Album Review: Brendan Tallon - Love In These Times

The former Revelino and Coletranes bandleader Brendan Tallon has stepped out on his own on Love In These Times, with comforting, beautiful results. Brendan and Revelino may have enjoyed a lockdown renaissance in 2020 with the remastering and re-release of the band’s eponymous debut album - 26 years after its original critically acclaimed release - but Love In These Times strips Tallon’s gift for the songwriting craft down to its bare bones. To marvellous effect...

With previewed singles ‘American Strings’, ‘Old Man Superman’ and ‘The First Time I Saw You’ having put Brendan back on the map, the only way was up, and throughout the album heartfelt, emotive and poignant lyricism and layered background vocals create a stunningly nostalgic air. Tallon brings quiet ‘80s sonic power to what on the surface might seem like simple songs, telling tales that speak to his soul.

‘Old Man Superman’, Brendan’s first solo track since 2012’s Saturday Captains collaborative album alongside Barry O'Mahony of Luggage, was inspired by the actions of 72-year-old Yasuteru Yamada and the members of the ‘Skilled Veterans Corps’. As retired veteran engineers and scientists, the troop volunteered to enter the Fukushima power plant in Japan following 2011's nuclear disaster. Tallon’s talent for genre-bending allows him to incorporate flashing riffs, urban saxophones, floating dreamscapes and heavenly choirs on what is a real highlight.

Psychedelic folk track 'American Strings' is an ode to America, celebrating a love of spaghetti westerns.

Overall, Love In These Times is significantly less rock-heavy than Revelino’s body of work. The project ensures Tallon’s relevance, however, revealing a gift for how to wield the pen that feels every bit as strong as it was back in the '80s. Shimmering romantic nugget ‘Be With Her Tonight’ enjoys whispers of The Beatles hit ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’, evoking also – to these ears – the magic sonic landscapes of Bob Dylan and Simon & Garfunkel. ‘Sign of Life’, ‘Maybe It's Love’ and ‘I Go Weak’ stick to – and embellish – the previous themes of adoration of a significant other in a manner akin to lullabies - soporific, in the way that late night music can be, yet beautifully sweet from the Ballinteer creative.

The fine skills of multi-instrumentalist Fintan Jones (flutes), Ray Martin (trumpets) and Mark Colbert (drums) are used to great effect on the project, but Brendan’s timeless feel for putting himself in the shoes of another, and seeing the world through different eyes, is key. Simplicity strikes the right chord. Love In These Times is a gem.

8/10
Listen: ‘Be With Her Tonight’

Love In These Times will be released on July 2nd via Mercenary Records.