Music from the Heart

CD Reviews

Matt McManamon - Sinking Sands (single)

Formerly of The Dead 60s and The Specials, singer/songwriter Matt McManamon is strongly associated with ska, punk, dub and reggae. His solo work, however, is more deeply influenced by his Liverpool Irish roots than it is by sounds that originate from Kingston and The Black Ark. The Dead 60s experienced a short, sharp burst of success which included two appearances on Top of The Pops and festival slots at Glastonbury and Lollapalooza. The band issued a press release on 8th February 2008 announcing their split. According to Matt, his debut single Seas of Gold and the latest offering Sinking Sands  are two of a collection of songs that he describes as ‘Scally Folk’, brewed in Liverpool, bottled in Ireland, enjoyed all over the world.

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Dubh Lee - Virtue (single)

Dubh Lee (pronounced ‘dove lee’) could be the love-child of Leonard Cohen and Janis Joplin, after their encounter in the Chelsea Hotel. On stage she’s a born entertainer; when you combine her honest stage persona and slick guitar playing you get a sensational show. Since she started gigging in Summer 2018 Dubh Lee has entertained audiences across Ireland at events such as the Ruby Sessions, Electric Picnic and the Rory Gallagher festival. Her voice has featured on two recent releases from drum’n’bass group WOB! which have received significant airplay on national radio stations, and she’s now ready to release her debut single.

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Paul Tiernan - The Invisible Man

Paul Tiernan, the man who in 2008 had a song (How to say goodbye) in Hollywood teen cult movie ‘Nick and Norah’s Infinite playlist’, who once played with the legendary Donovan, who has 7 solo albums released, who has played his trusty mandola with Nick Harper, Boo Hewerdine, Robyn Hitchcock, Mark Geary, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Sinead Lohan, Katell Keineg and Glen Hansard to name a few. He also sang and played the same trusty mandola on Morcheeba’s album ‘Blood like lemonade’ (released June 2010). In 2011 ‘How to say goodbye’ was in the English, Australian and Mexican top 30 Itunes singer-songwriter charts. And don't forget, he's member of cult Irish band Interference whose song of beauty ‘Gold’ featured in Oscar winning Irish film ‘Once’ and has been converted into a hugely successful musical in theatres. The late Fergus O'Farrell called Paul Tiernan his right-hand man and rightly so.

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Moylan - I Don't Mind (single)

Moylan is a 24-year old songwriter who grew up beside the sea in Dungarvan, Co. Waterford. She began her singing career as a Sean Nós singer and these roots are exposed in her music through the complex tones of her voice. After moving to Dublin for college, Moylan found herself spending a great deal of time on public transport, reflecting and writing. Her main influences include the likes of Joni Mitchell, Kate Bush, Tom Misch, Corinne Bailey Rae and Dodie Clarke. Known for her distinct Celtic tones and unwavering vocal control. In October of 2018, she released her debut single ‘Naïve’, which was noticed by the likes of Remy, Nialler9 and TLMT, and she performed it on RTÉ Radio1 with Miriam O’ Callaghan.

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Becky and the Keys - Coldwater Creek (single)

Becky and the Keys are a new up-and-coming band from Northern Ireland, featuring Becky Baxter on vocals, Criostoir McConville on bass, Stephen Sykes on drums and Thomas Ferris on guitar and the songwriting skills of Michael D Sidwell and Colin Booth. Their music highlights the dynamic blend of contemporary stylings with an emotional resonance of soul. The  forthcoming single called Coldwater Creek is due for release on 26th July 2019, with a music video directed by award-winning film director Dr Murat Akser and team to follow.

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Tommy Keyes - Temptation Once Again

This is the follow up to the 2016 album, An Irish Life, which Hot Press Magazine rated 8 out of 10, with reviewer Jackie Hayden writing “There’s a lived-in quality to Keyes’ voice and an appealing sense of reality about songs that, taken collectively, serve as a virtual narrative for the growing pains of the modern Irish rock scene.” Since the release of his last album, Tommy Keyes has spent two years writing new material and showcasing  it at the various regular singer-songwriter sessions across Dublin. He also runs songwriting events in Darkey Kelly's in Dublin near Christchurch cathedral.  His performances have attracted attention and have led to appearances at top venues such as Whelan’s. The Sugar Club and the Button Factory. In 2017 he topped the iTunes singer-songwriter chart with his single Christmas Eve in Dublin, the proceeds of which went to Focus Ireland. The new album includes that single and 14 new songs, featuring his warm bluesy vocal and piano playing, along with a superb array of musicians including renowned saxophonist Richie Buckley and guitarist Dick Farrelly, along with a string quartet.

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Uriel Herman quartet - Face to Face

A classical music pianist and composer, a graduate from the Jerusalem Academy, Uriel Herman astounds by his unique way of merging styles. With an incredible virtuosity, he distills a jazz infused with rock, with classical music, with klezmer tones, changing with equal success from an original composition to a piece taken from Israel’s musical heritage or to a revival of David Bowie, Radiohead or Nirvana.This unique and modern approach of music, enhanced by the ardour and dexterity of the musicians that surround him, makes Uriel Herman one of the most exciting pianists of the current scene. A crush and a major discovery.

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Finnian - Where We Go (single)

Finnian is a songwriter from Dundalk, Ireland. Over the last number of years he has toured extensively throughout his home country and Europe. He recently supported David Keenan on his Irish tour and is now releasing the first single 'Even Flow' from his fourth coming album Under The Influence. Finnian started out as a folk based singer- songwriter renowned for a strong and dynamic vocal. He has been praised by peers in the industry and audiences throughout Ireland and Europe for his honest, clever and thought provoking lyrics and although playing as a solo acoustic based artist is something that he thoroughly enjoys and executes with a passion and energy that has received critical acclaim he decided to add another dynamic to his music.

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Mark Peters and The Dark Band - Sum of All Parts (EP)

London-born and Vienna based songwriter Mark Peters has enchanted the listeners with his previous EP Spirits and now he's back with a brand-new offering called Sum of All Parts where he's joined by The Dark Band. What an intriguing name, right? The sound might have slightly changed for the better, the full band arrangements benefit the songs but what remains the same is Peters' powerful songwriting and his distinctive vocal. You can't deny his London roots at times. His voice can be gentle and dreamy at one minute and strong the next.

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Reality Suite - Awaken

There are very few female vocalists in rock music who really get your attention. Of course, there are likes of Amy Lee of Evanescence or the late Dolores O'Riordan coming to your mind when you think about it but then there are surprises. Kimmii Heart of Reality Suite is one of them. An incredibly powerful vocal that goes perfectly together with chosen genre, the singer has a great diction so you understand what she says and that's not always the case these days. Formed in 2009 in North Haledon, New Jersey by childhood friends Brian King (drums,) Antonio Valenti (bass,) and Joe Padula (guitars) – their ambitions have been to produce heavy, melodic rock. After several male and female vocalists, Kimmii Heart had joined in 2013 establishing the definitive line-up known today worldwide.

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