Luka Bloom on U2

Reno ([email protected])
Sun, 4 Oct 1998 13:08:39 +0200 (CEST)

There's a special on Luka Bloom on TV some days ago. Luka is an Irish
singer/songwriter who developed his own typical sound while he lived in New
York for three years in the late 80s. Resulting from this, there are subtle
rap-influences in his music, which is very Irish folks music nevertheless. I
saw him play in Galway while I was in Ireland a few weeks ago.. I noticed
these influences were very obvious, not only because he sang LL Cool J's "I
need love" accompanied on guitar, but rather by the endless loops he plays.

While he discusses what he loves about Irish music, and its characteristics
that automatically set a mood (a drone?) he elaborates on what he tries to
create by playing the guitar.

"What I try to do with my guitar, is to try to find a way to create a ..
it's like a canvas for a painting. It's to find a way.. I sort of modelled
myself with U2 actually <laughs> I'm honest about it! I listen to the way
Adam plays, the bass and it's very simple, but it's very strong. It's very
beautifull, clear.. a very defined bass sound. And then the Edge's very high
ringing guitar things... I sort of modelled my guitar playing with *that*.

He concludes that he tries to paint a picture with his guitar, that creates
an atmosphere and the mood, over which he writes a song. Noteworthy is to
mention that U2's music in the early 80s is defined as very spherical..
cinematic :)

And I think he's right.. Adam's bass playing is very often underestimated
and underrated. Some of his parts are brilliant because of its simplicity.
Like he lifts Angel Of Harlem to a higher lever, and I still find the bass
on One Tree Hill carries the song entirely.

Anywayz.. aging
-Reno

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