Having tread the boards of stages all over the globe, 36 years of craft honing has given Luka Bloom from Newbridge a place on the music map. Like many Irish familes then and indeed today Luka comes from a family of singers and writers first going on tour with older brother, Christy Moore, in 1969. It was a tour of English folk clubs and he was fourteen years of age. That was a long time ago. Turning 50 in 2005, Luka has brought his songs to clubs, theatres, fesitivals, bars, arenas and dives all over the world. From McGanns in Boston to The Tivoli in Brisbane to Red Hot Club in Newbridge.

Its 1987, Barry Moore flew out to America and Luka Bloom came back. Singing his songs around the US, gigging with The Pogues, the Violent Femmes, The Dixie Chicks, Hothouse Flowers, The Cowboy Junkies. He signed with Warner Music in Los Angeles, and made

'Riverside', 'The Acoustic Motorbike', and 'Turf'.

He made Salty Heaven in Birr Co Offaly 1997. Luka read about Ani di Franco and her independent crusade to make her own music in her own way, in her own time, released by her own people. This concept excited him and he went about setting up his own independent way of working. In 2000 Luka recorded 'Keeper of the Flame', an album of eclectic covers by great artists.

2001 was a busy year for Luka, he created Big Sky Records and www.lukabloom.com and released 'The Barry Moore Years', an album of early songs written before 1987. In the same year Luka made 'Between the Mountain and the Moon', an album of new original songs. 2003, 'Amsterdam' was released - a live performance from a great night in the Carre Theatre in Amsterdam. In 2004 'Before Sleep Comes' was recorded, nine soft songs for insomniacs.

And now comes his latest offering CD, 'Innocence'. Here are some of the reviews:

Melbourne Sunday Herald Sun - 27 March 2005
* * * * (4 Stars)
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

In Dublin - 23rd February 2005
Innocence seems like a strange title for Luka Blooms 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 simple and static. The glorious acoustic opener Primavera is a romantic and heartfelt love song, the like of which would even tingle the nethers of Granny Grumpy. Subtle instrumentals such as the barely beating beauty Peace on Earth are as joyous and enthralling as it's impressive album mates.
Lovely.

The Irish Times - 18th February 2005
The artistic imperative ebbs and flows, and there are some who won't be too enamoured with the tidal patterns in Luka Blooms'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's gypsy fiddle lines, cosy up inside the music like lifelong bedfellows.

Bloom's tincture of contentment rings true.
* * * * (4 Stars)
Siobhan Long.

Hot Press Review
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 assionate 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

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