Many of you will have first come across Damien McGeehan back in 2009 when he made his mark as part of the three-piece outfit Fidil who toured and recorded extensively and left us exhilarated and crying out for more. Then, in homage to The Tin Fiddle (from which the album took its name), he produced a masterful piece of work in 2017, in which he explored looping and multi-tracking of one instrument to achieve all sounds to create ensemble-like arrangements. It was a triumph.
His new album ‘Kin’, set for release this week on October 15th, finds him flexing his creative muscles still further to give us a collection that is both majestic and grand. A shift from his previous solo release, Kin is very much a band album with arrangements that incorporate influences from many other genres, including jazz, rockabilly and Senegalese kora music. It also features three glorious vocal contributions from his wife, Shauna, that will take your breath away. These are powerful stop-you-in-your-tracks songs delivered with honest and effortless clout.
Watch his accompanying video for the album track Dúlamán na Binne Búidhe in which, even in a band setting, you can appreciate the restraint he exercises that allows an engaging energy to build throughout the music.
The arrangements have been perfectly fine-tuned to allow all instruments to shine, from Damien’s fine fiddle work to the North African-style guitar playing from Seán Óg Graham. Between Conor McCreanor‘s bass and Liam Bradley‘s percussion, proceedings are leant an infectious toe-tapping dub-like air while they each, alongside John McCullough‘s unexpected Hammond groove, add colour and a vibrant fizz. This is top-class stuff that will leave you wanting more, which you will have very soon! I can’t recommend it enough…if you love the woven tapestries created by the likes of Jiggy, Shooglenifty and Martyn Bennett, then this will be a treat to your ears.
Talking about the album, Damien explained: “This album has been in the works for some time. Initially, it was tricky to fit with the schedules of all the musicians involved and then a certain pandemic kept us all locked away from each other. I kept going with my good friend Seán Óg Graham at Bannview Studios in Co. Antrim, and it finally came together.
“There are a lot of different influences creeping in. I am particularly fascinated by how the fiddle has been utilised in many diverse American music forms from old-time and bluegrass to country and western and swing, so they each helped to shape the content.
“Then there’s New Orleans-style brass on some tracks, soaring rockabilly guitar on a Donegal Highland and even some inspiration drawn from the great Senegalese kora tradition.
“I composed several tracks, and the album also features three songs by my favourite singer (and beautiful wife), Shauna Mullin. Just in case anyone thinks I’m biased: she was my favourite singer long before we were married!
“Shauna is well known as a traditional singer, but the material here is in a slightly different vein, and I love what she did with those songs.
“The album is entitled ‘Kin’; family and friends are so important, especially when we look back to where we’ve come from and how all these great people have helped guide us, given invaluable support and wisdom, and made us who we are.
“It also refers to all the musicians and artists worldwide who have gone before us and left us with such amazing work to inspire new generations.”
Kin is available Oct 15 from www.damienmcgeehan.com and other online platforms.