Planxty – Planxty

Often known as the Black Album, this 1973 debut established the acoustic template for modern Celtic folk groups. Christy Moore's earthy vocals and bodhrán intertwine with Andy Irvine's intricate mandolin and bouzouki phrasing, creating a rich harmonic bed for Liam O'Flynn's majestic uilleann pipes. Rather than simply accompanying the songs, Irvine and Dónal Lunny weave counter-melodies around traditional narrative ballads like Arthur McBride and Raggle Taggle Gypsy, demonstrating how subtle contrapuntal texture can animate ancient storytelling.