There’s a lot of folksy singer-songwriters out there making the same kind of noise, to no great effect. But for every run of the mill, lonely-hearted pretender, there are others who make music that is an utterly life-affirming revelation. Dublin-based troubadour Mumblin’ Deaf Ro fits that description, in spades.
In a sense, the current deluge of mediocre folkies actually helps to highlight just how talented MDR is. His third record, Dictionary Crimes, finds him at the peak of his powers. An album inspired by both life-defining loss and the sheer unadulterated joy of routines, it is a tender and tuneful work that regularly soars, thanks to Ro’s understated vocal delivery and pitch-perfect musicianship.
The ten tracks here are all beguiling, with frequently beautiful lyrics (“Cheer up Charlie Brown/ Your family still loves you while you’re letting them down”) and bruised, battered but resilient melodies (‘My Broken Leg,’ ‘Cade Calf Call’).
Indeed, there’s rarely a wasted moment throughout an album that calls to mind a more understated Nick Drake. There’s even a fine instrumental track thrown in for good measure (‘What If My Children Get Bullied?’), which shows off Ro’s considerable guitar skills. Check it out.