Niamh Regan – Hemet
Black Gate Records – Out Now
Galway based folk singer Niamh Regan has a mellifluous, lush soft voice which, it has been said, is reminiscent of both Lisa Hannigan and Laura Marling but Regan is gifted enough to explore tones and colours all her own. Following the release of EP Tried To in 2017 and follow up single ‘What To Do’ in 2018 sees Regan release her long-awaited debut and listeners are certainly not disappointed. Hemet is an outstanding debut which introduces a considerable new talent on the folk scene and a release which will linger long in the listener’s memory.
It is hard to believe that Hemet is Regan’s debut so skilled and assured it is in its production, song writing and performance. Taking its name from the San Jacinto Valley city where her husband originates, there is certainly a silky Californian vibe to Hemet. It’s an exquisitely crafted debut comprising eleven tracks, all self-penned, two in collaboration with her husband Wesley Houdyshell. The sound is classic, accomplished and with a considerable confidence that is rare in a debut.
Opener Something so good immediately catches the ear. It is a captivating and sure introduction; fragile, intimate, and bittersweet with some haunting synths by Alex Borwick and piano courtesy of Regan. Whilst How about that coffee? makes fine use of Regan’s embracing voice, peaking with some ecstatic phrasing and layering. The indie-folk inspired Save the day, one of the more full-bodied tracks on the album, where Regan is accompanied by a full band, is more rocky, reminiscent of Haim perhaps, with a pounding percussion by Dominic Mullan and knowing, sharp lyrics by Regan. Ode to youth is a more pop-inspired track. It plays with some rhythmic synth by Borwick and Anna Mullarkey before segueing into a more intimate, wistful refrain complete with frail background voices creating the illusion of a live recording.
Freeze Frame opens with some sweet, clarinet from Matthew Berrill before Regan’s flawless, idiosyncratic vocals kick in. It’s an incredibly beautiful, and surprisingly hopeful track written in the period shortly after Regan lost her mother. Followed immediately by the plaintive Two Seagulls the two tracks ensure the album is flavoured with a tender and profound melancholy. Closer She finds Regan in a further reflective longing mood, the song narrating the tale of the girl who will remain ‘always on your mind.’ Likewise, Hemet will endure too. Listen to Hallelujah game for instance, I dare you not to be swept along with Regan’s mature timbre and dreamy orchestration. Better still, set the whole album up and let yourself drift away with Regan’s exquisite vocals, evocative arrangements, and spellbinding introspection.
It’s impossible not to fall a little bit in love with Hemet. Beautifully listenable and rich in some rather gorgeous melodies and emotive arrangements, it is an adept and utterly mesmerizing debut. Niamh Regan’s deliciously languid voice is one to watch; warm and vulnerable in equal measures. Combined with her talent as a songwriter, Hemet presents the artist as a force to be reckoned with. A heartfelt, timeless, and captivating release.
Order Hemet on digital/CD/vinyl via Bandcamp: https://niamhregan.bandcamp.com/album/hemet
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram