Album Review: Inhaler, Open Wide

It’s a sign of an elysian age in Irish music, when we take the success of a band such as Inhaler for granted: a debut album that reached Number 1 in the UK and Ireland; tens of millions of Spotify streams; worldwide headline tours; and sold-out homecoming gig at Dublin’s 3Arena.

That’s not to mention their upcoming St. Anne’s Park outdoor show, tours with Arctic Monkeys and Kings Of Leon, and supporting Harry Styles at Slane. And it’s Kid Harpoon, the producer of Styles’ global chart-topper Harry’s House, who’s at the helm of Inhaler’s third LP. Indeed, his fingerprints are all over it, the record being a marked turn from Antony Genn’s production on the first two albums.

Pop is the word on Open Wide, especially of the new wave and ’70s melodic rock variety. Opener ‘Eddie In The Darkness’ is a smooth slice of Killers-style dance-rock, while ‘Billy (Yeah Yeah Yeah)’ treads the sonic territory of Passion Pit.

The fuzz-rock lick on lead single ‘Open House’ comes complete with gospel choir, giving the track shades of T. Rex.

Elsewhere, ‘Even Though’ contains the psychedelic haze of The War On Drugs mixed with Dire Straits rock alloy, while ‘X-Ray’ incorporates a ZZ Top-like riff into a soft-rock wig-out. No doubt, these are songs that will light up a park in Raheny come summer.

8/10