In the five years since The Corrs took a break, Sharon Corr has brought two children and a raft of new songs into the world. Dream Of You, her solo debut, is the culmination of Sharon’s recent surge in creativity. Featuring seven self-penned songs, several instrumental pieces and a couple of gorgeous covers, Dream Of You is Sharon’s first foray into the recording studio as lead vocalist, a role that suits her strong, distinctive voice.
Existing fans will be pleased with Sharon’s ongoing love affair with the characteristic Corrs sound. It was Sharon who composed Corrs classics like ‘So Young’, ‘Radio’, ‘Long Night’ and ‘Goodbye’. Similar high-quality melodic pop is the main artery in Sharon’s beautifully crafted debut, with many tracks becoming highly catchy and memorable after just a couple of listens. Also carrying on in The Corrs’ tradition is the emphasis on indigenous sound. Sharon’s masterful violin-playing is ominpresent, while guests Davy Spillane, Mairtin O’Connor, Gerry O’Connor and John McSherry keep the Irish heartbeat strong.
Yet Dream Of You also diverges along a path that is uniquely Sharon’s own. A daring version of the instrumental ‘Mna na hEireann’ features the legendary Jeff Beck accompanying Sharon’s violin with his guitar, while for ‘Buenos Aires’, Sharon takes her inspiration from a James Joyce short story, and duets poignantly about opportunities lost with Spanish superstar, Alex Ubago.
Dream Of You’s lyrics, moods and sensibilities are rooted in Sharon’s personal experience. Motherhood inspires many of the songs, including the title-track, which Sharon wrote to her first child while he was still in the womb. Also informing the record, and a sign of Sharon’s development as a solo artist, is an appreciation for love as it matures through life’s vicissitudes. In this vein, ‘It’s Not A Dream’ is the most beautiful example on a record that is bedecked with many fine things. All told, Dream Of You is a hugely impressive album.