Hailed by the likes of Julie Feeney as a songwriter of real talent, Dublin-born tunesmith Eric McGrath has a lot going for him. He has heart-throb looks for a start, part Danny O’Reilly, part Paolo Nutini, that should win the interest of the ladies in the audience. But more to the point, with McGrath’s acoustic guitars as the essential driving force, his music is an ear-gasm-inducing melting-pot of sweetly flowing jazz, Americana, power pop and ‘60s surf.
Little Ripples is a superb debut offering indeed. A worldly-sounding record that happily inhabits the middle-ground between Jack Johnson and Bright Eyes it has a sophisticated pop flavour that suggests hit singles may be in the offing if radio does its bit. In particular, songs like ‘A Lost Romance’ and ‘These Are The Good Old Days’ are potential world-beaters – but there is srength in depth throughout. ‘Ripples Into Waves’ is wonderfully light and winning. ‘Let’s Get Curious’ begins with wave sounds and bird calls, before shifting into an almost Peter Doherty-esque conversational delivery. ‘Before You Left’ has a casually-eastern flavour that lends a beautifully evocative edge to a marvellously off-kilter piece. The verdict: a slow burner that could be massive.