About a dozen years ago, I came across Kevin Doherty as a member of an occasional band called The Barlow Knife, and it was obvious even then that his was a talent waiting to find its optimum exposure.

Sweet Water is his second solo outing, and is an assured, accomplished affair, the songs marinaded in life’s experience, reflective and wry, and destined for a great deal more exposure than has been his lot thus far. They are observational in tone and structure, solid production from James Delaney allowing them the space they needed to breathe.

In a world where the emphasis these days is on excess and bombast, it’s gratifying that people can still make records like this. For Kevin Doherty, this album is the sound of a man still searching, but closer to home than ever before.

The rest of the journey should be very interesting indeed.