In my first round with this cd (there will be plenty more...) I was surprised by the style of music contained here.None of the prejudices that would apply to Irish rooted music(big headed rock or tiring folk) were to strike you.Instead this clear balance between an original sound and well known classic acoustic pop backed formulas,well I loved it.
Right touch of rawness and sweetness being straight to the point when it needs to and sensitive and carassful to help you digest it directly afterwards.Amidst this sympathetic balance Gavins voice is found bluesy or contemporary soft male or classically balladic or even smart with a touch of mean.
I dont know the guy but it seems like this is an honest and sincere project so such a colourful display of timbre nuances interface with an equally colourful personality.He also shares with Dylan (my most hated) or even Hendrix (my most loved) a quality I find difficulty to define.The vocal lines have a rhythm of their own, ahead or behind the click and certainly flowing and making the vocal take more alive, thereby captivating the attention of the listener even more.My guess is there wasnt an abusive amount of editing ,good in these times of canned vocal tracks.The arrangements are also very well put together and every instrument and sound kicks in with great taste, in the right amount and adding to an overall organic texture that really eases your ears and mind.
'Spiders has a clever layout of chords in the first 12 bars and it reminded me a lot of 'Junk' from McCartneys self-titled debut album and 'Trails'is a wonderful musical soundscape that rings the bell of 'Dear Prudence' from the Beatles and for some reason even when it is a fantastic mood injection as it is 'Trails' kind of asks for some vocal lines. I enjoyed the broken rhythmic structure of 'Bed Head Manipulator ', the heart felt performance and sad optimism in 'A heart needs a home' and the thoughtful 'Brethren' which makes me daydream of a serious low key voiced Harry Nilsson that might exist in a parallel dimension. For me the very radio phonic 'Not an Irish Pub in Sight' is an obvious Single choice.
So I think that if this CD falls in your hands and you feel strong enough to dive into the clear waters of someone else’s melancholy to maybe escape or to understand your own a little better .
This listening experience will fill you with a great deal of positivity that comes from the peace of mind that emanates from songs that at first might seem a bit on the blue side of life.
Certainly not a product for the over sensitive teenagers or the over sensible adult oriented rock listeners but for good old gutsy people that have been around and back. Enjoy!

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