Hailing from Derry, McConaghy's latest album is a fully fledged effort which gives equal consideration to instrumental arrangements and lyrical turns of phrases.

Conceived over two days from a tent pitched in an abandoned building in the harsh terrains of Ireland’s Creeslough, Chris wrote in his diaries ‘It's bloody freezing and I'm shivering. Shivering with the starling, shaking with the gorse bush but I’m here to write an album, this village and I.'

From there, Chris conceived an album which is submerged in the landscape but tunnels inwards, to lay bare the contradictions tugging and twisting at his emotions.

'A Crochet Heart' hints at love threatening to unravel, with a sinister piano riff and an ominous string section, while 'Everything Reminds Me Of You' examines heartache face-first with resounding emotional maturity. There's also a hint of The Divine Comedy deep in the rhythms of songs like 'Alexandria', although this may be more to do with the Northern influence coming through.

A textured, thoughtful and beautiful piece of work from start to finish, this is the work of serious emerging talent.

Listen to Fleas & Diamonds in full here: