltischen Kollegen wie Sinéad O'Connor, den Pogues oder Hothouse Flowers. Doch auch im Plattenstudio ist Luka Bloom ein As. Das bewies sein ungekünstelt aufgezeichnetes Debüt "Riverside" (siehe stereoplay 6/90), und das unterstreicht jetzt nachdrücklich "The Acoustic Motorbike". Der Name ist Programm: Blooms Musik klingt frisch, luftig und natürlich, eben "Acoustic", aber sie hat auch die Power eines PS-starken Feuerstuhls. Solch eine Kraft, die nicht aus der Stckdose kommt, findet man in der einprägsamen Eröffnung "Mary Watches Everything", dem hymnischen "You" und der gefühlvollen Ballade "Be Well", vor allem aber in dem furios vorwärtstreibenden Titelstück und der rhythmisch raffiniert konstruierten "Bridge Of Sorrow". Zwei Cover- versionen gibt es auf "The Acoustic Motorbike": Anrührend singt Luka Bloom Elvis Presleys Millonenhit "Can't Help Falling In Love" von 1961. Bereits als Live-Zugabe kennen Fans seine Fassung von LL Cool J's "I Need Love" - und das kommt auf CD nicht weniger aufregend als auf der Bühne.

© Stereoplay



"Songs like ‘Mary Watches Everything’ and ‘I Believe In You’ display a lovely, bittersweet lyricism, and Bloom makes effective use throughout of Celtic flavored orchestration, drawing on fiddles, flutes and bouzoukis .... his lyrics summon images that are lent substance by the music and by his vibrant delivery. One of Bloom's most affecting performances on The Acoustic Motorbike is an impassioned reading of LL Cool J's "I Need Love." The prospect of a folky Irish rocker covering a rap ballad may seem strange, but experimenting with different forms is precisely what keeps established traditions vital. That's not to imply, of course, that the folk rock minstrel is in danger of extinction. The times may be a changin', but as long as people play guitars, write songs and sing and move others by doing so this custom will evolve and endure.

Elysa Gardner - Rolling Stone 2/6/92
 

 L y r i c s


MARY WATCHES EVERYTHING

Images of innocence...
Comin' through the prison walls
One fine day in England
Justice calls

Mary watches everything
In her living room, alone
Television's flickering
With the volume down

Chorus:
Everything is changing
In the outside world
Thre are signs of re-arranging
Softer spoken words
Here men talk in whispers
Of a woman or a girl
Things are only changing
In the outside world

Images of people
Turning power on its head
They wak across that danger zone
So many died or fled
Mary watches everything
In her living room, alone
Television's flickering
With the volume down

Chorus

Mary watches everything
She never heeds the bell
When the genuine and the curious ones
Come and ask if she is well
They talk and talk and hang around like everyday
Mary stays inside
Voices fade away

Chorus


YOU

Simple living room scene
Photographs of you
The floor is a mess with my things
My jeans, my shoes

A voice called in the dead of the night
I heard it before, it never warns
We love to smell roses
There are no roses without thorns

Chorus:
And I have loved
And I do
Still I love you ... you

Outside Autumn leaves
Lightly kiss the ground
What once was luscious green
Now is gorgeous brown

Chorus

Chorus


I BELIEVE IN YOU

dadada dadada dadada
dadada dadada dadada

Every string makes its own tune
The oak tree stands in its own shadow
I'm alone now
But not without you

Every bird flies its own path
The road goes to its destination
I'm alone now
But not without you

I believe
I believe in you
I believe
I believe in you

Every river has its own spring
The day goes to its own sunset
I'm alone now
But not without you

What a heart has given
Is always there
It's a gift to call upon
Anytime anywhere da dada

I believe
I believe in you
I believe
I believe in you

Your life's dance moves you
Your life's hand holds you
And my heart still loves you
As much as it can do
As much as it can do da dada

dadada dadada dadada
dadada dadada dadada


I NEED LOVE

When I'm a-lone in my room sometimes I stare at the wall
In the back of my mind I hear my conscience call
Telling me I need a girl who is as sweet as a dove
For the first time I can see I need love

There I was joking at my games
So many hearts and I'm saying no names
A thought occurred tears made my eyes burn
I said to myself look what you've done to her

I can feel it inside I can't explain how it feels
All I know is that I'll never dish another raw deal
Playing make believe pretending that I'm true
Holding in my laugh as I say I love you

Say no more I whisper in your ear, I say I
love you and I will always be here    
and though I often reminisce I can't believe that I've found
Desire for true love floating around

Inside my soul because my soul is cold
Half of me deserves to be this way until I'm old
The other half needs affection and joy
The warmth created by a girl and a boy

I need love

Romance sheer delight how sweet
I gotta find me a girl who can make my life complete
Scratch my back get cosy and huddle
I would lay down my jacket you could walk in a puddle

I'd give you a rose pull out your chair before we eat
Kiss you on the cheek oh girl you're so sweet
It's deja vu whenever I'm with you
I could go on forever telling you what I'd do

But where the hell are you neither here nor there
I swear I can't find you anywhere
You're not in my closet or under my rug
And this love search is really making me bug

So if you know who you are
Why don't you make yourself seen
Take a chance with my love you'll see what I mean
Fantasies can run but they cannot hide
And when I find you I will pour all my love inside

I need love

I'm gonna kiss you, hold you, never scold you
Suck on your neck caress and hug you
Cry and moan you'll never be alone
If you're standing next to me or on the phone

Can't you hear it in my voice I need you so bad
I've got money but love is something I never had
I need your ruby red lips, sweet face and all
I love more than the man who's ten feet tall

I watch the sunrise in your eyes
So in love when we hug we feel paralyzed
Our bodies explode in ecstasy unreal
You're as soft as a pillow I'm as hard as steel

It's a dream I can't lie because I've never been there
This is an experience that you and me can share
Clean, unsoiled yet sweaty and wet
I swear to you this is something I will never forget

I need love
I need love

You see I've changed, I'm no longer
A playboy of the world
I need something that's stronger
Friendship, trust, respect and admiration
This whole experience is such a revelation

Taught me love and how to be a real man
Always be considerate and do all I can
Protect you your';re my lady and mean so much
My body tingles all over at the slightest touch

Of your hand and understand I'll be frozen in time
Till we meet face to face and you tell me you're mine
When I find you I swear I'll be a good man
I'm not going to leave it destiny's hands

Can't sit and wait for my princess to arrive
Struggle and fight to keep my dream alive
I've searched the world for a special girl
When I find you watch this love unfurl

I need love
I need love

Girl
listen to me
If you're out there, please

make yourself seen

I need love
I need love
I need love


EXPLORING THE BLUE

I go down into the water
And dive as deep as man can go
Into those dark places
Watch the underwater flow

Exploring the blue
In search of you

Here I stand by the mountain
Look up to the sky
Knowing it's a matter of having to climb
Above this place
These clouds lie

Exploring the blue
In search of you

It may be high
It may be low

Where I think you are
That's where I'll go
That's where I'll go
That's where I'll go
In search of you

I go down into the water
And dive as deep as man can go


THIS IS YOUR COUNTRY

It's a race with time to the subway, every morning
You work so hard
Making a new life everyday
Looking out sometimes,    beyond Manhattan
At the fields and streets you fled
When you went away

Chorus:
I know the tug you feel
Inside your heart
I've dreamed that dream
So please remember
Please remember
This is your country

So if you close your eyes in south Boston
An Atlantic sunset   fills your mind
Child again  in long summer evenings
Before the age of the cruel and unkind

Chorus

This is your country
This is your country waiting for you
Come back home
Come back home


THE ACOUSTIC MOTORBIKE

The day began with a rainbow in the sand
As I cycled into Kerry
Cattle grazing on a steep hillside
Looked well fed well balanced
Close to the edge

Chorus:
Pedal on, pedal on, pedal on for miles
Pedal on
Pedal on, pedal on, pedal on for miles
Pedal on

I take a break, I close my eyes
And I'm as happy as the Dolphin
In a quiet spot talking to myself
Talking about the rain
Talking about the rain
All this rain

Chorus

You see whenever I'm alone
I tend to brood
But when I'm out on my bike
It's a different mood
I leave my brain at home
Get up on the saddle
No hanging around
I don't diddle-daddle

I work my legs
I pump my thighs
Take in the scenery passing me by
The Kerry Mountains or the Wicklow Hills
The antidote to my emotional ills
A motion built upon human toil
Nuclear free needs no oil
But it makes me hot, makes me hard
I never thought I could have come this far
Through miles of mountains, valleys, streams
This is the right stuff filling my dreams
So come on, get up on your bike
Ah go on, get up on your bike

Chorus

Finally
With my face to that bitter wind
I bombed it into Killarney
Skin raw like a sushi dinner
And an appetite
That would eat the hind leg of the lamb of God
Even though you know I wouldn't dream of doing such a thing
Then settle down for a quiet night
Think about what I've seen and done
And wonder

There's no reason for this
Now is the time to speak of the problem troubling my mind
Sick of the traffic choking our towns
Freaking me out, bringing me down
Knock down houses, build more lanes
Once was a problem, now it's insane
My solution it's one that I like
It's Muddy
The Acoustic Motorbike
So come on, get up on your bike

Chorus

Ah go on, Ah go on
Get up on your bike
Get up on your bike


CAN'T HELP FALLING IN LOVE

Wise men say
Only fools rush in
But I can't help
Falling in love with you

Shall I stay
Would it be a sin
When I can't help
Falling in love with you

Like a river flows surely to the sea
Darling so it goes
Some things are meant to be

Take my hand
Take my whole life too
For I can't help
Falling in love with you
For I can't help
Falling in love with you


BONES

See this life
I hate it now
Though I don't want to
See this life
I hate it now
Though I didn't used to

Once there was a way to dream
A warm pool to lie in
Someone's murdered the child in me
This place I'll die in

Chorus:
Bones are all you see
Because that's what's left of me
Bones are all you see
Because that's what's left of me

See that man
I hate him now
Though I don't want to
See that man
I hate him now
Though I didn't used to

Once there was a time of love
That time is no longer
So I scream to God above
Take me from this hunger

Chorus

This road and me
This road and me
This road and me
This road and me
This road and me


BRIDGE OF SORROW

Cigarette end on a nightclub floor
All the people you know are going to the door
You danced all night tried again and again
But you could breathe no life into the tired veins

New year's eve it's the lowest tide
There's a burning emptiness inside
Out into the night and the winter's air
But you know you can't face another year

Chorus:
Don't go to the bridge of sorrow
Don't go to the bridge of sorrow

You don't belong to a respectable scheme
You don't belong in the mainstream
You don't belong in the materail world
You try to talk you were never heard
So you're keeping to yourself doing the best that you can
It's been this way since time began

Chorus

Who is to say what is the best to do
When the world is as heavy as it is for you
There is no comfort by the light of the moon
Something is gonna give soon

You've run away from the mother and father
But you can't escape the heart of the matter
'Cause all around you other lives are falling
But voices are heard calling


LISTEN TO THE HOOFBEAT

Listen to the hoofbeat
Spirit coming alive
Listen to the hoofbeat
Bringing together tribes
Listen to the hoofbeat
New blood on the plains
Listen to the hoofbeat
Shaking off ancient pains
Listen to the medicine man
He hasn't been heard for years
Listen to the medicine man
Call a wiping of tears

Listen to the hoofbeat

Mother earth been too long crying
Mother's wounds too great to bear
Mother's children finally rising
New blood everywhere

Listen to the hoofbeat
Listen to the hoofbeat

In Pine Ridge, South Dakota
Mending the sacred hoop
Far away from the cities
Never again to bow or stoop

Listen to the hoofbeat
Ghosts of Wounded Knee
Listen to the hoofbeat
Setting the spirits free

Listen


BE WELL

Be well my love
Be well
As you brave
The raging storm

Be well my love
Be well
Into a new world
We are born

Step out on the road
Alone for awhile
Underneath Dublin sky
The quiet grows

Go on through the night
Alone for awhile
Walk along the waterfront
To Sandycobh

Fare thee well my love
Fare thee well
I must go down embrace the sea

Fare thee well my love
Fare thee well
Feel the waves wash over me

 M P 3   S a m p l e s


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