Shane and Cruachan

**Thu Apr 21, 2005 1:58 pm**

Anyone know this weird song which features Shane on vocals? It is recent?

**Thu Apr 21, 2005 2:14 pm**

Christy Moore sang it!

**Thu Apr 21, 2005 2:24 pm**

It's from the Cruachan's Folk Lore album (2002). (Shane sings also Spancil Hill with them.) With all due respect to Shane, he should have left this track to Christy Moore.

**Thu Apr 21, 2005 2:34 pm**

I let meself to cite areview here. I think it's brilliant, better than song (and let's forget about the whole album):

Full URL

<blockquote>Let's suppose that your mother disappeared under cover of night when you were young. If you hadn't seen her for years, and you'd always wondered where she'd gone, and then you ran into her in some unusual place — selling raffle tickets at the local mall, say, or preaching Krishna Consciousness on a street corner — well, you wouldn't hold it against her, would you? Of course you wouldn't. You'd throw your arms around her and you'd cry on her shoulder. "Mom, Mom," you'd sob. "I thought we'd lost you."

Chances are good that you don't know who Cruachan are, or that there's an Irish branch of the metal scene that tries to meld Great-Wall-of-China-sized riffs with traditional Irish folk music. That's all right. All you need to know is that Shane MacGowan, former vocalist for The Pogues and one of the finest singers to ever channel the muse, sings on their new EP. MacGowan, whose struggles with drink and darker spirits are legendary, vanished from view after making The Crock of Gold, the second album by his post-Pogues band The Popes. He's since made an appearance here and there, but outside of Ireland he's been nearly impossible to find. Those familiar with his rumored exploits half-expected never to hear from him again, or to hear only the dreadful news one dreads hearing of one's addicted friends. His long absence represents a real loss to music, as MacGowan possesses a genuinely unique and marvelous voice; he can write lyrics of stunning beauty and wit when he feels like it.

Somehow or other MacGowan has come into contact with the Dublin-based folk-metal band Cruachan. What Cruachan do is quite interesting, fusing Irish reels to head-banging hard rock — the EP's closing number, "To Hell or to Connaught," recalls the late, great Gun Club in its post-punk dissonance and desperate, driving rhythm — but "Ride On" could feature its title track alone followed by 20 minutes of total silence and it'd still be an essential purchase. Written by Irish folk singer Christy Moore, "Ride On" leads off here with some tin-whistle; a cello and a muted rhythm section come in, and Cruachan full-timer Karen Gilligan ably sings its first verse. When the chorus comes around, Shane MacGowan begins singing: "Ride on/ See you/ I could never go with you/ No matter how I wanted to," and then you might as well stick a fork in those of us who loved the Pogues, because we're done. He sings the next verse all by himself; his phrasings are tossed-off, somewhat sloppy, and completely perfect. Time has not diminished his rare, matchless gift for finding where a song's heart lies and crashing into it like a wave against a rock wall. MacGowan is also listed as co-producer, though one suspects that his role involved more talking than knob-twiddling. It doesn't matter. Nothing matters. For a verse and a chorus, the Voice is back. It punches all the buttons it used to punch. It may even have gotten sharper. It's so good it hurts. Yes, indeed. Shane, Shane. We thought we'd lost you.

by John Darnielle

</blockquote>

**Thu Apr 21, 2005 3:38 pm**

I think Shane and cruachan version of ride on is brilliant.

**Fri Apr 22, 2005 5:39 am**

yes it is, and so is Cruachans album Folklore

**Mon Jun 20, 2005 10:17 am**

Christy Moore didnt write Ride On, Jimmy McCarthy did.

**Mon Jun 20, 2005 10:18 am**

Jimmy McCarthy wrote Ride On, amazing songwriter.

**Mon Jun 20, 2005 1:01 pm**

Cruachan and Shane's version reminds me of Evanescence meets The Pogues, it's got something gothic meets Irish init aswell. I also suppose I'm quite ignorant because theres something about me I don't really like Shane MacGowan singing Christy Moore songs and I don't like Christy Moore singing Shane MacGowans songs either, the sound is to different. Werid huh!!

**Sun Mar 19, 2006 10:56 pm**

Has anyone else heard Shane's collaboration with the Irish folk-metal band Cruachan?

He produced their album Folk-Lore, as well as the single/EP Ride On, and did guest vocals for the songs Ride on and the cover of Spancill Hill.

I honestly think that these two songs are Shane's best non-Pogues work. His voice fits in perfectly with the unique, somewhat heavier (although not throughout all of the songs) atmosphere that Keith Fay and company in Cruachan manage to create. In both songs, his voice blends perfectly with Karen Gilligan's.

If you've never listened to this band, do so, at least for the material featuring Shane.

**Sun Mar 19, 2006 10:59 pm**

Thanks fer the heads-up. I'll have to try and find a copy.....Hi BTW!

**Sun Mar 19, 2006 11:15 pm**

I do know Cruachan and their work with Mac, but Cruachan don't really do it for me (female singers... not my cup of tea). I'm looking forwards to hearing what their collaboration with Martin Walkyier will sound like, though.

**Mon Mar 20, 2006 4:11 am**

That collaboration isn't going to happen... at least not for the upcoming album, which they finished recording recently.

Apparantly Martin has been really busy lately or something, but after the whole Clan Destined fiasco (I really don't know what happened there) it seems like he's more or less done making music.

**Mon Mar 20, 2006 7:33 am**

Bollocks! He is one of my favourite singers / lyricists ever. What a fucking waste!

I also haven't really figured out what happened with his last project, but I'm just guessing he was being a pain in the arse again. Too bad. And I never even got to experience him live

**Mon Mar 20, 2006 1:38 pm**

Oi have Ride on album...very rare stuff in terms that few Shane fans know about it

Oi plan to do Ride on with me band...but oi need to foind girl that can do it well

Shane and Cruachan

Ride On

Ride On

Shane and Cruachan

Who is online