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Eleanor McEvoy's album "Early Hours" begins with a saxophone. This being my absolute least favorite instrument, I was not sure how I'd manage to listen to the whole recording. Fortunately, McEvoy began to sing. All thoughts of annoying saxophones fled as her smooth voice carried forth the thought provoking and image-laden lyrics. The combination of McEvoy's wonderful voice and her command of language to make you feel is rare. Each song tells of a time or an event, not so much as a story but as a description of the feelings the situation evokes. Her stories of love speak not of the cliche ridden love of pop stars or the angst ridden teen. She sings of the kind of love that lasts through time. At The End Of The Day is about that one person you want to see more than anyone when you get home. I'll Be Willing is the offering of help to the person who helps everyone else, but can't seem to ask for help for themselves. The most emotional of all the love songs is the first track You'll Hear Better Songs Than This which seems an unlikely title for a love song. The lyrics express the singers love, not through some vague impersonal song, but through an imperfect, but heartfelt song written especially for that one person. Based in part on Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" it is a beautiful song that anyone should be happy to have written for them. McEvoy also has the gift to write about difficult subjects with compassion and without pity. Slipping Away tells of a close friend who is passing away and his suffering. Ave Maria wonders what is happening to all the people who were raised with a strong belief in the Church and all it stood for now that the Church has lost much of its former luster. Carrying the tune of "Ave Maria" in the background and including part of it in the refrain, McEvoy conveys the connectedness of all things to the Church in some peoples lives. Co-writing with her brother one Christmas as both of them were missing important people in their lives,Make Mine A Small One is a sad, melancholy piece appropriate to the subject matter. Feeling overwhelmed led to the slightly frantic pace of Days Roll By, while a wonderful fiddle piece demonstrates McEvoy's skill on that instrument, as well as in singing and songwriting. A cover of a Bert Jansch song about Sandy Denny and a cover of Memphis Tennessee by Chuck Berry add to the smooth, jazzy flavour of the album. The final track is abeautiful Irish language song, "Anach Cuain (Eanach Dhuin)," learned fromMaire Breatnach. It is a gorgeous ending to the album with its slow melody and subtle sounds. Eleanor McEvoy is a fantastically talented singer and songwriter. Her gift for creating images of what she sings is wonderful. If you are tired of hearing the same old thing sung the same old way, I would recommend this album. Her voice is low, clear and true, her lyrics are honest and thoughtful, the arrangements and instrumentation are simple and emotive. Every aspect of this album is enjoyable. I am very glad that I have been introduced to her music and I hope that others will soon find themselves with the same pleasure. Find out more about Eleanor McEvoy @ http://www.eleanormcevoy.net/
Jema Price
SingSong Entertainment Publicity Office: +44(0)1296 715228 EMail: peter@singsong.biz An associate of SingSong Entertainment Publicity |
