God bless the Credit Union. This second, amazingly accomplished album from Cork singer-songwriter Niall Connolly comes to us courtesy of “C.U. Records”, and for once it seems that someone has actually put their loan to good use.
Over the last few years Mr. C (along with his Token Mellow Band) has earned himself quite a reputation down in the People’s Republic with strong, intelligent songs written from the heart. But his latest offering illustrates just how much his songwriting has progressed since debut Songs From A Corner.
It’s an album that seems to have a distinctive sense of place, and despite being “the city boy too busy to find the time” on the excellent ‘I Will Come And See You Soon’, these songs retain a smalltown, almost rural feel that gives them a real charm.
‘What Are You Thinking?’ also provides evidence of an almost childlike innocence (“blinded by the world coming knocking at your window”), which is best illustrated by the short but beautifully sweet aside of ‘Let The Tigers Come With Claws’, while the Elliot Smith indebted ‘Last Page Of Winter’ becomes full of pathos in hindsight (“I can feel somebody is leaving”). But underpinning it all is an impressively mature and confident songwriting approach, brim full of thoughtful lyrics, lovely melodies and perfect arrangements.
An album to warm and soothe the heart on these cold winter evenings.