Bluegrass, folk, a big double bass and an ole banjo thrown in for good measure. Sound familiar? Of course it does! Corner Boy are relatively new kids on the tweed covered block, can a block be covered in tweed? We’ll it was only a metaphor, but disprove me if you must. The ‘Irish Folk Rockers’ formed under the guidance of singer and guitarist, Michael D’Arcy, and have recently released their debut EP Morning Morning. The 5 track EP, recorded in the secluded railway town of Lennoxville, Quebec, contains many points of reference within the modern folk scene. And before we go any further with this review it’s only fair to get these over-obvious comparisons out of the way so I can keep the focus on musicians at hand.
In 2011 Corner Boy packed a bag full of all things musically related to Irish and English folk and headed for the bright lights of Montreal. There the band garnered as much Americana Bluegrass and Gospel as their baggage allowance would permit and returned home with their debut E.P. Morning Morning and a hefty fine for excess baggage. The overriding sound produced from this intercultural pick n mix is nothing short of an impromptu jam session between Mumford and Son’s and The Lumineers in an Irish pub. Sure it’s not highly original but everyone is tapping their feet, clapping their hands and having a great time. Session on!
And that is what this E.P. is all about. From the explosive opening title track to the subtly crafted ‘Move to Paris’ you are bombarded with ‘catchy melodies and instant sing along lyrics that radiate energy; bringing the marriage of the new folk revival and Irish trad into the 21st century.’ For a debut record, Morning Morning is a very positive sign of things to come. They have already graced the stages of Other Voices Derry and have picked up nominations in the MRU Awards. Big things are most definitely around the corner….boys.
Check out their official website for updates.
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