Much like former Far fret-mangler turned acoustic troubadour Jonah Matranga, erstwhile Puget Sound and Terrordactyl guitarist Michael Owens’ transition from electrified, face-melting riff-lord to folk-tinged purveyor of hushed alternative hymns has been exceedingly (and perhaps surprisingly) smooth.
In fact it’s been so seamless, it’s fair to say that Owensie has an almost completely different following now, compared to his punk days. However, while the tempo and volume have been dialled down, his skill as a songwriter continues to rise as third record Dramamine proves.
Featuring nine tracks, his first album in three years firmly establishes Owens as Ireland’s answer to Elliott Smith. Much like the dearly departed singer/songwriter, his vocal tones effortlessly tug at the heartstrings and he doesn’t need much instrumentation to tell compelling stories. The title track, which features Conor O’Brien from Villagers and Woven Skull’s Aonghus McEvoy is a hypnotic offering, full of warmth and heart, while the angelic harmonies of ‘Scary Eyes’ and the county- flecked guitar ‘Red Line’ all ensure Dramamine is an unforgettable listen.