John Spillane: Life in an Irish Town

Listen to Life in an Irish Town on its own merits and you might be convinced that John Spillane belongs to another era, when life was slower and perhaps, simpler. Romantic odes to Irish towns, written in response to his adventures travelling the country for his new TG4 series of the same name, Life in an Irish Town seeks out the extraordinary in the ordinary, with mixed success. The genteel quality of the collection belies a thoughtful songwriter working hard to keep the key low and the space between the notes clean. Arrangements are spare, and one suspects, well supported by the visuals of the TV series. Alone, the songs embrace a wide church, from muscular chanting and banshee cries (The Ferry Arms) to whispered, pastoral intimacies (Graiguenamanagh). Increasingly, Spillane occupies a bardic tradition with ease, and this latest salvo ably copper-fastens his position. johnspillane.com