Pop-rock gems with all guns blazing from a turret

THE original music scene in Co Wexford has always been a very vibrant one.

Over the years the county has produced some of the finest rock bands and songwriters to ever emerge from Ireland.

One of those songwriters, Steven O’Brien, from Enniscorthy, has just released a new album, ‘ Turret Rocks’, and it’s a formidable collection of tracks.

The album was recorded in Orchard Studios in Enniscorthy with respected engineer, Brendan Carty, at the helm.

The production is crisp and clear and is perfect for this type of music.

Opener, ‘Iceland’s Green’, instantly invokes images of Irish underground rock legends, The Blades, in their prime. It’s an upbeat, pop-rock number that fans of the Jam will also likely find affinity with.

There is an energy about the opener that is very infectious.

‘A River Song’ takes things down a more contemporary folk, Americana route.

A gentle ballad-type track there is a melancholic vibe to the first half of the song before the rhythmic dynamic changes at around the halfway mark.

There is a slight hint of the Cars about the second section of the track and the transition between the two rhythmic styles is impressively seamless.

There is a swagger to the second half of the song that is very appealing and vocally, there is very effective use of backing vocals and harmonies.

The arrangement of the song is very interesting and showcases O’Brien’s awareness of song structure.

‘Stop Laughing At Me’ begins in very melancholic fashion before gradually building to a rousing chorus.

A mesmerising, repetitive guitar riff provides perfect accompaniment for a similarly arranged vocal line.

In a live setting this would go down a storm and it’s something O’Brien is waiting to put to the test.

‘I’m keen to get back gigging when it’s safe to do so,’ he said when commenting on the album.

He said that in some ways the album is a lockdown clearout, as the pandemic led to him unearthing several old tracks, some recorded as long as six years ago, and a lot has changed in the meantime.

‘ There were lost loved ones, new additions to the family, mental illness diagnoses, and life being that thing that happens while you’re making other plans,’ he said.

Observations on life’s events are reflected in exemplary fashion on songs like ‘Cant Explain Love’, which is one of the strongest tracks on the album from a commercial perspective.’

‘ They’ve got science, but they can’t explain love’, sings O’Brien, with a lyric that is as simple as it is potently effective.

Rhythmically, the track has a groove that’s very immediate in hitting the mark.

‘My First Girlfriend’ is a reflective track on a personal relationship. It’s also a song where by chance or design, the Cars’ style springs to mind again and it has a similar vibe to the likes of ‘My Best Friend’s Girl’.

It’s a wonderfully downbeat number where O’Brien’s vocal delivery enhances the overall melancholic vibe.

‘I Like to Daydream’ is another one of the standout tracks on the album.

It’s a mid-tempo number that catches the attention of the listener immediately.

There is an excellent new wave pop feel to the song that is reflective of the likes of Cast and the B52s.

In addition to Brendan Carty, who also played drums and provided backing vocals on the album, O’Brien was also joined by some formidable musicians on the recording including: Noel Quaid; Brandon Murphy; and Michael O’Connor (also on drums).

‘Don’t Send Me Flowers’ is a brooding, slow burner of a track that’s very interesting in how it presents an almost menacing vibe. The song benefits greatly from some excellent backing vocals.

The chanted backing on the chorus is very effective and if you picture traditional AD/DC backing vocals with the vibe of the Stones’, ‘Dead Flowers’, albeit a little more downbeat, you’ll get the picture.

‘Eulogy’ is another easy listening, laid-back track, that boasts a fantastic 60s, trippy feel.

The guitar effects and sparse arrangement enhance that aspect of the song greatly. The backing vocals are very interesting in how they replicate some of the main vocals lines, giving a delay-type effect to the singing.

‘ShowPony’ brings the album to a close and it does so in a fantastic way.

It’s a sombre, downbeat singer-songwriter number with subtle, bluesy overtones.

There is an honesty and sincerity to O’Brien’s vocal style that contributes greatly to the melancholic feel evident on some of the tracks.

When he decided not to leave these songs locked away it was a wise move because ‘ Turret Rocks’ is a very impressive album.