Lumiere – My Dearest Dear
With My Dearest Dear, Lumiere are now confident in and conscious of the strengths of their own unique sound. This album is also one of stories. Those stories are brought to life through sensitive strings, clearly defined and individual narrative voices, catchy melodies and detailed production values. The big themes of love and loss, of place and people, of longing and lament, are present in this album, as they were in their debut. Lumiere’s strength though remains in the ability to be immersed fully in their local tradition of songs and strong people, and to communicate that to as wide and...
Read MoreDamien Dempsey – Almighty love
John produced and mixed “Almighty Love” at CLEAR Studios Almighty Love is an album full of love and the elements of despair that haunt and stalk a person’s life almost hand in hand. Right from the beginning, every song sits comfortably within its space. The framework and music play off one another so well that the other musicians on the album, such as John Reynolds, Julian Wilson and Clare Kenny don’t just appear as extras they become the music, the extra little something that makes this album stand out.
Read MoreSinead O’Connor – How About I Be Me (and You Be You)
Produced by John Reynolds The Guardian ***** Ever colourful and controversial, Sinead O’Connor returns with her ninth album, followingher Twitter pleas for a partner, the marriage to a drug counsellor that was almost scuppered by a wedding-night attempt to score weed, and contemplations of suicide. Business as usual then – although the songs address love, hypocrisy and parenthood to surprisingly breezy, even humourous effect, that unscathed stark, crystal voice notwithstanding. The sublime Reason With Me sees her adopt the character of a junkie pleading for redemption, but the...
Read MoreRocky Road to Poland – Damien Dempsey, The Dubliners, Danny O’Rielly and Irish Team
No 1 in Ireland for 6 weeks.
“The Rocky Road to Poland” debuted at number 1 on the Irish Singles Chart on the 10 May 2012 beating competition.
All proceeds for the song is going to the John Giles Foundation and the Irish Cancer Society.
Seun Kuti – From Africa with Fury: Rise
John co-produced and mixed the new Seun Kuti album at his CLEAR Studio with Brian Eno. The Guardian **** Seun Kuti has always had two problems. He has had to battle against continual comparisons with his legendary father Fela (hardly surprising, since he based his early career on a stage performance in which he looked and sounded like his late dad’s clone), and he has had to watch the success of Fela’s oldest son, Femi. The UK has been blitzed with Fela nostalgia in recent months, with the success of the Fela! stage show and the rerelease of all his back catalogue. Now...
Read MoreMusic of Ireland: Welcome Home
Produced by John Reynolds. To accompany the PBS documentary series that tells the story of contemporary Irish music and its global influence , John produced all the artists featured on the album including Damien Rice, Glenn Hansard, Sinead O’Connor, Andrea Corr, Shane MacGowan, Damien Dempsey, Paul Brady, Hothouse Flowers, Donal Lunny, The Chieftans and the amazing Moya Brennan who presents the documentary.
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