Tag: Ireland

CORMAC O CAOIMH – Single Review: “There’s A Crack (Heart Attack)”

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Reviews10 Comments

Hailing from Cork, Ireland is Cormac O Caoimh, a talented singer-songwriter and musician who writes incredibly pleasing indie folk/pop songs filled with sublime melodies and beautiful arrangements. His thoughtful, intelligent lyrics, exploring the universal topics of life, love, hope and loss, are delivered with fine instrumentation and warm, comforting vocals that remind me at times of Paul Simon. The prolific artist has released an impressive amount of music over the past 25 years (both with his previous band Citadels and as a solo artist), including six outstanding albums, the most recent being Where The World Begins, released last October (of 2023). I’ve previously reviewed two of his singles, “I’m in Need”, in 2020, and “My Little Buddha“, in March 2023. You can read those reviews by clicking on the “Related” links at the end of this post.

On May 3rd, Cormac will release his seventh album 1999​-​2012 Vol. 1, featuring 20 tracks. The first 10 are new recordings of older songs of his that were first released between 1999 and 2012, while the second 10 are the original recordings of those same 10 songs. About this project, he remarked “The new recordings are not necessarily better (some might be, some are not) but they are all very different.” In advance of the album release, he’s dropped two of the new tracks as singles – “You’ll Find Me (There’s Gold There Somewhere)”, a reimagining of “There’s Gold There Somewhere”, and “There’s A Crack (Heart Attack)“, a reimagining of “Heart Attack”. Both of the original songs are from his 2012 album A New Season For Love.

The original recording of “Heart Attack” is a lovely though somewhat melancholy song highlighted by Cormac’s beautifully strummed acoustic guitar, accompanied by gentle synths and well-placed electric guitar chords. His soothing vocals really do sound like Paul Simon on this version. “There’s A Crack (Heart Attack)”, which is 25 seconds shorter than the original, has a bigger, more dramatic feel, with added somber piano keys, darker, more powerful synths, and more strongly resonant guitar notes. Cormac’s vocals also sound different, this time much more emphatic and with added echo that impart a greater sense of foreboding. Though each version sounds very different, I really like them both a lot.

The lyrics describe feelings that might occur during a panic attack, when one loses all rationality and a healthy sense of perspective: “Your ears hear a tune that nobody sings. Your eyes are immune to the beautiful things. There’s a crack on your path. There’s no way back. Your heart’s under attack.” The fascinating and quite effective video features distorted footage of a male passenger on an airplane having a panic attack.

Here’s the full album on Bandcamp, with eight tracks currently available for streaming:

To learn more about Cormac, check out his Website
His socials:  Facebook / Twitter / Instagram
Find his music on Bandcamp / Spotify / Soundcloud / Apple Music / YouTube

pMad – Single Review: “Missing”

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pMad is the solo music project of Irish singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and composer Paul Dillon, a lifelong lover of music who’s been involved in songwriting and performing for many years. Based in County Galway, Paul was previously a member of the bands Starve the Barber and The Suicidal Dufflecoats, and currently a member of The Greeting, as well as his project pMad. Heavily influenced by some of his favorite acts like The Cure, The Sisters of Mercy, Sonic Youth, Suicidal Tendencies, The The, Arctic Monkeys, The Strokes and Tom Waits, his dramatic sound is an arresting blend of darkwave, post-punk, alternative and goth rock, with even a touch of indie metal thrown into the mix for greater impact. He’s also a strong advocate for social justice, emotional well-being and the environment, which he freely expresses in many of his songs.

Since December 2021, he’s released an impressive amount of music, including numerous singles, two EPs and two albums, his latest of which, I in Power, drops today, along with one of the album’s tracks “Missing“, which I’ll be writing about. I’ve previously featured him twice on this blog when I reviewed two of his singles, “Broken” and “Sisters”, the latter of which spent three months in my Top 30 and ranks #73 on my 100 Best Songs of 2022 list. 

On “Missing”, pMad explores the human tendency to sometimes take our relationships for granted and not fully value people while they’re with us, only to realize too late how much they meant to us after they’re gone from our lives. He elaborates “pMad is about embracing the imperfect nature of existence and delivering powerful messages through music. ‘Missing’ is a reflection on the importance of cherishing relationships before it’s too late.“

The song kicks off with a somber bass groove accompanied by a rapid thumping drumbeat, which are soon joined by a jagged guitar riff and pMad’s haunting vocals. Eventually, the music expands into an electrifying soundscape of beautiful swirling guitar notes and sparkling synths, that ever-present dark bassline and gnarly guitar keeping the song’s overall brooding feel fully intact. His vocals become more fervent in the choruses as he laments “Nobody’s out there, Nobody’s waiting. Times are tough. It’s not just a hole in the ground.” It’s another superb single by this creative and talented artist.

The artwork for the single features an original painting by Lasma Dublane-Dillon. 

And here’s the full album, featuring eight outstanding tracks, on Bandcamp. Besides “Missing”, other standout tracks for me are “Down” and “Opinion”.

Follow pMad: Facebook / X (Twitter) / Instagram

Find his music on Bandcamp / Spotify / Apple Music / Soundcloud / YouTube / Amazon

BENJAMYN & BRÍ – Single Review: “Illuminate”

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Reviews3 Comments

Today I’m pleased to showcase the enchanting collaborative single “Illuminate“, by Irish singer-songwriter and electronic music producer BENJAMYN (aka Ben Hogan) and Irish singer-songwriter Brí (aka Briana Horan). I’ve previously featured Brí twice on this blog, whereas BENJAMYN is new to me.

For a bit of background on the two artists, both of whom are based in Dublin, BENJAMYN is a multi-instrumentalist who’s been performing since he was a child, experimenting with musical genres ranging from indie rock and acoustic folk to funk and hip-hop to create his own distinctive blend of indie, dance, and electronica. His songs have received coverage from radio stations, blogs and playlists across Ireland and beyond, and he’s played numerous shows around Dublin since launching his music project in 2018. This past February he released his marvelous debut album FLOW to both critical and fan acclaim.

Brí is a lovely and talented singer-songwriter with the voice of an angel, creating hauntingly beautiful and emotionally compelling indie pop with folk and electronic overtones. In the summer of 2019, she began dropping a series of singles that culminated in the release of her excellent debut album Hide, in October 2021. Her music has garnered radio airplay and received high praise from numerous music writers, me included (I wrote about two of her singles, “More Than” and “Time”, which you can read by clicking on the ‘Related’ links at the end of this post.) She’s performed at Beatvyne’s Music X Tech Experience, Whelan’s Ones to Watch, The Ruby Sessions, and headlined The Sound House in Dublin and Spirit Store in Dundalk.

Released through BlueTide Music, “Illuminate” was co-written and recorded virtually by BENJAMYN and Brí, produced by BENJAMYN (who also created the striking artwork for the single), mixed by Michael Heffernan and mastered by Peter Montgomery. About their first collaboration together, Brí commented “I heard the early beginnings of Ben’s beat on Instagram. I was so compelled to write a song to it that I messaged him straight away; luckily he was up for a co-write. Both of us were going through our own ‘uphill battle’ at the time. ‘Illuminate’ fueled us to overcome those struggles and we hope it does the same for you.” BENJAMYN added “I was buzzing to work with Brí on this track. It all came about so naturally after she heard an earlier version of the beat, and when we spoke I knew she would be perfect for it. Once we started writing the song together it really came into its own. I think we both felt the same vibe from the beginning, and I leveraged our ideas with the production as best I could. I can’t wait for people to hear it and feel like they’re lighting up.”

The song is gorgeous, featuring an intricate mix of shimmery and skittering percussive synths layered over a deep, pulsating synth bass beat, creating a captivating atmospheric soundscape that conveys feelings of enlightenment, of emerging from darkness into the glorious light.

The lyrics speak to addressing our challenges head-on, learning to overcome them, or at least accept them and not allow them to defeat us, in order to live a brighter existence. I like how Brí sings the first two verses, with BENJAMYN joining her at the end of the second verse “Shedding my skin, it’s paper thin, body twitching, I’m itching. Problem, it’s time to fix it. I’m reaching in, I’m healing all of my feelings. Feeling good, good. Pick myself up off the floor, I can do what I want.“, then singing the third verse: “I’m fighting on an uphill battle, but my wounds are only small and shallow. I move with greater purpose filling me, my shine is light a starlight shimmering. If I could take the world into this fight, and turn all of the darkness into light. Then maybe they would stop prohibiting, and we could all begin envisioning a brighter way.” He’s a fine singer too, and his warm vocals complement Brí’s lilting ethereal vocals quite nicely.

Here’s the song on Youtube:

And on Soundcloud:

Connect with BENJAMYN:  Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Find his music on Bandcamp / Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube

 Connect with Brí:  Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Find her music on Bandcamp / Spotify / Soundcloud / Apple Music 

CORMAC O CAOIMH – Single Review: “My Little Buddha”

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Reviews11 Comments

Irish musician and singer-songwriter Cormac O Caoimh is a skillful wordsmith, guitarist and vocalist from Cork. He writes sublime indie folk/pop songs filled with thoughtful, intelligent lyrics touching on the universal subjects of life, love, hope and loss, and delivers them with subtle hooks, fine instrumentals and pleasing vocals that remind me at times of Paul Simon. His catchy melodies seem to effortlessly draw us in, then stay with us long after the songs end. As Mojo Magazine once so eloquently put it: “each song superglues to the memory“, and indeed they do! His songs have earned him comparisons to such artists as The Go Betweens, Badly Drawn Boy, Elliott Smith, Crowded House, Nick Drake, Leonard Cohen and Sufjan Stevens.

Photo by Ivan Begala

Cormac has released an impressive amount of music since 2007, including five studio albums, the most recent being the beautiful Swim Crawl Walk Run, released in May 2020. In February 2020, I reviewed “I’m in Need”, the lead single from that album. He followed in June 2022 with his lovely single “There Must Be a Catch”, and since then has dropped five more singles, the latest of which is “My Little Buddha“, a song he says is “about living in the now“. For the song’s recording, Cormac sang lead vocals and played guitars and keyboards, Aoife Regan sang backing vocals, and Cormac’s frequent collaborator, friend and fellow musician Martin Leahy played drums and bass. The track was mixed by Adam Whittaker, and mastered by Hafod Mastering.

It’s a charming song, with beautiful guitar work, accompanied by gentle bass and percussion, with a frosting of twinkly synths adding a lovely magical touch to the proceedings. Cormac’s vocals are comforting and warm as he sings the sweet lyrics expressing his love and assurance to a child, telling them to enjoy their moment, free from fears or worries: “Dance, no words my little Buddha. Dance, no fear, my little Buddha, Dance, no worries no fear here.” Aoife’s delicate backing vocals nicely complement Cormac’s in perfect harmony.

The delightful video for “My Little Buddha” features the same footage of actor Christopher Walken dancing around a deserted hotel lobby that was originally used in Fatboy Slim’s award-winning video for his 2001 song “Weapon of Choice”.

Those who purchase the song on Bandcamp will get an exclusive bonus b-side track “Believe (If You Feel)”, a mellow reimagining of Cormac’s song “If You Feel” from his debut album Start a Spark.

To learn more about Cormac, check out his Website
Connect with him on  Facebook / Twitter / Instagram
Find his music on Bandcamp / Spotify / Soundcloud / Apple Music

pMad – Single Review: “Sisters”

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Reviews5 Comments

pMad is the solo music project of Irish singer-songwriter Paul Dillon, a lifelong lover of music who’s been involved in songwriting and performing for years. Based in County Galway, Paul was previously a member of the bands Starve the Barber and The Suicidal Dufflecoats, and currently a member of The Greeting, as well as his project pMad. His eclectic sound, which is a dramatic and fascinating blend of darkwave, post-punk, alternative and goth rock, is heavily influenced by some of his favorite acts like The Cure, The Sisters of Mercy, Sonic Youth, Suicidal Tendencies, The The and Tom Waits.

When the pandemic lockdowns impacted his and just about every other artists’ ability to make and perform music, Paul created a “The Best of Irish Indie” page on Facebook, in which he ran a series of ‘Best of Irish’ polls. The response was so positive, he was newly energized and inspired to rework and record some of his previously-written songs, along with some newly-written ones. Without ever being in the same room together, he took advantage of modern recording technologies to create a number of singles remotely in collaboration with Zedakube Recording (Ireland), Protonaut Studio (Germany) and Elith Mastering Labs (Mexico). He released his debut single “Who Am I” last December, then followed in February with “Medicine”, and “Broken” in April (which I reviewed in a Fresh New Tracks post). He subsequently dropped a six-track EP Broken in May, featuring four songs and two remixes, then another single “Horror” in June, and today returns with his latest single “Sisters“. 

Like most of pMad’s songs, it’s dark, brooding and intense, but I loved “Sisters” upon my first listen. Even my husband, who’s not much into goth or alternative rock, liked it the moment he heard it. What a magnificent song it is, driven by a deep, chugging bassline, and awash in ominous darkwave synths, layered guitars and pulsating drums. There are so many brilliant instrumental textures and elements, such as the contrasting shimmery and gnarly, reverb-soaked guitars and dramatic swirling synths, all creating a darkly beautiful cinematic soundscape for pMad’s arresting monotone vocals that come across as simultaneously menacing and hopeful.

About “Sisters”, pMad says it speaks of “those we love gone too soon. They don’t go away very far, they walk beside us every day… having left such an impression on us! They are still loved, still missed and a very important influence on our lives.” He elaborated further in an interview for the NenesButler Presents Music blog: “The inspiration for ‘Sisters’ was my youngest sister Keira who just dropped dead one day! Too young and too good to die, yet she did. We mourned, but the world will spin with you or without you. So, life goes on but she left an indelible mark in my life, like my father and relations and friends that have died. She was a cool, calm character and had some great sayings and thoughts on life. Of course, like me and any of us, she was not perfect, and had a few of her own demons to conquer too. She always saw the good in people, [and] the one great thing she always said, if someone was mean to her or anyone, was ‘be kind to them, you don’t know what they are going through right now’.

“Sisters” is fantastic, and I think it’s the best single released yet by pMad! He plans on dropping more singles in the coming months, and his album Who Why Where What is scheduled for release in November.

The fabulous artwork for the single was created by Little Bird Design.

Follow pMad:  Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Stream his music:  Spotify / Apple Music / Soundcloud / YouTube

Purchase:  Bandcamp / Amazon

AVA VOX – Album Review: “Immortalised”

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Ava Vox is the music project of Irish singer-songwriter Elaine Hannon, a fascinating and seasoned artist who’s been involved with music for much of her life. Originally from Dublin and now based in County Meath, she started her music career at the age of 17 as vocalist for a band, then in 1986 she formed alternative goth rock/post-punk band The Seventh Veil. Their music garnered airplay on Irish radio and earned positive reviews in local press, and they even won a Battle of the Bands competition. They lasted five years until disbanding in 1991. Hannon spent the next few decades involved with various other music projects, and was in the early stages of forming another band when the Covid pandemic brought everything to a halt (as it did for just about every other artist and band) in early 2020. Unable to perform live or record together, she eventually made the decision that September to create her own solo act under the moniker Ava Vox.

With her distinctive deep vocal timbre and commanding delivery, not to mention her arresting goth persona, Ava Vox is a dynamic and compelling performer. Her music style is similar to that of her previous band The Seventh Veil, namely alternative rock imbued with goth rock and post-punk elements, and steeped in strong 80s sensibilities. She began recording songs remotely with a talented group of musicians from Dublin, Scotland, Brazil and Italy, for what would become her debut album Immortalised, which she released on March 25th. Specifically, piano/keyboards and Hammond organ were played by Ray McLoughlin, who also arranged the strings and co-produced the album, electric guitar by Enda Dempsey, bass by James Blennerhassett, and drums Robbie Casserly.

The album features eight marvelous tracks, five of which were previously written and performed by Hannon and her The Seventh Veil bandmates, along with three covers of iconic songs by The Cure, David Bowie and Soft Cell. She elaborates: “I revisited some songs that were written collectively by me and my previous band. I wanted to give these songs new life again, for the world to hear them. Then these songs would be preserved for evermore” – i.e. ‘immortalised’. As for the three covers, she stated that each of those artists and songs were inspirational for her, and hold a special place in her heart.

The album bursts open with “Crash” a darkly beautiful cinematic rocker and standout track. I love the aggressive, pulse-pounding beat, fortified with gothic industrial synths, powerful galloping rhythms and – most appropriately – a torrent of crashing cymbals. Ava’s commanding vocals raise goosebumps as she issues dire warnings of impending doom. The dramatic video, produced by Isaac Burke, is intended to bring attention to the devastation caused by climate change/global warming. Ava portrays the white witch goddess, symbolizing mother nature, who loves the earth and all its species, and provides us with a glimpse of the present and what the future could be, the potential end of the world/extinction of species and the human race.

All of the tracks on Immortalised are strong. “Silent Tear” and “Alone Again” are beautiful synth and guitar-driven rock songs, with compelling melodies that stuck with me long after hearing them. The latter song describes an abusive relationship, wherein the victim eventually finds the courage to escape from their abuser, but sadly falls prey to the abuser’s false charms and promises to change, returning for more: “It’s here again, in rings of garland. Opened eyes and telling hearts. Punch me, hard against the wall. Kick me, trip me, hush me til I fall.”

Another favorite of mine is “One Sweet Goodbye“, a haunting piano ballad about the searing pain that results from the end of a relationship. Ray McLoughlin’s gorgeous piano and string arrangement create a stunning cinematic backdrop for Ana’s heart-wrenching vocals as she laments “Goodbye, goodbye, I feel as though I will die.” “Heart of Good Intention” is great too, with it’s exuberant organ-based groove that calls to mind the music of early 80s The Kinks.

Ava does a fine justice to the three cover songs: “Tainted Love“, originally written by Ed Cobb and recorded by American singer Gloria Jones in 1964, and later covered in 1981 by British duo Soft Cell, “Life on Mars” by David Bowie, and “Love Song” by The Cure. “Tainted Love” is given a full-band treatment, with piano and Hammond organ played by Ray McLoughlin, electric guitar by Daniel Martin and drums by Jonathan Owens, whereas “Life on Mars” and “Love Song” are more stripped down, with mainly piano by Ray McLoughlin (as well as Hammond organ on “Life on Mars” and a bit of drums at the end of “Love Song”) accompanying Ava’s arresting vocals. “Love Song” is one of my all-time favorite songs, and has been covered by many acts, most notably 311, Adele, Good Charlotte, Tori Amos, Death Cab for Cutie and Nina Sky. Ava’s slowed-down interpretation is quite lovely, and her heartfelt vocals are particularly moving, beautifully expressing the intense enduring love described in The Cure’s lyrics.

I’m glad Ava Vox decided to immortalize her songs with this album, and she and her crew have done an outstanding job in its production and execution. Listening to Immortalised is 26 and a half minutes well spent.

Connect with Ava: Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Stream her music: Spotify / Apple Music / Soundcloud / YouTube

Purchase on Bandcamp

New Song of the Week – “More Than” by Brí

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Reviews7 Comments

Brí is a lovely and talented singer-songwriter from Offaly County, Ireland, who creates hauntingly beautiful and emotionally compelling indie pop with folk and electronic overtones. She released her debut single “Low Supply” in June 2019, then followed in 2020 with “Polite” and “Burying’. On the strength of those singles, Brí sold-out her Whelan’s headline show, received high praise from numerous blogs, gained radio airplay, and was selected to perform at Beatvyne’s Music X Tech Experience. Now she returns with her fourth single “More Than“, which drops today, March 19th. It’s an enchanting slice of atmospheric electro-folk, and I’m happy to make it my New Song of the Week. The song will be included on her forthcoming debut album Hide, due for release in October.

With assistance by her friend Aidan Mulloy on electric guitar and bass, and the production wizardry of Darragh Nolan of Asta Kalapa studios in Wexford, Brí has created a brooding yet soul-stirring soundscape. Floating over an eerily-beautiful, pervasive drone, they’ve layered sparkling keyboards, gentle percussion and Aiden’s gorgeous shimmery guitar notes, all of which create a dreamy atmospheric backdrop for Brí’s soft, ethereal vocals, which she recorded in her bedroom due to Covid restrictions. The captivating music and vocals slowly build into a climactic goosebump-raising cresendo at the end.

As to the song’s meaning, Brí explains: ”‘More Than’ is about craving more than the situation you currently find yourself in. It’s a place where passion and emptiness meet, the point where two conflicting paths overlap and where all that is cloudy becomes clear.” This is beautifully expressed in her thoughtful and honest lyrics: “I can’t be me anywhere there’s not music in the air, I can’t pretend to care about these things that make no difference to me. What about originality? Can I be me? My soul is longing for something more than, more than, more than this.”

The beautiful and haunting video was created after Brí’s initial plans for a big production video fell through. She elaborates: “My original plans for the visuals fell through due to travel restrictions. After a lot of waiting for restrictions to lift, I decided to direct my own music video and my local friend Constance Vance stepped in as my photographer, videographer and stylist. We discovered that she had talent to burn. The photos and video were shot at Charleville Castle, Tullamore. In this video, I long for more than my current situation as I struggle to sit with the spinning wheel which, for me, symbolises that ‘groundhog day’ feeling. Watching this video back reminded me that my passion for songwriting could never have been discovered if there wasn’t firstly a struggle. The very action of writing a song to express this was my answer to feeling the passion and excitement in my life that I was craving. I love the simplicity of that.“

Well, we love your song and video Brí, so please keep making more great music for us to enjoy!

Follow Brí:  Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Stream/purchase her music: Spotify / Soundcloud / Apple Music / Bandcamp

HERO WARSHIP – Double-Single Review: “Therewithal / Halcyon Then Gone”

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Hero Warship is the solo music project of Joey Doyle, who’s also front man for the Irish band Fiction Peaks, a terrific alternative folk-rock group I’ve featured on this blog a number of times in 2016 and 2017. He released two singles “Chrysanthemum” and “Lesser of Evils” in May (2019), and now returns with another wonderful double single “Therewithal” and “Halcyon Then Gone“, which drop today, October 24. The talented Dubliner is a great songwriter and guitarist, with a beautiful singing voice too. (He’s also a pretty good visual artist.)

Doyle takes a stripped down approach on these two songs, using only guitars and piano to create a captivating soundscape for his gentle vocals. The first track “Therewithal” features layers of cheerfully strummed acoustic and rhythm guitars, accompanied by more somber piano keys that give the song a contemplative air. He earnestly sings the poignant lyrics that seem to me to speak of the ephemeral nature of happiness and contentment. “By the way, I think I thought I had a handle on life suspended on a sunbeam infinitely calls, to an individual sense of therewithal.”

“Halcyon Then Gone” is a simple but lovely song with a haunting piano-driven melody providing the only music for Doyle’s heartfelt, falsetto vocals. He told me the song is a kind of tongue and cheek look at making millions by cheating the casino (casino as a metaphor for a kind of consumer driven, shallow life style). but then giving all the money away and doing it all over again: “When I make my millions I’ll call you, to meet me at the end before we start. This time I’m sure, I’m on to my surefire winning streak, loading the dice, cleaning the house out of countless funds, then give it all away again.”

Purchase on Bandcamp / Google Play 

AGENCY PANIC – Single Review: “Panic”

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Reviews3 Comments

Agency Panic 2

Agency Panic is an alternative/progressive metal rock band based in Wexford, Ireland, and in July they made an auspicious debut with the release of their powerful new single “Panic.” It’s the first song off what they are calling their ‘drip feed’ EP, which is being released one song at a time. Making the hard-hitting noise are J.D.K. on vocals, Tubs on guitars, Lee on bass, and Revsy on drums.

“Panic” is four minutes and 49 seconds of hard rock perfection. The track opens with a blast of crashing drums and fierce guitar, and never lets up. The guitar work is phenomenal – Tubs sets the airwaves afire with scorching riffs of shredded and wailing guitars that are pure bliss for those of us who love intense, guitar-driven melodic rock. Lee lays down a solid bedrock of heavy bass, while Revsy pounds his drum kit like a man possessed. J.D.K.’s strong, passionate vocals are chilling as he snarls the dark lyrics, becoming downright feral in the song’s finale when he screams the words alongside the raging guitars, sending shivers up and down my spine.

It’s an incredible song that leaves me wanting to hear more from this amazing group of musicians, and I cannot wait for their next single! The intense black and white video shows the band performing the song in a darkened room with ominous-looking shadows, alternating with scenes of a man stealing, then destroying, medical records and cutting off his fingerprints in what appears to be an attempt to hide his very existence. Later in the video are scenes of civil unrest and other disturbing images, juxtaposed with the band’s performance of the now almost violent music and vocals. Have a look and prepare to be blown away:

Connect with Agency Panic:  Facebook / Twitter / Instagram
Stream “Panic” on  Spotify /  Apple Music
Purchase on  Bandcamp /  iTunes

ANNA MITCHELL – Album Review: “Anna Mitchell”

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Reviews5 Comments

Anna Mitchell album-cover

Anna Mitchell is a singer/songwriter based in Cork, Ireland, and she’s released an astonishingly beautiful album. Her self-titled Anna Mitchell dropped in January, and it’s as close to perfection as any recent album I’ve heard. This is Anna’s second studio album, which follows her 2015 debut effort Down to the Bone. With a lot of albums, it can take a couple of listens for the music to grow on me, but with Anna Mitchell I was blown away the moment I heard it. Each new track was a revelation, leading me to quickly recognize that here was an exceptional work of musical art.

Anna Mitchell

Drawing inspiration from some of the best singers and songwriters in music – including  Joni Mitchell, Emmylou Harris, Bonnie Raitt, Linda Ronstadt, Ray LaMontagne, Stevie Nicks, Tim O’ Brien, Bob Dylan, Shawn Colvin and Gillian Welch – Anna melds folk, country, Americana, rock’n’roll, pop and blues influences to create exquisite songs that speak to oft-covered subjects of love and relationships, and the joy and pain they bring. Her strong, clear vocals could easily go toe to toe with many of the aforementioned singers. The album was recorded independently, with musical assistance from well known Irish musicians Davie Ryan on drums, Brian Hassett on bass and Alan Comerford on guitar. It was engineered and co-produced by Brendan Fennessy.

Anna Mitchell opens with the gorgeous ballad “All These Things.” Anna immediately casts us under her spell with captivating vocals that seem to float and soar above layers of stunning, richly-textured guitars and a humming bass line. Davie Ryan provides just the right amount of percussion, and the lush horns add a jazzy flourish later in the track. The song’s unusual video is extraordinary:

Anna dials up the tempo on “It Pours,” a great pop-rock song with the kind of strong driving beat that I love. The bluesy guitars are terrific, and Anna’s sultry vocals turn passionate as she admonishes one to stop whining and start living: “Hold your tongue, hold your tongue, I’m not listening. You’re not the only one with sadness or sin. I feel the weight of the world creepin’ in. And if you don’t start kicking you won’t stop sinking. It pours outta you, outta you.” The trippy video shows blacklit images of faces painted with phosphorescent colors in the dark.

“Radio Waves” is a lovely but bittersweet Country-rock song with slide guitar, piano and organ as the primary instruments. Anna earnestly sings of escaping from life’s troubles through music: “Radio waves, audio slave, turn me up ’cause I’m down.” On “Never Learn,” Anna’s smooth vocals are accompanied by a bewitching piano melody as she tells someone their broken relationship is beyond repair: “You can waste your time, but keep your hands off mine. Past the point of no return.” Staying with that theme, on the Country-rock track “Get Out” Anna tells a man in no uncertain terms that she’s through with him: “It would be nice to stop and chat, but I don’t like you. Well they say that you’re a really good catch, but I don’t want you / Do you just feel like a man when you shout? Oh, get out! Just get out!”

One of my favorite songs is the rousing foot-stomper “Dog Track.” Thanks to heavy, distorted electric guitar, buzzing bass and pounding drum beat, the track’s harder and edgier than the others. And like the music, Anna’s echoed vocals are more aggressive as she snarls the lyrics about a guy she finds attractive who’s also bad news: “Is that a wolf howlin’ or is it just the wind? Well I met him down at the dog track. He was walking around like he was on the attack.”

Here’s an electrifying live performance of “Dog Track” with the Cork Opera House Concert Orchestra.

Anna’s impressive songwriting talents are showcased on the melodically complex “Better Life.” The mysterious and powerful song features a strong bass line overlain with tremolo-heavy guitars and an array of instruments, including piano, slide guitar, organ, violin, and drums. “Slice of the Pie” is a call for respect for the working class in  their struggle to make a living: “You don’t judge a man, just by the way he found to feed his children. Everybody wants a slice of the pie. They’re just like you and I, trying to get by.” The album closes with Anna acknowledging she was wrong, asking her man to “Come Home.” She teases: “I like your bedside manner / Come home, when you coming back to me?”

Anna Mitchell is a phenomenal album that needs to be heard by as many ears as possible. I’m so glad Anna reached out to me, and I’m thrilled to do what I can help promote her and her incredible music.

Those of you in Ireland can see Anna and her band at one of these upcoming shows:

Saturday, February 10      Levi’s Corner House, Ballydehob  8 PM
Friday, February 16       Whelan’s, Dublin  8 PM
Sunday, February 18      John Cleer’s Bar & Theatre, Kilkenny  8 PM

Connect with Anna:  Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram
Stream her music on Spotify / Soundcloud / Apple Music
Purchase on Bandcamp or iTunes