The Horslips back in the studio

Hotpress.com can reveal that Horslips' definitive line-up have been recording together for the first time since 1979.

The historic sessions featuring Johnny Fean, Eamonn Carr, Charles O'Connor, Barry Devlin and Jim Lockhart took place in Westmeath's Grouse Lodge studio, which has also been home recently to Hope Of The States, Muse and the Manic Street Preachers.

"They spent five days recording acoustic versions of old Horslips songs, which were originally meant for a documentary on the band but might be released now as a stand-alone album," reveals a well-placed source.

"The catalyst for the sessions was them all going up to the opening of an exhibition of Horslips memorabilia in Derry and thinking, 'Perhaps we should do something for the 200 people who've turned up?' That 'something' was them performing some acoustic numbers, which the documentary-makers who'd traveled up there with them loved."

Due to screen on RTE in the autumn, The Return Of The Dancehall Sweethearts is directed by ex-Dreamchaser man Maurice Linnane whose previous credits include U2 - Live From Slane, PBS' A Celtic Celebration and TV3's The Dunphy Show.

"You could sense the nervousness in the room, but 10, 15 seconds in, it was obvious the old chemistry was there," our man on the spot continues. "It's basically the old songs pared down and played on acoustic guitar, which when you've got someone of Johnny Fean's ability means they still sound extremely powerful."

Whether or not the reunion makes it out of the studio remains to be seen.

"The most you're talking about at the moment is an 'unplugged' album, but if the documentary's well-received and everybody's enjoying themselves, who knows, there may be some shows."