If any Irish musician deserves the box set treatment, it's Christy Moore. For four decades now the storm in a T-shirt has been a national institution, both as a solo artist and a member of supergroups Planxty and Moving Hearts. This six-CD collection is the first comprehensive overview of his entire career, its 101 tracks taking in live performances, obscure b-sides and other rarities, alongside the Kildare man's best-known hits. As usual with box sets, a fair chunk of this material is there for historic rather than artistic reasons - in particular, few will want to listen to some dodgy recordings of Moore in smoky folk clubs more than once. The best of it, however, is nothing short of wonderful - heartfelt, moving and with an underlying sense of humour that's authentically Irish. In other words, vintage Christy. If you treat yourself to one luxury music item this year, make it this one - it's a fitting monument to an absolutely outstanding artist.
