Declan Sinnott
Irish guitar veteran releases solo debut
Colm O Hare, 13 Sep 2012
He is, of course, best-known as a long-time side-man. Sinnott worked with Mary Black for 13 years and, more recently, has played with Christy Moore. Others who have benefited from his formidable talents include Sinéad Lohan and John Spillane. He also served in Moving Hearts, playing his blistering Fender Strat during their explosive early years. And, lest we forget, he was a founder member of Horslips.
Four decades into his career Declan Sinnott’s ‘debut’ contains a dozen examples of warm, gentle, acoustic folk rock, not quite Irish, not quite American. His style calls to mind everyone from Mick Hanley and Paul Brady to John Prine, Steve Goodman and Gordon Lightfoot while the texture of his voice is reminiscent of Jackson Browne and Richard Thompson.
The breezy opening track ‘Sun Shine’ is instantly appealing, the sort of melodic, slacker-pop Jack Johnson might come up with. ‘It’s Just The Noise That It Makes’ recalls Keb Mo’s acoustic blues, as does the funkier ‘Broken Glass’ (there are also shades of Mark Knopfler’s recent output).
Plaintive and introspective, ‘Blood Is Rushing Through Our Veins’ is a definite highlight, with its gorgeously yearning melody and poignant vocals. ‘Circle Round The Sun’ wouldn’t have been out of place on one of those early Crosby Stills & Nash albums, while a moodier ambience and texture is apparent on closer, ‘Orbit’. It goes without saying that the guitar playing, both acoustic and electric, is deft and sumptuous, never overbearing. Listen up...
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