| Frothingly positive advance scuttlebutt had
suggested that this may well be the year
of The Fat Lady Sings, and the release of
their remarkably assured debut LP will do
nothing to dampen down the fires of high
expectation engendered by their live performances.
Formed in Dublin five years ago, the group
have successfully slipped out of the shadows
cast by U2 to forge their own identity based
on a repertoire of strong melodic material.
The best of these taut, tightly structured
pieces begin in a brooding acoustic intensity
which bursts forth into a breathless rush
of pop exuberance with chiming melodies carrying
the gut-wrenching vocals of Nick Kelly as
he recounts tales of spurned idealism, cracked
dreams and fated love affairs. The missing
link between The Blue Nile and Deacon Blue,
songs like Arclight, Twist and Gravy Train
look destined to be shipped out by the shedful. |
