Irish country

(Morning Star, Friday 21 December 2007)

ALBUM: Richard Murray - Desert Wind
(Richardmurraymusic)

IF Bob Harris created a perfect country star from his imagination, one would imagine that it'd come pretty close to Richard Murray.

After all, the rough hewn vocal which calls to mind the wind-tousled plains of Mexico is a gift for someone twice Murray's mere 29 years.

The sweep of acoustic guitar has a profoundly blue tinge - of the grass variety - and the Tennessee twang throughout the instrumentals is a native's touch indeed.

This may seem a barrage of geographical points to plot, but the authenticity of Murray is an astoundingly genuine rendering considering that the multi-instrumentalist hails from Northern Ireland.

Now based in London, Murray's strength is in the control that he has taken over this, his debut long-player. Credited as co-producer and vocalist, Murray also racks up turns on the guitar, mandolin, harmonica and percussion.

As far as the songs go, Down in this Town is awash with the melancholy of slow country life, while closer The Wind And The Rain is an epic taste of the extraordinary future Murray that has landed himself in music.

Strong as the orchestration and melodies are, the proliferation of olde worlde nods and influences does seem a little trite at times. There's a sense that the lyrical output on Desert Wind is a bit of melting pot and the credibility is stretched when Murray cites biblical characters and events.

But, on an album where the singalong goodness of a popular tune is alive and well, Murray seems assured the status of a country star alright, with or without a commendation from Whispering Bob.