THE 4 OF US - SUGAR ISLAND

In the middle of March 1993, I spot Brendan Murphy from the The 4 of Us on a plane from Dublin to London. I watch him like a hawk a few rows in front, timed my leaving the plane to perfection, and congratulated him that She Hits Me had just charted, the day before, at #35 in the UK charts. My fan nerdishness kicked in and, after I told him which extra tracks on the CD single I liked, he asked if I could help him with the Underground. That night Janice and I were Guest List at the Subterranean.

In the early 90s The 4 of Us were Ireland’s biggest thing. Yip, they were the first band to beat U know 2 to the top of the Hot Press Readers poll for Best Irish band. The Subterranean was the second time I’d seen them in London and they were the most energetic sweat inducing rock gig experience of the time. 

Almost 25 years later and The 4 of Us are a very different proposition. Sweat drenched gigs have given way to the subtlest art of songwriting. Not of course that those early songs like Mary and She Hits Me were not crafted.

Sugar Island has actually got no electric guitars or cymbals. It is like an unplugged template onto which the melodies and arrangements do all the work. Declan Murphy’s inventive and at times sparkling guitar playing and Brendan’s voice are well enough to hold you across the twelves songs.

Even more interesting is that much of Sugar Island is written around the Murphy brothers’ upbringing in the 70s in Newry, Co Down. Newry is right on the border of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and these boys had no ordinary childhood and teenage years as the Irish Troubles raged all around them. 

As with the understated nature of the record’s construction the songs don’t over dramatise such a dramatic backdrop. These are songs of love and play and family holidays. Yet, the extraordinary context of that ordinary life brings intrigue. Bird’s Eye View, Going South and Hometown On the Border tell it well.

Just as interesting is the title track. Sugar Island is at the centre of Newry and the song is a story of teenage love and heartache. It has a tune to die for. Had they released this in 1993 it could have been a massive hit. 

Hell To Pay is another that caught my attention. Seemingly about someone on death row it is not autobiographical but perhaps some of the boys’ Christian Brothers School upbringing sneaks in as it seems spoken to a priest. Sadly there seems no hope of redemption. The preacher in me was wanting to shout about grace and forgiveness! 

 

Sugar Island was a wonderful find. It had sneaked out without my knowing. It is yet another example of Irish songwriters excelling. Per head of this island’s population we write way above our weight!

Comments

[Nigel byrne]

Stunning Album by the boys, growing up in the area around the same time and having long moved away it brought back so much emotion. I will treasure this album and its beauty. Too long now artists fall away under the light of vacuous noise and light. Keep it up boys or should I say men.