Album Review: Sham, Shur

Sham is the nom de musique of Tipperary-born Seamus Hennessy, and Shur is his third self-generated album, on which he sings and plays everything bar the added vocals of his daughter Saibh. His weighty voice is drenched with authenticity, and he uses it astutely to convey his concern for the human race. His mostly guitar and keyboard-based backing adds drama and atmosphere to this bunch of impressively-crafted songs.

They also prove that serious appraisals of the world we live in can be engaging and approachable pieces of art. ‘We Are Home’ is a sturdy slice of guitar-driven, melodic folk rock that also packs a rhythmic punch. ‘Armageddon’, meanwhile, adds neat harmonies to a convincing slab of doom-laden folk-pop.

‘Sleepless Nights’ creeps in with a casual piano figure, with the atmospheric strings fleshing out a lush reflection on dreams. ‘Find It’ is an upbeat call to find the peace that’s out there waiting for us, a provocative thought in itself.

The album ends with the mostly-instrumental ‘Graffiti Walls’, which is as introspective as Elton’s ‘Song For Guy’, if slightly darker.

Sham’s work comes with the weight of experience of what earthly reality – and unearthly dreams and reflections – can teach us. Listen and learn.

Key track: ‘Find It’ 
Score: 7/10

Out now via monorail.

Read more album reviews in the new issue of Hot Press.