The Spirit Store

It takes a special talent to transcend the electronic barrier of the live-to-CD experience and put you right there in the front row, the metaphorical pint in your hand untouched as you listen in awe to one of Ireland’s newest poets and true stars. Sure, this is Roesy live and dangerous on stage at The Spirit Store in Dundalk, but he might as well have been beamed up into your living room, such is the intimacy and immediacy the album creates, despite its miserly 32 minutes.

Accompanied only by his own dextrous guitar playing and occasional flurries from pianist Josh Johnston, Roesy applies his expressively comforting voice to a set of tasty songs that would not be out of place in the songbooks of a Paul Simon (the jangling ‘Sister And Song’ and ‘Songs Are Forever’) or a Ralph McTell (‘Smothered in Light’). He even tries on a cover of Tom Waits ‘Take It With Me’ that fits him so well somebody will have to steal it back.

‘The Swaying Tree’, among others, demonstrates his uncanny knack of painting word-pictures with melodies. His concise performances are invariably underpinned with a sense of uplifting optimism, and he can do introspective songs like ‘Wonderful Life’ without the listener feeling excluded. Unlike many of his rivals in the overcrowded singer-songwriter racks, Roesy doesn’t do self-indulgence.

The health of the nation would be greatly improved if The Spirit Store was available on prescription from pharmacies everywhere. File under “alternative medicine”.