For the last two decades, erstwhile Almighty frontman Ricky Warwick has been something of a musical chameleon. He’s flirted with poodle rock, punk and Britpop in an attempt to find his true voice, but now, at the ripe old age of 42, he finally sounds at home with himself. Belfast Confetti is his third solo record and by far his most important both sonically and personally. Pretension free and as subtle as a punch in the mouth, this collection is raw, honest and laced with a swaggering, drunken beauty that’s become Warwick’s calling card throughout his career.
Belfast Confetti marks the first real time where Ricky opens his heart about the country of his birth. He’s alluded to his upbringing before, but now he embraces his past like a long lost lover and sounds all the better for it. ‘The Arms Of Belfast Town’ is almost Waterboys-like with its cavalcade of fiddles, ‘Punchin’ Thunder’ is a fist in the air anthem and ‘Hank’s Blues,’ (which comes complete with Ricky singing through a bullhorn) is one of the few modern country/folk songs that actually manages to take the genre kicking and screaming into the 21st century. To say that Belfast Confetti marks a milestone in Warwick’s already storied history is an understatement the 11-track album is a powerful and raw affair and one of his most vital. Nowadays an acoustic guitar might be his weapon of choice, but Ricky can still rock with the best of them.
Key Track: ‘Punchin’ Thunder’