There’s lots of great talent around. I’ve been saying so for what seems like centuries, but even my normally positive outlook received a pleasant jolt by the quality of much on offer here. The electrifying slabs of chords that open the first track reveal a version of Mickey Harte as far removed from phone-voting TV pop as possible. It sets the scene for several supreme performances, like ‘Dignity’ from the pensive Fiach, the delicious soundscapes of Amanda Grace, the sturdy Helen Mooney, and the sultry Della’s ‘Maybe It’s The Wine’. Stephen Hodd’s ‘Remember Me’ has real charm and deft guitar playing, and ‘We Fall Down’ by Glen Baker showcases fine harmonica playing (not surprising with a name like that!).
But Brian McGovern’s ‘Scars’ is the real gem. While most of his colleagues seem content to sing about relationship issues, McGovern delivers a heartfelt and despairing look at the real world.
But it’s not all singer-songsmithery. Backward-tapes nicely set the scene for the casual pop harmonies of Savino’s ‘Hospital’, Kaboose get funky on the stompin’ ‘You’re Mine’ and the Ross Breen Band kick up the dust with the restless rhythms of ‘Sexy Song’.
But Avril has too many clichés in her blippy-pop ‘Playin’, where the production and arrangement can’t make up for her pop-by-numbers approach, and Alan Kenny’s ‘To Take You’ overdoses on a syrupy arrangement that almost smothers a potentially decent song.
But that’s just me carping. Urban Tales is a commendable snapshot of the current healthy state of the Irish music scene and one more argument for having a radio station with a quota for 30% Irish music. BCI please pay attention.