Album Review: Deaf Joe, Love Stories

With fourth album Love Stories, Waterford tunesmith Deaf Joe again proves he’s one of Ireland’s most engaging – and surprising – artists.

Wasting little time since the release of the sterling Stuck, this eight-song collection of ambient soundscapes is his most daring and experimental effort yet. Eschewing conventional song structures, vocal hooks and the fractured folk style of Deaf Joe’s earlier material, Love Stories is packed with lush textures and arresting rhythms.

Notably, the exotic inspirations include kaleidoscopic sunsets over a volcanic lake in the Philippines, summertime frolics in Copenhagen harbour, and more. Subtle but seductive, ‘Ocean Beach’ provides a welcome dose of sonic sunshine, while ‘Taal Lake’ is a satisfying slow burner, and ‘Phnom Bakheng/Disintegrating In Lowtown’ could soundtrack an arrival at the Pearly Gates.

If you’re searching for music to lift the spirits while soothing the soul, look no further.