The Boys Are Back

ASLAN (Midnight At The Olympia, Dublin)

EXPECTATIONS and emotions were high, and given further impetus by the behind-the-curtains intro to 'It's Been So Long', and the big question on everyone's mind was the obvious one? Could Aslan, after a five year break still have the old, old magic.

The answer is resoundingly in the affirmative. In a show that lasted almost 90 minutes, and was, of necessity, composed of mostly older material - they have, after all, only been back together six weeks or so and this was only their second gig - they gave it their all, and proved that rough edges notwithstanding, class wins out every time.

Aslan's magic rests, essentially, on three pillars - the power and melody of the band themselves, the strength of the material, and last but not least, the very special voice of Christy Dignam. "This could be a ball of shite, or a work of art," he said by way of an intro to a new song about the wasting effects of the rock'n'roll lifestyle. It may not yet be the latter, Christy, but it certainly doesn't belong in the first category either.

'This Is' followed, with Dignam's request to "Raise the fuckin' roof on this one" being fully complied with. Fine, six years on, it's still a great song, but to suggest that there aren't lots of others is to considerably understate the worth and effect of songs like 'Sweet Sweet Time', the brilliantly anthemic 'All I Ever Wanted', 'Crazy World' and 'Lovin' Me Lately'.

Guitars, drums and bass, snapped, crackled and popped all night, creating haunting, pulsing tableaux for these and other pieces, and all added to the inescapable conclusion that Aslan are back with a bang redolent of a volcanic eruption.

Go for it, guys, it's there for the taking. Again.

• Oliver P. Sweeney