Review: Irish Poet JP O'Duill's 'Nótaí'

It is an album of quiet confidence – the kind you do not have to shout to hear. Taking inspiration from Irish folk but mischievously branching out into punk, avant-pop and the not always predictable curveball chord progression, Nótaí is an album which poses questions but does not provide the answers and is strengthened by the endeavour.

Lyrically, O’Duill is philosopher and wisecracker in equal part – dissecting the human condition with sympathetic and knowing nod. Whatever he’s wrestling with – love, failure or the tug-of-war set between righteousness and reality – there’s an honesty here that never quite leans towards melodrama. Highlights like Empathy Primates and Vanishing Point are most hurtful when they are being most unobtrusively.

The production keeps looseness — raw in spots, but never abrasive. Collaborations such as Adam O’Regan and Dylan Lynch add nuanced texture but never overcrowd the tracks. Breathing room, space to digest, and just enough anarchy to keep you on your toes.

Nótaí isn't trying to be profound — and that’s why, I think, it succeeds. Contemplative but not narcissistic, experimental but not alienating. A debut album that sounds like an album by an act who knows exactly who they are — and isn't trying to rush and get you to believe you do too.

Listen on Spotify in full.