When Taylor Swift decided to shake off her country roots four years ago in order to enter (and ultimately take over) the world of mainstream pop, the talented tunesmith ended up leaving a massive hole in the hearts of millions. Of course, country continues to thrive in her absence, but no-one since has managed to tap into fans’ imaginations or crossover quite like Tay-Tay. That is, until now. Hailing from Rostrevor – a village in County Down renowned for the Fiddler’s Green festival, and for being the place former Irish president Mary McAleese once called home – singer-songwriter Catherine McGrath maintains the town’s tradition of punching well above its weight. First leaping to fame and acclaim on YouTube, she’s already amassed a staggering 12 million streams since signing with heavy hitters Warner Bros. and this 13-track collection suggests she’s only just getting started. She is hugely talented. The most striking thing, at least initially, about McGrath’s debut is how assured everything sounds. Her marriage of relatable, down to earth tales of unrequited love and soaring, heart-swelling melodies comes across as effortless throughout. Some of Nashville and beyond’s finest songsmiths (including Jimmy Robbins, Liz Rose and Iain Archer) helped Catherine flesh out her tunes, and many rival a fisherman’s tackle-box in the hooks department. ‘Lost In The Middle’, a tune about the universal appeal of music, is a huge highlight. Reminiscent of the work of mega-successful producer Mutt Lange at his most infectious, it’s a stadium-bothering number that could become McGrath’s global calling card. ‘Enough For You’ is another gem, boasting a chart-breaking chorus wrapped around lyrics about strength and self-worth, while ‘Dodged A Bullet’ is an impressive power ballad, with the fingerprints of former Snow Patrol man Archer (who co-wrote the song) all over it. There’s no doubt that Talk Of This Town is tailored towards Swifties who miss the more organic and rootsy sounding style of old (particularly on ‘Cinderella’, which has a little of ‘Begin Again’ in its DNA), but McGrath establishes her own voice here. ‘Good Goodbyes’ is one of them, and it’s an important moment on the album. driven by a welcome pop-rock feel. Featuring a strong “Hey-ay-ay-hey-hey” hook that’d give Ryan Tedder a run for his money, it affirms that McGrath’s star is very much in the ascendant. OUT NOW

Rating: 8/10