OISÍN LEECH - COLD SEA

Oisin Leech has made a mesmeric record, lifting the rugged beauty and windswept weather of Donegal and turning geography into songs. It it as untainted and stunning as the scenery.

Imagine if Joni Mitchell had taken her Hejira across the north east of Ireland. Imagine she was reading Seamus Heaney and Patrick Kavanagh as she did so. Imagine those open tunings composing tunes near Malin Head. Songs of space and place and weather. 

Well you no longer have to imagine because that is how Leech sounds. He set up a studio in an old school house his wife discovered near her mother’s in law's in Inishowen and with American songwriter Steve Gunn whose Great Grandmother was from Downings recorded songs he had written while heading up songwriter nights where he lives in Navan. To powerful effect. 

Half of the Irish Americana duo The Lost Brothers these songs see Leech veer slightly off the classic songwriting formula. It’s where Heaney’s influence gets heard most. The landscape not linear but rugged inspires uncluttered melancholy and catharsis. 

As well as Gunn, M Ward weighs in and Irish legend Dónal Lunny weaves bouzouki threads through Trawbreaga Bay. Roisín McGrory’s fiddle on Malin Head and one of my favourites One Further Hill. Maritime Radio and the closing Daylight bring to mind Ryan Veil’s spooky electronica atmospheres from just a parish or two across. 

Speaking of favourites Elbow’s Guy Garvey has named October Sun a favourite song of his. I understand and Colour Of The Rain following it sets a strong start that never wanes.