Album Review: Straif, Straif

This is the first album by Cork outfit Straif, but these boys clearly know what they’re doing. Lead singer Ross Daly fronted alt-metal heroes That Falling Feeling, while other band members featured along the way with Cyclefly, The Sons of Steve McQueen and in Marc O’Reilly’s band. To me, they evoke the spirit of the early noughties, with their punchy debut tapping into the alt-rock mode of the period.

The likes of ‘Half A World’ – with its strong spoken word vibe, and defiant message – ‘Please’ and ‘See You Again’ are dominated by infectious grooves and guitar riffs. There is a laidback feel at times veering into stoner rock, and a stream-of-consciousness aspect to the lyrics – as if Ross Daly is working out what he wants to say as he sings it.

Straif deliver a couple of singalong-friendly ballads in ‘Never’ and ‘In Dreams’. ‘Glittering Sky’ ventures in the direction of country. and ‘Peppermint’ has a more sinister feel. ‘Hands of Gods’, with Cork-based, Chicago soul singer Karen Underwood sharing vocals, is a highlight.

The record is rounded off with the six-minute ‘Slow Down’, landing somewhere between The Fray and Jimmy Eat World. On this evidence, Straif have considerable potential, which will doubtless be honed in a live setting.