This review sees me taking a break from one of those “mid” days that seems to be drifting along toward lunch without really achieving much! I’m frustrated as I am finding it difficult to source a repair part for my car after the Range Rover difficulties with the cyber attack. Thus, I am relaxing with a drink instead, and popping headphones on will do my review of the debut album from Niall McNamee that is released on October 10.
First, there is a very detailed press release that I will share, in the main, with you:
“With a string of acting credits to his name, multi-talented artist Niall McNamee steps back into the spotlight – this time with guitar in hand to release his long-awaited debut album “Glass and Mirrors” out 10th October via his own label, Wellboy, distributed by Absolute.
Influenced by the likes The Pogues and Christy Moore but equally Oasis, Coldplay, Paul Brady and even Brian Wilson, Niall puts a modern twist on his Irish heritage, mixing the best of Celtic post-punk passion with a 21st century alt-rock perspective. “I’m a romantic football fan who writes songs,” says Niall, “Lyrically I often think to myself ‘this is what I want to say, but how would Shane MacGown say it.”
The result is a soaring, melodic collection shaped by the chaos, charm, and contradictions of Niall’s life as a struggling artist living in London.
“Hearing love stories from the traditional music I always listened to made life feel poetic”’ Niall explains. “The world is a tough place, so finding people who change it for the better is kind of remarkable. But also, there’s the backdrop of a big, loud, London, building sites, pints and parties. London’s a struggle, but it’s also epic. And I think there’s an epicness to Irishness and London that defines this album.”
This Autumn sees Niall feature in two brand new films: Niall plays Irish world cup team goalkeeper Alan Kelly in the feature film ‘Saipan,’ starring Steve Coogan and Éanna Hardwicke. Niall also plays the lead in the romantic comedy ‘One Night in Bath.’
Playing live is still a massive driving force for Niall. 2024 included a run of sold-out headline shows, as well as supporting slots for Melissa Etheridge, Louis Dunford and The Dubliners and festival appearances at Isle of Wight and Cambridge Folk Festival. Shortly after the album’s release will be a mammoth 24-date full-band tour of the UK and Ireland, beginning in Leicester on 16th October and finishing in London on 6th December.
“Between recording, writing and all the other aspects of being an artist, it’s the live shows I enjoy the most, and truthfully where I’m at my best. Myself and my band love the adventure of it. And we go at it hard, that’s what it was all for ultimately, to play music, travel about with your pals and have as much fun as possible.”
My review:
“Clapham Wine”- The album opens with the recent single “Clapham Wine,” written for a friend following a horrendous breakup. Piano introduces the track and continues with a simple but engaging melody that softly slips under the emotive vocals. I can’t quite explain it but it felt like a soundtrack for a Hugh Grant movie…it’s a strong opening.
“Another Life” dramatically picks apart the what-ifs and could’ve-beens of a fractured romance, and the 90s-reminiscent title track reflects a dark period for Niall – “I was doubting everything. Wandering if I’d wasted or fucked up my life… And can people tell that I’m miserable? Can they smell it on me?” – I guess the song is a sad one, a winter song with the cold wind of age looking back on what could have been. I have those days, it makes you wonder if only you’d turned right instead of left!
“Donegal Hill” has those soft piano notes with a tale and vocal pulled from folk music, a track about revisiting old memories. It’s a very intimate song, lamenting and poignant. I’d take a seat in a late night bar somewhere in Ireland and relax into the tune. I liked it, but it depends what mood I’m in as to how much I think!
“Leave My Home” features some falsetto vocals from Niall. I was very unsure what I was going to listen to with this album as they come into my intray from artists I’ve often not heard before. Niall has that folk storytellers feeling and the ability to write a fine chorus. You slip back and enjoy the gentle, assured, musical hand that guides you.
“Moon Belongs to You” takes me back into that late night bar somewhere in rural Ireland. A small group of musicians tell their stories and the notes lie on the breeze outside, “even the moon belongs to you” and the earth lies below. It’s dreamy and personal, like many of the tracks here – an intimacy between storyteller and listener.
“Magpie with a Mullett” is a favourite of mine. I loved the tabla style drumming on the bodhran and the sea shanty style of delivery, complete with fiddle and penny whistle.. Yes, I liked this one a lot. This one gets the crowd up on their feet and the pub rocks as the girls have a dance and get the boys smiling. It is a song that works on all levels. It is different in style to the rest of the album, but completely belongs here, like a bridge between the stories. I’ll be popping this one on my playlist when it officially comes out! (And as a Newcastle United girl I am entirely happy with a song about a magpie.)
“Wokingham” keeps the mood upbeat and fast. We have a party in the village now! The band around Niall are kicking their shoes off here and the girls stay on the floor spinning round to the music. It’s a strong vocal performance as delivering at speed like this is far from easy. I’ve got into the album now!
“Clones Fireman” was written when Niall was 17 and inspired by the story of his grandparents. “They met a week before my grandmother moved to England. They were pen pals for 5 years until my grandad decided to go over after they lost touch. He didn’t know if she was in London or Birmingham, so he flipped a coin at Holyhead and fate brought him to the West Midlands, where he bumped into her very quickly and they proceeded to live a long life with each other.” After the exuberance of the previous two tracks we ease back into a slower folk style, a track of intimate storytelling with a built in hum!
“Man Complete” At 2.28 this is one of the shorter tracks on the album. It seeks the soil of the land and has a strong beat working as a heartbeat. It is a track of finding yourself and stepping out, played with some background harmonies too which make an impact.
“Falling in Love for the Day” is another track I enjoyed a lot. The instrumentals carry the track really well, you roll along with the song, an uncomplicated sentiment delivered nicely!
“Glass and Mirrors” runs to just over 5 minutes and it is a folk ballad, introspective and personal. It takes us back to the earlier sense of the musician’s life explored in music and the piano carrying the melody through the crowds of people to us.
“Rose of Marylebone” has a pleasing folk guitar accompanying this gentle folk tale written to that special girl who is holding another person’s hand. Life is like that sometimes, kind of sad. Shakespeare got it right, a sad song’s right for Winter.
Niall McNamee has crafted a record that balances the grit of London life with the poetry of Irish storytelling. There’s intimacy here, but also the spark of a songwriter unafraid to throw open the doors and let us all into his world. As Niall sings of love, loss, and the everyday chaos that makes life worth living, you can’t help but believe him — because he’s not just playing songs, he’s living them. And maybe that’s the best way to sum it up: “Glass and Mirrors” proves Niall McNamee isn’t just writing music, he’s writing life.”
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You can stream music from Niall McNamee here
By Lorraine Foley
UK & Ireland tour dates (tickets):
16th Oct – Duffy’s, LEICESTER
17th Oct – Live Rooms, CHESTER
19th Oct – Cabaret Voltaire, EDINBURGH
21st Oct – Cluny 2, NEWCASTLE
23rd Oct – Whelans, DUBLIN
24th Oct – Cleere’s, KILKENNY
25th Oct – Ballycotten, Sea Church, CORK
29th Oct – Dolans, LIMERICK
30th Oct – Monroes, GALWAY
31st Oct – Gweedore, DONEGAL
1st Nov – Oh Yeah Centre, BELFAST
6th Nov – The Horn, ST ALBANS
8th Nov – Heartbreakers, SOUTHAMPTON
13th Nov – Louisiana, BRISTOL
14th Nov – The Star, GUILDFORD
15th Nov – Alphabet, BRIGHTON
22nd Nov – The Phoenix, EXETER
25th Nov – Waterfront, NORWICH
26th Nov – The Greystones, SHEFFIELD
27th Nov – Billy Bootleggers, NOTTINGHAM
28th Nov – Oporto, LEEDS
4th Dec – Night & Day, MANCHESTER
5th Dec – Castle & Falcon, BIRMINGHAM
6th Dec – Oslo, LONDON