in dublin - Issue 41 - February 17th - February 23rd 2005
* * * *
LUKA BLOOM - Innocence
Innocence seems like a strange title for Luka Bloom's tenth studio album. At this stage of his career, Bloom is
bound to have seen it all - done that, bought the overpriced dodgy boxer shorts. However, Innocence is an album that
could easily be mistaken as an accomplished debut. Bloom's lyrics are so insightful and fresh that you'd be forgiven for
mistaking him as a young and disillusioned twenty-something. That's no bad thing either. Musically, Innocence is just
as as simple and static. The glorius acoustic opener Primavera is a romantic and heartful love song, the like
of which would even tingle the nethers of Granny Grumpy. Subtle intrumentals such as the barely beating beautiful
Peace On Earth are as joyous and enthralling as it's impressive album mates. Lovely.
Dean Davis
www.indublin.ie
Galway Advertiser - February 17, 2005
Luka Bloom - Innocence
(Big Sky Records)
Luka's been on a roll since 2000's Between The Mountain And The Moon, and Innocence shows no dip inquality.
Innocence is very much a celebration of how the ordinary in life has a special quality that can be more meaningful and
take deeper root in the memory than seemingly more 'important' events. The music is laid back and blissful, capturing
the reflective, often tender, emotions of the songs, but Luka's trademark rhythm guitar - that full, echoing, acoustic sound -
is here on the album's centre-piece 'No Matter Where You Go, There You Are', an impassioned song in tribute to
a Muslim friend in Galway. On an album that already contains its fairshare of highlights, this song deserves to go down
as the finest thing he's ever written.
Kernan Andrews
www.galwayadvertiser.ie
The Irish Times - CD Reviews - 18 February 2005
* * * *
Luka Bloom - Innocence
Big Sky Records
The artistic imperative ebbs and flows, and there are some who won't be too enamoured with the tidal
patterns in Luka Bloom's music these days. Evidently personally content, Luka's music bespeaks of
matters spiritual rather than material. His belly is fired by personal reflection rather than political objection,
and it makes for a satisfying gathering. There's a pinprick precision to the lyrical path of Forgiveness,
a vulnerable honesty to Salvador and a refreshing bareness to his reworking of City of Chicago,
each one buoyed by the most intriguingly minimalist arrangements you'll hear outside of a
John Cage concert. Ken Edge's clarinet and sax,
basted by Joe Csibi's double bass and Pat Collins' gypsy fiddle lines, cosy up inside the music like
lifelong bedfellows. Bloom's tincture of contentment rings true.
Siobhán Long
www.ireland.com/theticket
The Sunday Telegraph, Sydney - 27 February 2005
Luka Bloom - Innocence
Big Sky Records
Luka Bloom has the sombre yet expressive voice of a man who's had his heart broken - and lived to sing
about it. But that's not the only part of his body that has been in wars. Recuperating from throat problems
and tendonitis for much of 2004, the Irish musician set about writing fresh material. The result is Innocence,
13 tracks of acoustic guitar-led balladry infused with warmth and wisdom. The perfect album to fall in - or
out of - love to.
www.sundaytelegraph.news.com.au
Sunday Life, Belfast - 27 February 2005
Luka Bloom - Innocence
Big Sky Records
His new album, Innocence, hears Bloom reflecting on his age (he's 50 this year) and touching
memories of a bygone age of "incense" and "benediction".
Recurring problems with tendonitis in his right hand and throat problems in 2004 forced Bloom to strum
his guitar softly and sing softly.
That 'less is more' approach has paid off handsomely, with a finely-crafted series of songs, which
are all the more powerful for their stripped down sound...
But it's Bloom's intimate, confidential vocal tones and the arrow-hearted melodies of songs such
as June, Peace On Earth and Thank You For Bringing Me Here which
shine the brightest on this little gem of an album.
He may never match the revered critical and commercial appeal of big brother, Christy.
But Innocence deserves to be heard by just as many people. It's Bloom-in' marvellous.
John McGurk
www.sundaylife.co.uk
Readings Books & Music, Carlton - 9 March 2005
LUKA BLOOM - Innocence
Shock Records
A new album and another visit, March is indeed a happy month for his fans. This album is quite a departure
for Luka in both the songwriting and the arrangements of the songs themselves. No longer reliant on just
vocals & guitar, there is a fullness here which provides more depth to his maturing talents as a songwriter.
In keeping with these changes, it took me a few listens to get used to the new sound - but once that was done,
I again fell in love with his music. And take it from a fan, go and see him perform. It really is an uplifting
experience for the soul!
Dave Clarke
www.readings.com.au
Hot Press - Album Reviews - 21 March 2005
Luka Bloom - Innocence
(Big Sky)
The younger generation of Irish singer-songwriters have tended to obscure Luka Bloom's place
in the firmament. But with this more reflective and introspective album (his 10th), he restores himself
to his rightful place in the pantheon of intelligent and passionate songsmiths with his uncanny
ability to see the power and meaning in the atoms of daily life.
Apart from the polished glow of a title track that evokes the nostalgia of religious ritual, this is
nowhere more obvious than in the deliciously evocative 'Gypsy Song' a track spiced with the
sultriness of the Middle East and Eastern Europe or 'No Matter Where You Go, There You Are',
which tells the sad tale of an Algerian Muslim carpenter. 'City of Chicago' is a bleak reflection
on the famine, while 'Primavera' is a poignant meditation on the ramifications of growing old(er).
'June' is one of the few songs to move up a gear, stirring the senses a la Van Morrison and
'Thank You For Bringing Me Here' is a remarkable love song to parents.
Two instrumentals, the plangent 'Peace on Earth' and the zestful, but sadly brief, 'Larry Redican's Bow'
show how Bloom can paint pictures with metal and wood too, and he is well served by the subtle
contributions of Pat Collins' expressive fiddle and Mohamed Bouhanna on derbouka.
Dominated by a voice more languorous and at ease with itself, Innocence is the less frenetic work
of a man growing in maturity and wisdom, but still willing to take the road less travelled. We should take that
road with him for a while longer yet.
Jackie Hayden
Rating: 8 / 10
www.hotpress.com
Melbourne Sunday Herald Sun - 27 March 2005
* * * * (4 Stars)
Innocence - Luka Bloom
(Shock)
In short: More moving with every album he makes...
There's an unrivalled tenderness to Luka Bloom's enchanting, earnest songwriting - his
musical and lyrical delivery possesses that special charm.
Deft, delicate touch on the six-string and distinguishable Irish lilt in his
honeyed vocals draws you in immediately with the heartfelt opener Primavera,
from which the ensuing mood is set.
The charm continues in the impassioned tale of a Muslim carpenter (No Matter
Where You Go, There You Are), an emotion-charged message for parents in
Thank You For Bringing Me Here and the spirited title track Innocence.
Then, of course, there's a gentle dose of mellow instrumental (Peace On Earth)
to complete the package.
Bloom seems to always manage a sense of freshness with anything he puts his
mind, voice and hand to and Innocence beautifully captures the emotions of
these purposeful messages by a master of his game.
Scott Podmre
www.heraldsun.news.com.au
Tsunami Mag - March 2005
Luka Bloom - Innocence
(Big Sky Records)
3.5 / 5
Like the scent of a fresh Irish stew rolling over the green hills, this album is deep, hearty and
full of good ole Irish flavour. Preceded by a critically acclaimed back catalog of songs,
Innocence shows a stronger focus on the lyrics than earlier recordings. There are tales
of love, entwined with the simple wish for peace that comes from living in a country and
a world of war. In the track Miracle Cure, Luka sings, "When all the fighting is done - forgiveness."
This album is not for everyone, but if Saint Patrick's day left you feeling like getting back to
some true Irish roots then this intensely mellow album might be just what’s need to take you there.
Alicia Fox
www.tsunamimag.com
db Magazine - Issue 355 - 6-19 April 2005
Luka Bloom - Innocence
Shock
Bloom combines a seemingly unmatchable pair of musical styles on 'Innocence', coupling Arabic influences
with his own Irish technique. The opening track Primavera seduces you into listening to the rest of the album...
One of the most successful tracks on 'Innocence' is No Matter Where You Go, There You Are. The track
follows an Algerian man called Mohamed through his journey from the north of Africa to Europe and eventually
Ireland. The track features Mohamed Bouhanna on the Derbouka... This track showcases the poignancy and
passion that you'd expect of Bloom along with underlying themes both of appreciating your new home and
remembering where you came from through music; themes that are explored throughout the entire album.
The songs City Of Chicago and Gypsy Music also speak of immigration. City Of Chicago discusses
the benefits and hardships of moving from Ireland to the US in the 1800s while Gypsy Music looks
at the cultural benefits of the European Union and the ability for everyone to learn from and share
with each other, set this to a Gypsy-inspired sound. This is an album worth exploring for yourself,
following Bloom as he takes a musical journey around the Northern Hemisphere whilst still remaining
honestly Irish.
Emema Sifa
www.dbmagazine.com.au
JigTime - Music at your Fingertips - May 2005
Luka Bloom - Innocence
...As always, Luka weaves tales and tunes together, with the flavors of
traditional music, Middle Eastern and eastern influences all blending to
bring the beautiful images of his words to life. His playing echoes with the
classical Spanish guitar flavored licks and florid ornamentation that he has
honed so well over the years. He has truly evolved into an incredibly gifted
guitarist with a flair and flavor to his playing that sets him alone...
It's so hard for me to single out a favorite song on any Luka CD, but I
would have to say my heart and soul are the most touched by 'Thank You for
Bringing Me Here' and 'No Matter Where You Go, There You Are'...
He's also included his first recorded version of his song 'City of Chicago',
made famous by that elder-statesman brother of his, in a softer and slower
treatment that is a delight. The whole record is a fresh breath of spring
sunshine to waft its way onto your CD player and surely into your heart.
Alice Farrell
www.jigtime.com
Galway Independent - Vol 5 - Issue 22 - Wednesday, 1 June 2005
Luka Bloom - Innocence
County Kildare born singer/songwriter Luka Bloom turned 50 this year, but
his music sounds as fresh today as it did three decades ago when he first
burst onto the scene. His is a rich career spanning ten albums and numerous
world tours, and his new album sees him in fine form.
When you listen to the album the first thing that strikes you is its slick
production, as the instruments positively burst from the speakers. Album
opener 'Primavera' is the perfect example, as the rippling guitars and
soulful vocals sound impossibly vibrant and immediate. Moreover, the
uncluttered arrangement allows the song plenty of room to breath, so that
the smouldering saxophone solo is all the more potent. The stripped down
sound continues on the uplifting 'First Light of Spring', where the simple
marriage of guitar and voice again works wonders. On the next song
'Innocence' the Spanish inflection of the guitar conjures a bit of extra spiciness.
Things hot up even more on 'Venus', where Bloom's vocal drops to a whisper
and the double bass and clarinet add to the haunting atmosphere. On 'Gypsy
Music' there's more Spanish spice, and the addition of a fiery Derbuka drum
further raises the temperature. On 'No matter where you go, there you are'
Bloom unfolds the tale of a North African man finding solace on the streets of Galway,
and its catchy chorus and wonderful fiddle solo make it one of the most
evocative tracks on the album. There's also an old favourite here too, 'City
of Chicago', which was first made famous by Bloom's brother Christy Moore.
The album runs out of steam a little at the end, but there's an uplifting
quality to the album as a whole that keeps you coming back for more.
Definitely worth checking out!
Benjamin Coombs
www.galwayindependent.com
All Music Guide - Review - January 2006
* * * *
Innocence - Luka Bloom
Cooking Vinyl
Irish song bard Luka Bloom had a brief moment of notice in the United States with his Riverside recording.
That record offered a furious and stunning strummed acoustic guitar technique, more like folk-rock than folk
itself. His vocals were roaring and impassioned, but his own songs weren't quite there. He was looking
deeper, but the writing was still on its way. With the gorgeous Acoustic Motorbike and Turf albums, glimpses
of the mature songwriter flashed by, offering proof to both fans and critics of what was to come. Bloom is an
artist who relentlessly pursues his muse wherever she leads. 2002's Between the Mountain and the Moon
revealed that Bloom mastered his craft and stood in a league of his own. He is unequaled in his native
Ireland, and the hoards of American and Canadian singer/songwriters could learn more than a little from
Bloom's humility, discipline, and craft.
On Innocence, Bloom goes deeper and wider than he has ever even attempted before.
These songs are illustrated quietly, with his guitar, acoustic basses, reeds and woodwinds, a
derbuka on a couple of cuts, a fiddle here and there, some percussion, a harmonica painting the
back of a track, and a couple of backing vocalists when necessary. This is a spiritual record, full of
love songs and paeans to the spirits of peace, tolerance, and letting the past go. It is not preachy,
it is not strident, but its backbone is solid.
It opens with gorgeous 'Primavera', a quietly stunning spiritual love song that bares
the singer's heart as nakedly open, willing to be touched and healed by the Beloved. Bloom's
acoustic guitar is extended and illustrated by Kenneth Edge's soprano saxophone. Elsewhere,
on the title cut Bloom recalls his Catholic upbringing wistfully and the scenes of childhood.
'Venus' is a pledge of love and commitment that is so quietly tense and serious it chills
the listener. The most profound song on the set is 'Miracle Cure', and its plea for
forgiveness. It's social commentary free from clichés or bombast. It's a small plea, one from an
individual, one who recognizes his need for it and to give it and offers this realization as a prayer
for the world. It's followed by a laid-back, sweet, spring-like instrumental called 'Peace on Earth'.
Bloom displays his skills as a guitarist on 'Gypsy Music', but something else rears its head: the
Celtic bard. Bloom's lyrics have become so elegant, so utterly his own - part story, part drama,
all lyric, and tight. The elements are drawn from various traditions ancient and modern, but they
all end up in his musical tales and reveries. Take the story of the famine recounted in
'City of Chicago', or the pastoral meditation of 'June'. 'No Matter Where
You Go, There You Are' is the tale of a Muslim carpenter who leaves Algeria and travels
across Europe until he hears the sound of a musician and traces that sound to its origin.
The tenderness in his portrait of this man is utterly empathic. And it's that tenderness that sets
Bloom apart, a notion that has crept into his work and asserted itself over ten studio albums.
This is simply Bloom's finest moment on record.
He's learned a lot and it's on offer simply for the listening - but don't be deceived by his apparent
simplicity. It takes years to develop this direct kind of communication, one where the artist and his
art are one and the same. His entire journey has put him in that rarefied world of songwriters who
stubbornly eke out a living away from the limelight while creating great art; they deliver recordings
only when they have something to say. Count in Bloom's company John Martyn, Jackie Leven, and
Michael Chapman.
Thom Jurek
www.allmusic.com
Irish Music News - February 2006
LUKA BLOOM - Innocence
A very smooth and mellow album by one of Ireland's great contemporary songwriters. Luka
explores his interior life and finds himself at peace. His expressive guitar work and laid back
voice are beautifully complimented by the haunting tenor sax of Kenneth Edge. Outstanding
selections include Primavera, Miracle Cure, June and City of Chicago. My favorite song on
the album, No Matter Where You Go, There You Are tells a story symbolic of the new Ireland.
An Algerian leaves his home, travels around Europe and in Paris is inspired by an Irish fiddler.
He follows him home and now works in Galway selling souvenirs on the street. A typical Irish
song in the year 2006, but beautifully told and performed.
www.dararecords.com/luka_bloom_innocence
Exclaim! Canada's Music Authority - Record Reviews - March 07, 2006
Luka Bloom - Innocence
Cooking Vinyl - info@cookingvinyl.com
Still regularly referred to as the younger brother of Irish folk music legend Christy Moore, Luka Bloom
has gained international respect for his own series of excellent solo albums. Three discs on Reprise
in the early '90s (the first, Riverside, is a gem) saw him flirting with wider commercial success, but his
profile has dipped over the past decade. His talents have certainly not diminished, as Innocence
proves.
Bloom's clear and poetically expressive voice has an attractive Irish lilt, but his lyrical and
musical approach is global. 'No Matter Where You Go, There You Are' is a moving tale of an
Algerian Muslim now living in Galway, and it’s illustrated with Middle Eastern musical accents. Similarly,
'Gypsy Music' is a joyous tune with a real gypsy flavour. There's a more conventional Irish folk
feel to 'City of Chicago' and 'Larry Redican's Bow', while 'Primavera' and
'First Light of Spring' are tender and gently haunting love songs.
A sense of compassion and global humanism permeates this record, as exemplified by the final track,
'I Am Not At War With Anyone', and its final lines, "This rush to war was wrong, I just
sing my song." It is a song well worth hearing.
Kerry Doole
www.exclaim.ca
The Morning Call, Allentown, PA - Disc Review - April 8, 2006
LUKA BLOOM - 'INNOCENCE'
(Big Sky/Cooking Vinyl USA)
It's been a long ride for Luka Bloom since he burst into the United States in 1990
with his Irishman-meets-Amerikay recording 'Riverside' and its crackling opening tune,
'Delirious'. Bloom's bout with tendinitis has directed his folky songwriting and guitar
work toward a more meditative, gentler approach in recent years, a trend that
might make his work too fragile for some. 'Innocence' follows in that vein,
as on 'Primavera' and the lovely 'First Light of Spring'. But Bloom
can still tap a primal beat, as on 'Gypsy Music',' keeping things from getting
too precious. The U.S. version of ''Innocence'' includes 'I Am Not At War',
which shows that gentleness and strength can co-exist. Perhaps there's a deeper
message there.
Tim Darragh
www.mcall.com/entertainment/music
The Pitt News - Celebration of cultures and youth - A & E - April 7, 2006
One of America's Great Student Newspapers
* * * * * out of * * * * *
Innocence - Luka Bloom
Cooking Vinyl Records
It's difficult for a musician who sings about political or social issues to avoid
the stereotype of the star using the limelight as a pulpit. But Luka Bloom
manages this deft act on his newest release, Innocence.
Bloom - who takes his name from Suzanne Vega's song "Luka"
and the hero of James Joyce's "Ulysses", Leopold Bloom -
sports a tranquil voice as his strumming guitar recalls a heritage of
Irish musicians singing in an intimate home or pub atmosphere. The lyrics
are contemplative rather than antagonistic, and most are infused with
Bloom's Irish spirit.
The album's title track is an introspective look back to a time of innocence
when the young Catholic Bloom was awed at the sight of the candles and
incense in church, waited expectantly on Christmas morn for gifts - a time
when everything made perfect sense. The song sets the atmosphere for
many of the other tracks as he continually returns to a theme of simplicity
and insight through innocence.
On 'Miracle Cure', Bloom sings of forgiveness as a powerful salve
that can help heal all of the world's wounds. In 'Thank You for Bringing
Me Here', on the other hand, he assumes the point of view of a young
Irish girl as she thanks her parents for wanting her and permitting her see
the world, even if it is a place of fear and strife.
Innocence also includes two instrumental tracks, 'Peace on Earth' and
'Larry Redican's Bow', that provide short interludes and give the listener
a respite from the thought-provoking lyrics of the other songs. While these
tunes spotlight the exquisite instrumentalism of the album, all of the tracks
are appreciable for Bloom's guitar.
From the gentle plucked chords of 'City of Chicago', where he tells of
the Irish diaspora's emigration to America, to the exotic strumming on
'Gypsy Music', as he talks of joining the modern-day movement of
peoples across the globe, Bloom shows his talent with "me and my guitar,
and my little Irish flag".
Adding to the guitar base is a mixture of other instruments from mandolin
(played by Bloom), fiddle, clarinet and saxophone to the more unique sounds
of the darbuka, an hourglass-shaped drum used in Arabic, Turkish and Balkan
music. These help to flesh out the songs while lending additional multiculturalism
to Bloom's themes of global understanding and similarity.
Bloom gives another account of the changing face of the world in
'No Matter Where You Go, There You Are', the lively ballad of an
Algerian carpenter named Mohamed driven from his native land by war.
After making his way to France, he is enchanted by the strains of an Irish
fiddler and now calls Galway his home. The song's message concerns the
universality of love and music, how a Gaelic tune can awaken a Muslim
soul and how similar they truly are. It is perhaps the best song on the
album, a true achievement given the quality of all of the tunes.
The final track on Innocence is the beautifully simple protest hymn
'I Am Not at War with Anyone'. Bloom's steady conviction as he
repeats the song's title after lines such as, "Go away war planes, you
bring fear and shame" is almost childlike. Politics, money, debates and
all the other complexities of life aside, war hurts and is painful, which
is bad. Love is good. It's difficult to argue with such solid logic.
Armed with a guitar and simple messages of truth, Bloom's songs resonate
with two voices - that of a man looking back with all the wisdom he has
gained through knowledge of life's problems and that of a child, innocent
of cruelty and malice, just born into that world. Then again, perhaps
the wisdom of old age and the innocence of a child are not that different,
it's just during the time in between that we lose our way and make the
mistakes. Luka Bloom would likely agree.
Michael Boyles - Senior Staff Writer
www.pittnews.com
The Celtic Connection - CD Review - April 2006
INNOCENCE - LUKA BLOOM
Big Sky Records
Child's Play
Luka Bloom seems to be a happy man in the world these days. Hit latest release,
'Innocence' is at it says. It explores some themes, times and places when
one could lose oneself in the tall grass of summer, or the first flowers of spring,
and the chaos of the world faded away. For a while. For reality does creep in on
the footsteps of a few songs, but the overwhelming vibe is one of more ease,
less angst. The title track is a good example.
CD review by Cindy Reich >>
Chicago Reader Guide to Music: treatment - Friday, April 14, 2006
Innocence - Luka Bloom
(Big Sky/Cooking Vinyl USA)
LUKA BLOOM, Irish singer-songwriter Barry Moore, born in County Kildare, took
his stage name from a Suzanne Vega song and a character in Ulysses, and he's put out ten
albums since his 1990 debut, Riverside. Last year's 'Innocence' might be his
most beautiful yet-- though I could've said that about every one when it came out. Bloom's
approach is so sparse and direct, leaning heavily on his lyrics and his delicate guitar playing,
that each song makes its mark individually: 'City of Chicago' is a great-famine
weeper, 'June' sounds like an Astral Weeks homage, 'Salvador'
celebrates Brazil's most interesting city, and 'No Matter Where You Go, There You
Are' is a heart-wrenching story about a Muslim immigrant finding himself through
music. His peace anthems aren't very subtle, but anthems don't have to be.
Monica Kendrick
www.chicagoreader.com/music/treatment.html
Creative Loafing Atlanta - Wednesday, May 3, 2006
* * * *
Luka Bloom
Innocence
It may seem odd for a 50-year-old artist to call his 10th album Innocence, but one
listen to Irishman Luka Bloom's wonderful new release will take you back to a place
of, well, innocence. Following the path of his older brother, Christy Moore, Bloom
has mastered the art of passive reflection on what is. He delivers a thoughtful,
emotional and incredibly original product with a clear view of the way things look
to the common man.
On 14 self-penned tracks, Bloom explores a variety of intra- and interpersonal
issues, from the challenges facing immigrants ('City of Chicago' and
'No Matter Where You Go, There You Are'), aging and loneliness
('Doing the Best I Can') and the state of the world ('I'm Not at War').
His pure voice delivers sensitive and deep messages, without crossing into the
dreaded realm of being overly precious. This is music that makes you think, and feel.
James Kelly
atlanta.creativeloafing.com
Hybrid Magazine - music reviews - May 2006
Luka Bloom - Innocence
Cooking Vinyl
When something happens that threatens to end your musical career, it leaves
the soul questioning life's purpose. But when you struggle through that hard
time, recording one of your finest and most tender records in the meantime,
and then make a full recovery, there is only one thing to do: celebrate!
Luka Bloom seems to be celebrating his re-emergence to full health on his
newest record, Innocence. All the doubts and introspection on
last year's Before Sleep Comes have come full circle to end in a brilliant
commemoration of life and rebirth on Innocence.
'Primavera' begins the album with an eloquent foreshadowing of the
themes to come, which rolls nicely into the lilting softness of 'First Light
Of Spring'. These two songs set the tone for the entire album, building
on the tender benevolence of the songs on Before Sleep Comes and fleshing
out the ideas of a wondrous resurrection of the world from the sleep of winter.
By the time 'Innocence' begins, there is a low, mellow mood already
built that makes the soul wholly receptive for the insidious splendor of Luka's
lyrical genius. "I remember the taste / of the first kiss by the river / and
the promises we'd keep / forever and ever... and I choose innocence / after
my tears."
'June' is another fine example of the rebirth theme that weaves its
way throughout this album with such a delicate and deliberate feel, bringing
to light the true feeling of joy that Luka seems to have found in his
ability to once more play music as he'd like. And dig the groovy Van
Morrison-esque feel that the song gives off - an instant classic.
Alternately, Innocence is interspersed with some darker and more pressing
themes, as well. 'No Matter Where You Go, There You Are' deals with
the story of a man outcast from his own land and how he finally comes to find
some happiness in the sorrow of a foreign land and its music. 'Miracle Cure'
finds the songwriter entreating the world to step back and realize the most
direct path to happiness and peace is simply forgiving those that trespass
against us. Luka has finally found time to record his classic 'City Of Chicago'
on Innocence. After many years of hearing Christy Moore playing the
song, it is a simple joy to hear it from the mouth of the man who wrote it.
And the highly personally political 'I Am Not At War' makes a strong
statement that the world's leaders would be well advised to stop and think
about themselves.
But ultimately, everything comes back to the simple happiness that Luka
obviously finds in music and the world around him. And nowhere is this
displayed more prominently than on the amazingly complex 'Gypsy Music'.
There is a wondrous amount of joy that inexplicably fills the yearning of
Luka's voice and his rhythmic guitar strumming. But the apex of Innocence's
beauty lies in the amazing depth of the wonderful 'Thank You For Bringing
Me Here'. This song, possibly more than any other of his career, accurately
captures Luka's ability to flesh out a simple observation into one of his
most heartrending and magnificent songs. The lyrics have an almost
sing-songy feel, but a depth and power that belie their simple
pronouncement.
Innocence is far more than simply a ray of hope and celebratory joy in the
life of Luka Bloom. This brilliant collection of songs transcends all of his
earlier works, and simply lays out for the world why Luka is truly one of
the world's finest songwriters, now or ever.
David DeVoe
www.hybridmagazine.com/reviews/0506/lukabloom.shtml
Pop Matters Music Review - Wednesday, 5 July 2006
Luka Bloom: Innocence
(Cooking Vinyl)
A lovely and pensive album, Innocence finds Irish-born singer, songwriter,
and acoustic guitarist Luka Bloom in very fine form.
Once you've seen a lone Irishman infuse Prince's "When Doves Cry" with new
fire, armed with nothing more than an acoustic guitar, a sweet tenor voice,
and a spark in his eyes, becoming a fan is inevitable. Truth be told, by the
time of that 1994 tour, I was already quite enamored of the music of Luka
Bloom. Born Barry Moore, he's the younger brother of famed Celtic
folk-rocker Christy Moore. In order to step out of the shadow of his older
sibling, the junior Moore adopted a new name based on the title character
from Suzanne Vega's classic 1987 single and the last name of Leopold from
James Joyce's Ulysses. Odd, I know. This new persona was adopted on the
plane ride from Ireland to the U.S., where he was discovered in the late
1980s, playing a club gig. As I was saying, Luka Bloom is a very charismatic
performer...... While his discography here in the 2000s hasn't offered any huge
surprises, his work has been consistently strong. And now, with even more
time passed, I'll admit to succumbing to a bit of the comfort of nostalgia
when I listen to his recent works.
In my defense, Luka Bloom's is a very comfortable sound. It is warm without
being empty and cheery. His brand of comfort isn't lying in the grass on a
sunny day or curling up in a rocking chair with a cup of tea. Bloom's is the
comfort of isolated reflection, like walking through a brisk afternoon down
to a quiet pub, ordering a pint of beer, sitting at a table by the window,
and stringing together memories, histories, and thoughts of passersby.
This pensive quality is immediately apparent on Luka Bloom's new album,
Innocence. There he is on the cover, lost in ruminations. That photo offers
an accurate projection of the mood that underscores this CD. Almost all of
Luka's music is hemmed by melancholy, aside from a few outbursts of goofy,
manic joy. However, those moments-songs like "Delirious",
"An Irishman in Chinatown", or his cover of LL Cool J's "I Need
Love"-are from his past.
Innocence, as may first seem ironic, is tinged with a lovely
world-weariness, through and through. The whole of the album is summarized
well by these lyrics from the title track: "I still love the smell / of the
innocent years / And I choose innocence / After my tears". Bittersweet
remembrance and longing for a purity lost are made explicit in those words,
but the same feeling resides throughout. This is apparent even in the pretty
instrumental "Peace on Earth", where Bloom's sighing guitar line is
augmented (as are a handful of other tracks) by the quiet thrums of a
double-bass and some very understated soprano sax playing (and, unless that
instrument is being played by John Coltrane or Branford Marsalis,
understatedness is the ideal approach). What idea could seem more remote,
more innocent, perhaps, or naïve, than world peace? Still, this is the ideal
that the gentle soul of Luka Bloom earnestly reaches toward. That he's not a
dopey optimist allows a song like this to hit home. Elsewhere on the album,
Bloom offers us wonderful miniaturized stories of Salvadorans wishing for
someone's return from Brazil, a girl walking along the beach in Fanore, and
Irish immigrants in nineteenth century Chicago, dreaming of a homeland
before the famine.
In case I've led you to believe that the mood of this album is
monochromatically blue, it does contain its share of major-keyed tunes.
Although they're all performed with the same mellow spareness as the disc's
more meditative numbers, they add a nice balance in tone to the record. The
addition of fiddle and light percussion to a few tracks also aids in serving
up just enough variety to keep the listener's ear attentive. These little
changes in instrumentation and subtle shifts in mood never break the album's
flow; rather, they give contour to the experience. And Luka Bloom's
Innocence is a very fine experience, indeed.
Michael Keefe
RATING: 7
www.popmatters.com
Acoustic Guitar Magazine - No. 164 - August 2006
Luka Bloom, Innocence
(Cooking Vinyl - www.cookingvinyl.com)
A lot has happened since Barry Moore renamed himself Luka Bloom and recorded folk
covers of songs by LL Cool J and Elvis Presley. Over nine albums, his songwriting has grown
more confident and his ideas more concise, making the small, spare Innocence
his most successful work to date. This is Bloom at his sweetest - playing light-fingered
acoustic guitar and singing about love, hope, reconciliation, and freedom, with only
the gentlest accompaniment on soprano saxophone, double bass, fiddle, or derbuka
(a Turkish hand drum). The net effect is unabashedly romantic, with the warm,
soft tones of nylon strings matching the childlike simplicity of the melodies on such
songs as 'Primavera', 'Venus', 'June', and the title track.
Even Bloom’s more political songs, which sounded so strident in the past, are now filled
with compassion. In 'No Matter Where You Go, There You Are', an Algerian immigrant
struggles with life in Galway; in 'I Am Not At War With Anyone', the singer sends
his love to both Iraq and America, both Israel and Palestine; and in 'Miracle Cure',
he offers forgiveness as the solution to the problems of the world. It’s a beautifully
relaxed album, perfectly at peace with itself, and grows richer with every listen.
Kenny Berkowitz
www.acousticguitar.com
Green Man Review - Album Reviews - 30 July 2006
Luka Bloom - Innocence
(Big Sky Records, 2005)
Luka Bloom is an artist who has been around for years, but somehow he slipped by me. Not totally,
I knew his name and would occasionally hear one of his songs on the radio and think, "Hmmm,
that sounds pretty good." Still, I never got around to getting a CD, going to a show or otherwise
following up on him. So when I put on Innocence I was surprised to find myself transported.
For a few weeks I listened to the disk at least once a day, finding more depth each time.
The first thing I responded to was the lyrics. Bloom definitely has his own way of turning a
phrase, although at different points I hear similarities with the likes of Bloom's fellow Irishman
Van Morrison or Bob Dylan. Not bad company in my book. Take the opening verse from
'Miracle Cure':
When all the fighting is done
Forgiveness
When all the blood has run
Forgiveness
The opening fist
Brings forgiveness
A wounded hand to kiss
Forgiveness
Like much of the material on Innocence it can be heard as being personal or universal,
romantic or political. Speaking of the political, I want to make a bumper sticker of the title of
the closing song, 'I Am Not at War With Anyone'.
Taken as whole, Innocence might be perceived as a study in how we live in a time of global
travel and migrations yet remain emotionally connected to our own heritage. The two tunes
that deal most explicitly with the theme are 'City of Chicago' and
'No Matter Where You Go, There You Are'.
'City of Chicago' is another telling of the Irish migration to America during the famine
years. The arrangement is bare bones, just Bloom on guitar and vocal. There may be a little
double tracking of the guitar, but it is easy to imagine Bloom performing this alone on stage
and having it sound exactly the same. A few other tracks receive the same treatment and
it shows what a talented instrumentalist Bloom is.
'No Matter Where You Go, There You Are' is a compelling story of a Muslim man who
flees Algeria rather than fight in a war. He travels throughout Europe until, drawn to the
sound of an Irish fiddler in Paris, he finds connection with the music and ultimately a new
home in Galway. Musically it weaves middle-eastern drumming with an Irish melodic sense
as it makes larger political issues personal.
'June' blends Celtic folk with chamber jazz along with repeating phrases that recall
Van Morrison to marvelous effect. The backing musicians are uniformly excellent
including a trio that appears to be Bloom's band; Kenneth Edge on reeds, Joe Csibi
on double bass and Ray Fean on percussion and drums.
In short, Luka Bloom's Innocence is the work of a master singer/songwriter/guitarist
working at the top of his game.
Christopher White
greenmanreview.com/cd/cd_bloom_innocence.html