Musical Tourists 3

VARIOUS ARTISTS: “Musical Tourists 3” (Lodge Records)

THIS IS the third in a series of compilation samplers from Lodge Records, a Dublin-based independent label which specialises in highlighting and promoting new bands and artists. Given the sheer variety of styles and genres of contemporary material contained on it, Musical Tourists 3 is nothing if not appropriately titled. Featuring a dozen artists covering pop, rock, folk, and country, the standard is impressively consistent throughout, particularly in respect of the quality of the songs which lean towards accessibility and a certain radio friendliness.

Mainstream pop is represented here by two solo artists – Essex singer Andrew Hayman performing an exceptionally slick and polished number, ‘Make It Happen’, while Dubliner Kim Jackson’s version of Kevin McConville’s ‘He Makes Me Feel Alright’ wouldn’t sound out of place on a Sheena Easton set-list.

Warwick Embury is another singer-songwriter with an ear for a wide audience and he acquits himself nicely on two numbers, ‘Not In This Life’ and ‘I’ve Cried My Heart Out Over You’ while Gerry Flemming’s ‘Blindness’ demonstrates high production values. Other solo acts included are: Aran Island rocker Barry Ronan; ex Shades Of Blue singer, Rebecca Peterson whose debut single, ‘Straight From The Heart’ is featured; and Eddie McCartan – a songwriter who successfully combines 1990’s instrumentation with a Dylan-influenced voice.

Of the five bands on Musical Tourists 3, The Hitchers are probably the more eclectic and by turns the most interesting. Previously known for their minor classic single, ‘Red Mohair Jumper’ – here they cleverly blend a quirky sense of humour with a controlled abandon on ‘She’ll Be Sorry’. Midlands crew, Strength In Numbers, have two tracks included from their debut album, Transgression. Other outfits worth bending an ear to include, “cow-pop” combo, Southpaw with ‘Me And The Boys’; wistful country rockers, Blackheart with ‘Too Hot To Handle’, and the explosively-monikered Volcanic Earth lending an atmospheric edge to a steamy ballad – ‘Times Like This’.

Presumably, the primary purpose of this exercise is to showcase the songs, gain some airplay and hopefully secure major label attention for those artists included. In this respect, Musical Tourists 3 succeeds and there’s more than enough here to tickle the ears of A&R men on the lookout for quality, if not exactly cutting edge sounds.

• Colm O’Hare