Damien O’Kane - Avenging and Bright

April 17th 2018

(CD Album Review)

****1/2

Celtic flavour and Celtic Flare in a Traditional style, with a modern twist

Damien O'Kane is a very talented Singer / Songwriter from Northern Ireland, who currently lives in Yorkshire with his with Kate Rusby who also is a successful Folk artist, 'Avenging and Bright' is his third studio album... and might I say his best to date (Even though they are a collection of songs and lyrics and poetry that Damien love). From the brilliant Game of Thrones Esq. CD covers to his attitude and determination that comes across throughout the album.

The first track on the album 'Boston City', which originally went under the title 'The Boston Burglar' is a great opener. Using poetry and songs he found in a book compiled by Colm O Lochlainn, Damien mixed this with a songs he found in a book by Sam Henry. I find the way he did this very interesting and I love the fact he uses a traditional poets work in his music.

The stories on the album, make this a really special record and the guitar work by Steven Iveson is really great and keys by Anthony Davis (Irish Celtic) are really stand out and make the music very different from what you might hear other Folk acts doing. This is shown on lead single 'Poor Stranger', which verges on modern Country at points and songs that you might hear in the Pop chart.

Strangely you can hear influences to the music that could have come from Phil Collins, modern Nik Kershaw and even Prog Rock's Marillion, at the same time staying true to his Celtic background and his Irish roots. This is a record you don't have to be a Folk fan to enjoy, anyone could enjoy this and you could even hear this on mainstream radio.

The haunting melodies of many tracks on the record from the single 'Poor Stranger' to 'Tho all bright Flowers', the later being really dark but having a beauty to it at the same time. Makes you want to listen on to the rest of the album. 'January Man' by Dave Gouldar being one of these tracks, you would not believe that Damien O'Kane didn't write this himself.

All these covers and different versions of songs show where Damien O'Kane got all his influences from, and strangely show you into his mind as a modern day Folk artist. I do think it's a little early in his career to do a collection of other peoples songs and work, but strangely this album really works... so who really cares... when it's this enjoyable.

I think these songs would come across well in a live situation, and look forward to catching one of his shows in the future. 'Avenging and Bright' is a very special record, by a very talented Singer / Songwriter that really picked out some great influences for this record. I think we will be hearing more of in years to come.

Review by Dan Devour