Oisin Leech – Cold Sea – Album Review
by Killian Laher

Oisin Leech is one half of the Lost Brothers.  The Navan singer-songwriter has recorded a solo album in Inishowen, produced by Steve Gunn and featuring contributions from Donal Lunny, M Ward, fiddle player Róisín McGrory and bassist Tony Garnier.  The cover features gorgeous artwork by Sinead Smyth.  It opens with the relaxed, spacious folk of October Sun, with lyrics about ‘skimming stones’ and keening keyboards.  The album continues in a similar vein with the unhurried joy of Colour Of The Rain, propelled by gentle swells of keyboards, and the track bears an uncanny resemblance to early John Martyn.  There’s a lovely string part accompanying One Hill Further which never threatens to overpower the song.

Maritime Radio is a brief, shimmering guitar piece, with snatches of a weather report in the background, coming into view briefly and then is gone.  Some tracks, like Empire and Malin Gales, call to mind Nick Drake with acoustic guitar and close miked vocals. The former features a fine electric guitar part from Steve Gunn, while the latter features Donal Lunny on bouzouki.  The title track is an arresting string piece, a searing instrumental, and more bouzouki introduces Trawbeaga Bay, a fine piece of music but all the while remaining spacious, evoking wide open remote places.

Nothing here outstays its welcome.  Initially, it sounds deceptively simple but different things jump out each time you listen.  Think Bonnie Price Billy’s Master and Everyone and you’ll be on the right track.  A short album at 27 minutes but a timeless one.

Colour Of The Rain