My Friend Marx Salt&Shake Records***

An adventurous, promising set by the Waterford singer and songwriter. Driven by his insistent, folk-bluesy guitar picking, the 12 tracks are occasionally fleshed out by elaborate choirs and string settings, adding complexity to what would otherwise be a monochrome sound of voice and guitar, notwithstanding the former's attractive huskiness and the flair of the latter. Big themes of life and love predominate, and if songs such as the anti-US Lord of Warand the title track promise more insight than they deliver, they carry the passion of youth. An African Dayis a busy, colourful instrumental, while Family Reunionshapes into a fond memory. There are indulgences – the bluesy Get Back, for example, which is rescued by Kate Curran's soaring trumpet – and lots of influences, from John Martyn to Kelly Joe Phelps and Tunng. But it's a debut that augurs well. See marcoreilly music.com

Download tracks: My Friend Marx, An African Day