06.11.2007: Reviews of recently-released Irish music:Angela Macari-O’Looney

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VESTA VARRO
Weighted Love

Angela Macari-O’Looney

This beautifully choppy number begins with a drumbeat, followed by an undercurrent of bass. Next comes a splash of lead, followed by the haunting verse.

Damien uses falsetto here leading you up to a key change for the chorus. The notation in this composition has a wonderful sense of mystery to it. It sticks in your memory, with a repetitive, but melodic chorus.

There’s a build up of sound, to keep your ear tuned in. Just before the ending, there’s an amazingly ballsy riff, taking you to a weird, lingering ‘reverb’-style finish.

The Vesta Varro sound is one hell of an awakening to the senses!



Coming Back

Innocent and sweet, the intro of “Coming Back” is played by the lead guitar. The 1st line is sung Anthem-style and just when you think you know what the rest is going to sound like, the chorus comes along!

I love this chorus, with Damien using his astounding breath control and fluent vocal range. Every change, every line of this song is pure addiction from start to finish, for the listener.
This is an up-beat and memorable piece of music, that gets more interesting with every listen.

Vesta Varro and their creative innovativeness draw me in, with outstanding lyrics, gutsy , in your face solos throughout. And of course, the icing on the cake has to be Damien’s clear and distinctive voice, being the common denominator in each song.

An injection of harmony is added to this number towards the end, along with the most spectacular lead solo vying for notice.

You are then lifted to a new level with the last chorus done with lead vocals doing melody line, while a refrain is being sung concurrently in the background.

Some rollercoaster ride! Have to have another go!



SENECA
SMILE

Angela Macari-O’Looney

This amazingly romantic number features constant guitar improvisation, combined with the vocals. It’s so laid back and the melody line is soft, relaxing and indulgent. “Smile” is aptly named, ‘because it has a “happy smiley” mood about it.

Rob Hope’s seductive voice can hit the top register and so effortlessly ascend to lower bass notes, I marvel as I listen. While Brendan O’Gorman’s guitar-playing technique definitely creates the magnet that would keep my attention.

The chorus is catchy and refreshing. There’s an input of harmony in the last verse by Yvonne Conaty, which lifts the sound, giving this musical masterpiece a sense of completeness. Then just towards the last chorus, Brendan reminds us he’s there, with a nifty lead solo. Damien Rice meets Doves perhaps? Or, maybe just Seneca meets Seneca!


SO BEAUTIFUL

Starting off with a simple acoustic guitar intro, this ballad-style song is touching and original. “So beautiful” is just that!

There’s an irresistible injection of guitar constantly accompanying the verse, as seems to be something of a speciality of this band. I personally hear a little of Chris Martin in the lead singer’s voice as he lovingly laments us, backed by the unusual but unforgettable guitar plucking technique which teeters on the edge of the contemporary jazz border.

Rippling riffs and wonderful chords make me think of a waterfall, with a never- ending flow. This song has “CLASSIC” written all over it. It’s riveting and just won’t let you forget it!


CLARITY

The violin strains in this number are gorgeous, new and exciting. It’s got such a jazzy sound for me, with sexy notation and there’s a bit of the “traditional” coming through to throw me off.

What a lovely contrast of genres, so perfectly blended. A very gutsy and addictive tune along with a cocktail of styles, are all rolled up in one package making me feel I’m personally being serenaded by the voice of Rob, along with the rest of the quartet.


The catchy chorus and choppy beat are all performed with pure excellence, by an ensemble of musician’s enjoying their art as they produce it. And much too enjoyable is the whole sound, so I listen again and again.



THE KINETIKS
SHUFFLE YOUR FEET

Angela Macari-O’Looney


This is an exciting and fresh sound, with a riveting drumbeat in the build up to the lead intro. And what a magic guitar intro it is too!

This number is a concoction of “The Jam” and “Madness”, combined with newer up-beat styles. It would appeal to a good range of age groups having that ability to resurrect older musical influences, along with grabbing your attention with nifty riffs, unexpected key changes and tongue-in cheek lyrics.

Shuffle your feet has a great little melodic riff at the end of each line of verse. This adds a unique style, to the composition. Great middle-eight with minor chords building up to the chorus. Then BAM!

Complete change of direction, like you’re on some kind of crazy motorbike ride going down one road, then swerving down another lane.

The last verse is a total work of art, with a thumping rhythm, bringing you back to the middle-eight. Comfortable! You climb back up to that fab key change again before the chorus. Finally there’s a sharp shock ending. Perfect!



PRIMROSE
by Angela Macari-O’Looney


“Pretty Girl”

This track caught my eye, when I listened to the tracks on Irish Unsigned. This number has a tinge of “Cold Play” in its style.

However, I feel that this band have a uniqueness of their own, in that they can produce such beautiful lyrics and general composition in a song. As I listened, it touched a nerve and I felt moved by the lovely array of chords and the appealing strains of Adrian Sullivan’s voice.


THE BEST IN YOU

This is the new single. I’m drawn in by this lovely number, with its catchy melody. I hear the vague strains of contemporary jazz in the intro, in that the guitarist uses octaves for his riffs. Unusual, but distinctive too!

The chorus is so easy to sing along with and although it’s written to sound like a simple love song, there are quite a few interesting key changes, and chord combinations in there. It starts off with a slow guitar intro, with a synthesized sound running behind the verse.

Then there’s a change of key in the build up to the refrain “But the best in you…….” Towards the end Adrian shows off a little with a few sha la la’s and goes up into falsetto. He has a very sexy voice!

The name “Primrose” doesn’t appeal to me as a name for a band, but that aside, I’d definitely be watching out for them, in the future. Their music speaks for itself!


SUDDYN
GRAVITY

Angela Macari-O’Looney


This amazing number has a good strong build-up. This is followed by solitary vocals backed by an anthem-style drumbeat, a little reminiscent of U2’s style. The lyrics are touching and Alan shows off his fabulous vocal range here.

Although a little similar in style to Thom York, of “Radiohead” in his phrasing, he definitely puts his own stamp on “Gravity”, which to me is instrumentally and lyrically quite a work of genius.

Towards the end, there’s a pull back from the instrumental, where Alan sings the first lines of chorus unaccompanied, lending a dramatic effect.

This number is well written, extremely melodic, beautifully performed and has a brilliant and well thought out style. The last line, as earlier in the song is sung unaccompanied. The listener can almost feel themselves being pulled by the force of gravity, to where the song ENDS!


ECHOES OF ANGELS

A softly played piano intro starts this number off. Then you are transported to a completely unexpected verse, with a dynamic sound. It’s fast-moving, distortion used in the rhythm- guitar chords being played in the background, lending a rock effect to the theme.

Echoes of Angels has a powerful melody line, catchy chorus and what makes it a winner, for me is that beat. Up-tempo and so easy to sing and sway to, you just can’t lose interest!

The middle eight has this big build up, to lift the song to yet another level and gives a lovely sense of completeness about it.

These great lyrics, unforgettable melody and such sweet-sounding guitar going on behind the haunting almost ethereal vocals, have swept me away.



HOMESTAR RUNNER
Tracks from “Kill the messenger”.
Angela Macari-O’Looney



Photogenic

There’s a real “Squeeze” sound about this number, which is young and arrogant! Fun, with a choppy beat and cheeky lyrics give it ATTITUDE. The intro has great crunchy chords, followed by a big sound that includes all instruments.

Then you’ve got Stephen Arkins coming in with the punky verse and a thumpin’ drumbeat in the pre-chorus lines, to change key for the lively chorus, which is jam-packed with harmony and action-packed throughout. Magic!

That staccato style rhythm and constant fast flow, is just what Irish Alternative music needs. This mixture of styles is “In your face” and confident, while musical and gets my vote for “listenability”. It’s great for dancing or just jumping about to and catchy enough to remember.

A last blast of chorus leads the listener to a dramatic and sudden ending. ZAP!



BRIGHTEST STAR


Alan sings this sweet anthem, playing dramatic piano accompaniment in the intro. Building from soft verse up to a full and explosive chorus, it’s a love song which to me, sounds like the makings of a wonderful theme tune for a movie.

Classic–sounding with a lovely sense of ebb and flow going on in a dynamic and captivating melody line. There’s a haunting guitar solo with a resounding echo that gives it a touch of magic.

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“Anthma” I’m informed, is the term “Suddyn” have given to an unforgettable song writing style, which endures throughout each epic creation that has come from their amazing Cornucopia of songs to date.



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