Six years have gone by since independent folk artist Peter Doran released his much-praised fourth studio album, Outlines. Since then, the Mullingar native has married his long-term partner and turned his focus towards his latest musical project alongside Hally in Naas’ Arthouse Studios. Voices firmly goes back to the very essence of storytelling, with room for more experimentation.

Opening with soft introductory track ‘Go Slow’, Voices marks itself from the first note as a whirlwind of soporific folk. Inviting violin strings to the fore, Peter Doran’s strong yet malleable vocals bring warmth and comfort to the soul. The likes of ‘Blue Mountains’, ‘Lady’ and ‘None the Wiser’ incorporate elements of country, but the work paints portraits of simple moments between the musician and his loved ones with a uniquely Irish sense of poignancy.

The title track immediately grips the listener, using simple guitar melodies and Doran’s gritty tone to repeat the haunting mantra, ‘Are you hearing voices? Have you been scratching at your skin?’.

Mellow, poetic ballads trace Doran’s altered emotional landscape over the past six years. Lead single ‘Nothing New Under The Sun’ is a highlight, exploring those moments where faith and vision are painfully lacking in one’s life, but ‘Voices’ is a quiet showstopper.

The Westmeath man’s gift for spinning gentle, loving tales through song should earn him deserved recognition, but support on the album from Lenny Cahill (organ, bass, piano, drums), guest vocalists Tinley and Haley Heynderickx as well as and strings from Mary Barnecutt and Gerard Toal are needed.

7/10

Listen to Voices in full below, released independently: