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Category: Music Review

  • Duncan Maitland: Lullabies for the 21st Century

    Duncan Maitland lullabies for the 21st centuryI’ve been listening to this record for a while now, after having a staggered release in different territories, Duncan Maitland’s solo debut album is out and it’s a great listen.

    ‘Lullabies for the 21st Century’  is an album of fine songwriting with lush harmonies and memorable hooks. Listening to this record I see the vibe in the late 60’s / early 70’s, lush like ELO but without being over the top. The former Picturehouse man has created something timeless here, it nods at the past but is has many contemporary traits.

    ‘Your Century’ starts the album, a simple guitar and harmonies before raising the soundscape with simple but perfectly balanced harmony layers. Current single ‘Terry The Toad’ has a memorable chorus and urges you to hum along to ‘everybody’s playing it cool’. I can’t quite put my finger on what it is, but something here reminds me of the McCartney side of The Beatles. (more…)

  • Samuel Arnold: City Boy EP Review

    SAMUEL ARNOLDDublin based singer songwriter released his City Boy EP this week. The four track offers a great introduction to this new artist.

    The lo fi, simple production suits this EP completely, letting Arnold’s vocals and finger plucking guitar style speak for themselves. This isn’t another ‘oh poor me’ singer songwriter, Arnold lets his quirks show and this sets him apart. His lyrical style seems to have his tongue slightly in his cheek but manages to be spot on the money.

    On the title track ‘City Boy’ Arnold says ‘got laptop burn marks on my laps & I play console to console my lack of the physical’. Ah yes, the potential loneliness of city living. (more…)

  • David Hope and The Henchmen: Hell or High Water Review

    hell or high water‘Hell or High Water’ is the new single from David Hope and The Henchmen. I had been familiar with David’s work as a solo artist but he joined forces with Eoin Jordan and David Murphy in 2009. So far the results are looking good.

    ‘Hell or High Water’ is a melting pot of traditional American country, traditional Irish and rootsy Americana. The Declan Sinnot (Horslips, Christy Moore) production on the track allows Hope’s vocals to breathe while surrounded by a fantastic arrangement. Subtle electric guitar licks and bass never overpower while a brushed snare rhythm drives the track on.

    Wasn’t sure I was going to like this but with each listen there’s something else to take note of, like the chorus backing vocals you don’t even realise are there. Liking it more with each listen, can’t wait to hear more material.

  • The Fallen Drakes: Death of An Actress Review

    The Fallen DrakesI’ve seen the name The Fallen Drakes on the internet a few times over the past week or two, they are finalists in a TodayFM competition to play at Glastonbury. So is it a popularity contest or are they any good?

    The first noticeable thing is the quality of the production, this sounds big budget, clean but not too clean, giving a good idea how the band could sound live. ‘Masquerade’ is a good intro to the band. The track builds from guitar and vocal to a rousing chorus. The band know what they are good at and do it extremely well. This could be on radio anywhere.

    From the offset, ‘Don’t Cry’ is a grittier track, again, rousing to anthemic stature. This is pretty much stadium rock for the now, contemporary sounds matched with classic song writing. (more…)