Caruso is the vehicle for South Dublin songwriter Shane Ó Fearghail, who trades in chiming, jangling guitar-fuelled power pop. Divided evenly between acoustic and electric guitar-based songs, this full-band fourteen-tracker alternates between chugging, uptempo tunes such as ‘Freak’ – which blends everything from the Lemonheads to The Cure with a touch of the La’s and Teenage Fanclub – to slowburning rockers like ‘Who Came First.’
The melodies and sound are a tad derivative but well turned out all the same; impressive harmonies and a memorable melody underpin ‘It’s Up To You‘ while ‘Line Of Fire’ boasts echoes of Picturehouse in the melody department, while also recalling James’ 1990’s anthem ‘Sit Down’ in both rhythm and atmosphere. ‘All Your Features’ could be a Crowded House album track; ‘All The King’s Horses’ is a tad laboured in the song construction department; ‘Man Walks Into Doors’ is on more solid ground, while an acoustic ballad, ‘Star’, is stronger still. The increasingly ubiquitous ukulele makes an appearance on the slight ‘Hey Little Sister’. Like all good hosts he saves the good wine until the end – a pared-down acoustic love song, ‘Betty Take A Small Thing’, looks deeper into the heart. Worth checking out...

Key Track: 'Freak'