The Eulogys - Ambergris and Tigerblood

I’m sorry to say that this CD has been sitting in the ‘To Do’ pile for a long time, and it’s a shame that the D hasn’t mentioned something about locals The Eulogys sooner. However, this reviewer will now rectify their absence with a look at their recently released EP, Ambergris and Tigerblood.

Hailing from Cork and, like many other talented home-grown musicians, now based in Dublin, The Eulogys is the new project masterminded by Mr. Kenny Hyland. A talented singer and pianist, Hyland possess some very strong pop sensibilities and this is showcased here on his self-recorded and produced EP.

The CD opens with Bouquets which, like a lot of The Eulogys music, is very much piano driven. It’s almost like a ‘just about’ restrained orchestral piece. Hyland’s Matt Bellamy-esque vocal taking the place of the strings, brass and percussion, as he sings of the complications and uncertainties of a failing relationship is the real hook of this song. So let’s just put it out there, Hyland seems very much pre-occupied with love and ladies and the second track, Trees in the Painting does nothing to disprove this theory. The high register vocals are present here again, along with the piano but the real drive is the off kilter percussion.

Closer De Profundis takes the sound in a slightly different direction to the other two tracks by dropping the piano and picking up the guitar, and in this reviewers opinion, the track is the strongest on the EP. All the bravado that went along with the piano is shrugged off here and it makes the track more immediate, personal and much sweeter.

Overall, the EP showcases a raw talent. There are moments of beauty on the CD, and moments where, when the production quality slightly falters, the veneer of beauty is slightly dullened. That said, and as I just mentioned, this EP shows off Kenny’s talent in both song writing and composition. One to check out and definitely one to watch.

Drop-D Rating: 7/10

You can download Ambergris and Tigerblood for free from The Eulogys Bandcamp page here.

Published on Drop-D.ie - 15th August, 2011