Singer-songwriter, poet, playwright, producer, collaborative artist and broadcaster – Sean "Dr" Millar is a renaissance man in the truest sense of the word and a long time fixture on the Dublin scene
While not exactly mainstream, and for the most part decidedly radio-unfriendly, his wonderfully skewed worldview is never less than fascinating and – here at least – sonically far-ranging. The moody, druggy late night atmospherics of 'Back In Dublin City When The Fix Was In' recall the gothic tales of Jim White, with echoes of Robbie Robertson's 'Somewhere Down That Lazy River' And it isn't even the longest title here! That honour goes to 'You're Going To Find Out How Much Hurt A Big Heart Can Hold'. It's a country-waltz romp that wouldn't be out of place on a Calexico record, with Millar emoting like a 1950s crooner.
Millar eschews conventional vocal techniques swapping them for a kind of beat-poet, half spoken, stream of consciousness style and, for the most part, it works. The wonderfully titled, sepia toned, scratchy vinyl sounding, 'Bluechip On My Shoulder' deals in the sort of B-movie Americana that M. Ward has been successful with recently, while 'Fatboy' veers into carnival music territory with hints of Syd Barrett psyche-pop
The trip-hoppy 'Money Can Buy Me Drugs', a lurid tale of street dealing and the "glamour" of gangland violence, does what it says on the tin. However, he certainly won't be expecting much in the way of airplay for 'Sports and Pussy', the title coming from the conversational limitations of a barman of his acquaintaince.
A hugely rewarding listen from a unique talent.