When I Met The Devil
Accomplished debut from Kildare wizard
Jackie Hayden, 26 Apr 2011
On the title track of this adventurous album, Kildare-man Ross Breen serves us a sumptuous and unpredictable stew of Mumfords, The Band, Dylan, Talking Heads, Elbow and gospel. And you know what? It works.
The stompfest ‘Life Support’ adds another flavour to what is a heady brew, with a dash of Ferry in its majestic chorale and bluesy harp. Mexican horns emblazon a Sparks-like ‘Elephants Foot’, Breen is embroiled in echo and squalling guitars for the madcap ‘Thin Sheep’, and the blues-based ‘Jigsaw’ nods towards Ferry again, as its jagged rhythms take it to the thirteenth bar. Breen has a captivating vocal style, and is clearly at home in his eccentric songs which he bookends with clever, short interludes.
Ably urged on by The Kanootzens and various sidekicks, apart from some lyrical untidiness, he’s turned in one of the most assured albums to invade my space in a long time.
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