What You Know

This is the former Stockton’s Winger’s first solo album since 1994, and those who admired his gritty vocals with that outfit will not be disappointed with What You Know. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Hanrahan is prepared to go beyond the limits of cosy love songs to confront other issues, including the environment, loneliness and abuse.

‘Falling Down’’, with its wry look at our abasement of nature, ‘Far Away From Love’ and ‘Streets Of The City’ easily rival Hanrahan’s best known composition ‘Beautiful Affair’. ‘Today’ is a laidback country-tinged gem in the style of Kris Kristofferson. ‘Indians And Aliens’ is a graphic portrait of a lonely man whose life is peopled by the heroes and villains of the film world. It has some fiery electric guitar from Hanrahan himself and equally robust fiddle from Siard de Jong.

With production from Sonny Condell, it’s hardly surprising that tracks like ‘’Garden Of Roses’ are replete with Scullionisms to their advantage. ‘No One Living Here’, a haunting song about loneliness embellished by an unnerving bowed bass from Garvan Gallagher, is a co-write with the ubiquitous Brendan Graham.

On the downside, Condell’s somewhat au naturelle approach to production has failed to imbue the album with a sense of sonic modernity, especially when compared with the achievements of the likes of Kitt, Hayes, Dempsey, Rice et al. If Hanrahan has work to do, that’s where his attentions need to be directed. Meanwhile he can be proud of the honesty, integrity and passion on display here.