Marc O'Reilly isn't exactly a household name, despite a critically acclaimed debut album in 2011.
Human Herdings
will unlikely change that fact, but don't let the Waterford man's anonymity prevent you from investigating his music. Fans of John Martyn, Nick Drake and Bert Jansch will be enamoured by this nine-track collection, an exercise in brevity and intimacy that draws from a minimalist palette of mostly fingerpicked acoustic guitar.
Lighthouse
and
Just So
are beautifully affecting in their simplicity. Dashes of bluesy rock balance O'Reilly's muted vocal on
You Never
and
The Wayward Shepherd
, encompassing a full band stomp and a degree of improvisation to shake the metaphorical dust from the rafters. Crucially, O'Reilly is awareof the limitations of his set-up, ensuring that
Human Herdings
doesn't outstay its welcome by rambling on.
marcoreillymusic.com
Download:
Lighthouse, You Never