Lisa O’Neill has another album
Damian McCarney
At times sumptuous, others, sparse, but Same Cloth or Not is forever beautiful.
Lisa O’Neill’s first album in some four years comes as a welcome relief for those charmed by her homemade debut (‘Has an album’), but left stranded ever since, while she developed her musicianship on the road through support slots with the likes of David Gray and Glen Hansard.
The Ballyhaise artist told the Celt last week that she has matured on this her second album, and she’s as good as her word. Sophistication, assuredness and precision marks these 10 musical arrangements. Backing by Domino Records has ensured perfectly measured production with helmsman David Kitt.
Laid against a hypnotic drum beat, and swaying waves of guitar picking it’s easy to drift away with the gorgeous opener England Has My Man. Surely the defining love song of these times of renewed emigration. “I don’t see my baby near often enough,” laments Lisa while mournful strings are offset by Stina Sandstrom’s soothing voice, nursing the track to sleep. It’s a point of departure for a dreamy album.
Same Cloth or Not’s rewards are plentiful. Its title track, led by the pounding of a single piano key is reminiscent of early Dylan, (maybe When the Ship Comes In); the vulnerable Speedboat explores the small tender shared moments of a new love; while for this reviewer Come Sit Sing is the stand out track. Initially sounding like it was plucked from a book of medieval English tunes it veers off into the uncharted waters of a joyous, rousing sea-shanty climax. Musically it registers like a call to arms, while lyrically it reveals those arms to belong to a discerning lover.
Lisa’s voice has been commented on relentlessly in the overwhelmingly positive reviews, but an idiosyncratic voice didn’t hinder Holiday, Dylan, Cohen or Young. Besides, it’s no more idiosyncratic than her songwriting.
http://youtu.be/QDjeY1krGuA
Dreaming brings the 40 enchanting minutes to a sombre close, and reminds you what the repeat button on CD players is for. Same Cloth or Not is the folk album by which all others should be measured. Beautiful.
Lisa plays an instore slot at Multisound on Main Street, Cavan Town, today, Wednesday at 1pm, while she plays support for Glen Hansard in Blessings, Cavan Town on Saturday night.