Reviews
MOJO FEB 2007
MOJO ***
"OUT THERE" MOSCO DISC
Review by Colin Irwin, Mojo, February 2007
"Forever associated with 'Only a Woman.s Heart', massively underrated Irish sing / songwriter, McEvoy raises the stakes with an ambitious self-produced, self-arranged album. It tackles Marvin Gaye and Lowell George and includes a Dave Rotheray collaboration along with her own immaculately tuneful, lyrically potent tales of love and life."
FEB 2007 1SSUE MOJO
Hot Press magazine Review
RTE Concert Orchestra ‘Eleanor McEvoy her songs and music’ at the National Concert Hal, Dublin August 19th 2005.
Three highlights from this show give conclusive evidence that, in
Eleanor McEvoy, we have an incomparably assured performer and a
composer of consummate wit and intelligence who has yet to receive her
due acclaim at home.
These highlights were a chilling reading of her own ‘Famine 1848”, the
hauntingly sad ‘Anach Cuain’ and the beguiling ‘The Rain Falls’ , the
latter in particular making full, inventive use of the RTE orchestra.
McEvoy’s five studio albums have shown her to be a writer capable of
merging a wide range of elements from Bach to Bacharach, and many of
them tonight found their natural home.
The full-on use of the orchestra’s widest palette allowed new light to
shine on songs such a s ‘Did You Tell Him’ and the scathing ‘Territory
Of Poets’. The latter was taken at a brisker tempo than on record.
Liam Bradley’s backing vocals on the sublime ‘Something So Wonderful’
suggest that this is a song that will endure, while ‘Please heart
You’re Killing g Me took on a mariachi-lite flavour.
Elsewhere, the heavily percussive ‘Not Quite Love’ worked a treat with
just drums and voice. Other gems to lift the soul included a
provocative version of Chuck Berry’s rock classic ‘Memphis Tennessee’
here transformed into a panoramic paean to long distance loneliness.
The first half had been slightly marred by leaden drum sounds and the
harshness of a band at odds with McEvoy’s subtle vocals. In the end,
though, nothing could mask the clarity, depth of emotion and range of
McEvoy's warm presence.
Her obvious encore - ‘A Woman’s Heart’ - made you hope that one day
Ireland’s rocknoscenti will acknowledge the towering qualities of both
this song and it’s writer.
Jackie Hayden
Sample reviews for "Early Hours" Album
MOJO "A Triumph"
Irish Times "Nonchalance oozes from Eleanor McEvoy’s fifth and
strongest album in an 11 - year career"
Hot Press "This is surely Eleanor McEvoy’s best album to date"
Irish Music Magazine ".....a great package from a very accomplished
writer and performer."
Living Tradition "I honestly can’t fault this beautifully crafted
album"
Hi-Fi Plus "This is great music, beautifully recorded"
Hi-Fi World "a wonderfully warm sound.......recommended to those in
search of a tranquil listening experience."
TV Now "......It tastes of Guinness. It smells of earth. ...a very
Irish constant in a lopsided world"
Hi Fidelity ".......McEvoy's singing remains a standout"
Maverick ".. as fresh and eager as a debut ......... nothing is
allowed to get in the way of the songs."
