Album of the Month: Niall McCabe Rituals *****

They are albums that strike you on first listen and ‘Rituals’ is one of those albums. On my third listen of Niall McCabe’s brand new album ‘Rituals’ I continue to find new things that I like about the album. Like that movie that deserves at least two viewings before you can appreciate it for what it is. 

Take for instance ‘Lost Boys’, the second track from the album, where Niall asks the question. ‘Where do all the memories go?’

It begs the thought that time sometimes passes us by so quickly that we forget to take time for ourselves.

They are moments on ‘Rituals’ that I often feel like I’m hearing echoes of Waylon Jennings which is not a bad thing at all. The sound of Americana is felt through out Rituals. But it does not stray too far from its folk foundations.

In a recent interview McCabe explained to us that he has had the album pretty much finished for the past two years, but we all know what the pandemic did to the music business in the interim, so ‘Rituals’ is finally seeing the light of day now.

Album of the Month: Niall McCabe has earned a reputation as one of Ireland’s finest singers and songwriters. 

There is some really beautiful moments here, take ‘Tornado’ for instance, close your eyes for a few minutes and McCabe describes a bunker in his mind.

Niall McCabe has earned a reputation as one of Ireland’s finest singers and songwriters. Born on  Clare Island, Co.Mayo, where Niall still lives and runs the Clare Island Oven with his partner Alice, the island native’s style and voice are as unquestionably his own.

Rising to  national prominence with his first folk-soul group The Niall McCabe Band his debut release made Album of the Week on Radio One and saw him appearing across Irish television radio.

More recently Niall has been lending his unique voice to Irish trad-fusion band Beoga touring Ireland, Europe and the USA while also playing support for Ed Sheeran, Foy Vance and Johnny Swim.

McCabe’s eagerly anticipated solo album is out now and it delivers on the exciting songwriting and musical potential the Clare Island native has offered to date.

‘Rituals’ is our Album of the Month, go check it out.

Finbar Hoban.

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