Paul Tiernan has been around in various guises for almost three decades, including stints in outfits like Flex & The Fastweather and Interference, as well as performing with ‘60s legend, Donovan. With a following in Europe, particularly in Germany and France the sometime Cork resident does most of his playing outside the country. His style has, over the years, varied but Painkillers is a largely pastoral, almost elegiac affair, with sumptuous arrangements and more than enough well wrought songs to make it his best work in aeons.
With gently plucked banjo and Beach Boys (Smile-era) instrumentation and Tiernan’s voice barely rising above a whisper, ‘Driver’ is a breathtakingly beautiful tune with a gorgeous melody. ‘Boneseekers’ is carnival music, while ‘Flowers’ is another low-key gem. Elsewhere, the poignant, ‘Painkillers’ and evocative, ‘Shooting Fish’ are standouts, while ‘Boxcar Ballerinas’ with electric guitar and heavenly harmonies makes for yet another highlight. Powerful stuff.