Reviews: Albums
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I’ll Be Seeing You
Let me tell you what I'm a sucker for, music-wise: a good tune, warm production, no pretensions, latent energy, evocative musicianship and just a little bit of thought behind all of it. This rather attractive album by Irishman Kieran Goss has a little bit of all of the above and, for that reason, gets my thumbs-up.
I’ll Be Seeing You is Goss's 8th album which is quite a feat in itself because I haven't heard his music before, even after 20 years in music retail. This has to change – this is a very agreeable set of songs... the title track is a sumptuous wander through sun-streaked hillsides or rain-battered seashores towards the final curtain... the true standout for me is the Lilac Time and Simon & Garfunkel-esque closer Make The Morning Shine... the beautiful instrumentation and lulling vocals ensure that this is a chestnut worth peeling and savouring: the final sixty seconds are the kind of sixty seconds you wish were present for sixty minutes, indeed very pretty.
Radio 2 territory beckons... I advise you to check him out.
Paul Pledger, ALLGIGS.CO.UK
Eight albums on and Kieran Goss is in reflective mood. I’ll Be Seeing You is a spare, ruminative collection shot through with the emotional turmoil that’s beset his personal life. Death and illness have coloured his experiences in recent years, but Goss has allowed them to filter richly into his songwriting without ever resorting to maudlin self-pity. The album is bookended by two pristine snapshots of life’s magical ordinariness (One Boy’s Treasure and the gently anthemic Make The Morning Shine), and there’s much evidence that Goss is digging deeper in his songwriting than ever before. At times the bareboned production sounds under-developed, but with such vignettes as Into Your Arms sounding like the illicit offspring of Townes Van Zandt and George Jones, Goss is clearly on a road to somewhere very interesting.
★★★★
Joe Breen, THE IRISH TIMES
Goss really has grown into a very good songwriter, with an ear for gorgeous melodies and a gift for direct, heartfelt lyrics. There are numerous examples here, but perhaps the best is Smile, which in its effortless shift from verse to instantly memorable chorus is every bit as good as anything Neil Finn (Crowded House) has penned.
Co-written with the likes of Brendan Murphy (The 4 of Us) and Kimmie Rhodes, I’ll Be Seeing You was made as Goss’s mother and sister-in-law succumbed to cancer, and while his wife was receiving (successful) cancer treatment, so understandably the mood is muted and often sombre.
But there are lighter moments — The One That Got Away, Let Me Take You Home Tonight — and through the pain and hurt emerges defiance, dignity and optimism, all borne along on a clutch of exceptionally easy on the ear tunes.
Neil McKay, SUNDAY LIFE
He has a natural way with a melody and the enviable knack of crafting songs that never outstay their welcome and sound like they’ve been around forever.
Jackie Hayden, HOT PRESS
Twenty years on from his debut album, it’s good to hear that Kieran Goss is still adept at his stock in trade; superior folk-pop songs with sparse arrangements... Lyrically, some songs, such as Shining Like A Sun and the whimsical, dusty-road ditty, The Reason Why, land sunny-side up; others, like I’ll Be Seeing You and Into Your Arms, have longing on their mind and evoke a slight tug on the heart-strings. Either way, whatever emotional trials have beset the writer in recent times, he lines his troubles with a winningly amiable optimism, a gift that should keep his song-writing powers in demand for years to come.
Johnnie Craig, SUNDAY BUSINESS POST
Yet another album full of very fine roots/folk that makes you realise why he is such a highly regarded songwriter.
CARA MAGAZINE
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Trio Live
Kieran Goss, long hailed as one of Ireland’s leading songwriters, is also loved for his warm and witty performance and such moments are captured on this release... Goss is clearly an accomplished songwriter crafting some melodic masterpieces that can change direction when you least expect it. The CD has something for everyone; New Day is definitely one of the highlights with the clear backing vocals offered by Annie Kinsella. Smile is yet another beautifully melodic ballad that underlines why Goss is considered one of Ireland’s leading songwriters... If you are a Kieran Goss fan you are going to have this CD on your wish list. If you haven’t considered his work before then this album is well worth a listen.
DIGMO / A:MUZE
Despite both being hailed as one of Ireland’s leading songwriters and well-loved for his warm and witty live performances, Kieran Goss has only now finally got around to releasing his first live recording, Kieran Goss Trio Live.
This excellent 17-song album, featuring Gareth Hughes on double bass and Ann Kinsella on backing vocals, captures all that is good about any concert by this extraordinary talent, from his high-quality songs to his masterful interaction with his audience, all delivered with natural humour and sincerity in his laid-back signature style. Get your hands on one.
BELFAST TELEGRAPH.CO.UK
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Blue Sky Sunrise
Blue Sky Sunrise is a beautifully-tailored trip into the songwriter’s craft.
Ralph McLean, SUNDAY LIFE
The last track, Nothing’s Changed Again, is in my opinion, the best on Blue Sky Sunrise… it is perhaps the most profound song he has ever written... Cautious and mysterious, Nothing’s Changed Again is like a song the great Texan singer-songwriter Guy Clark might have written.
Paddy Kehoe, RTE GUIDE
There’s no doubt this is a rootsier, gutsier and more liberated Goss than we’ve heard before... Gotta Get To You and Blue Sky Sunrise reflect an exuberant, almost puckish side of Goss previously not exhibited outside of his often hilarious live shows... Now That I’m Letting Go has soaring open-air harmonies to die for, and his duet with Kimmie Rhodes on Why Should I Be Lonely is a real gem, full of all the back porch charm we expect from Emmylou... Many of the artists who emerged alongside Goss in the eighties have since faded from view. If they want to effect a comeback, they might need to follow his lead and take a risk or two.
Jackie Hayden, HOT PRESS
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Out Of My Head... The Best Of Kieran Goss
This is a great big warm blanket of a record. Untarnished with borrowed accents or strutting poses, it’s a no-holds barred celebration of the considerable back catalogue that this funny, charismatic and exceedingly consistent singer/songwriter has amassed stealthily over the past decade. From the pared down a cappella version of Brand New Star to the country-tinged I Don’t Want To Stop Loving You and the big sky canvas that is I Close My Eyes, Kieran Goss is a three-dimensional writer with an uncanny ear for the right tune. A recent collaboration with Jimmy MacCarthy and Sheppard Solomon, That’s What Love Is For possesses Goss’ clarity peppered with MacCarthy’s more obtuse reference points. A mighty fine marker on the path.
Siobhán Long, THE IRISH TIMES
The single Out of My Head is already a big hit in Ireland and rightly so; it’s one of those songs that will be played on the radio for years to come. Like all of Goss’s songs, this one grows on you more every time you hear it. I Don’t Want to Stop Loving You is an interesting piece - I can easily imagine Willie Nelson or Kris Kristofferson recording it with great success. The next track, I Close My Eyes is another fine song, which hints at New Zealand band, Crowded House. This train of comparisons does not imply plagarism, rather that Goss’s songs fit very well into such illustrious company.
THE WORLD OF HIBERNIA
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Worse Than Pride
Goss’s brand of folk/pop that borders on alternative is tender and insightful, honest and raw, and shows a songwriting talent of great depth. Worse Than Pride is a beauty.
MUSIC ROW
Three or four listens in, you feel that these songs have been with you for a lifetime. That, I suppose, is the acid test for someone whose purpose in writing is to have their voice heard by the widest possible audience. Many of these songs are destined to be played off the radio, and to be covered by wedding bands the length and breadth of the country. Seriously, I can see numbers like Out of My Head and Running for a Reason being highly sought after by those looking for top quality material.
HOT PRESS
There is a quiet, insistent spell to these eleven tracks that leaves them turning over in your head long into the night.
THE IRISH TIMES
Worse Than Pride is a very fine album, yet another landmark in the career of a very gifted writer. Listen well and often. You’ll be glad you did.
THE IRISH INDEPENDENT
If the thought of buying an album dominated by the acoustic guitar is alien to you - wise up! Worse Than Pride may just change your ideas about impact in music, and convince you that less is more.
SUNDAY LIFE
Reviews: Live Shows
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SUNDAY HERALD SCOTLAND
The Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow, 4th March 2010
Goss’s talent is to make everything he does appear effortless. The songs are expertly crafted… Goss sings them with an easy charm and confidence to just-so guitar accompaniments.
Rob Adams
KIERAN GOSS AND FRIENDS:
3 NIGHTS AT THE OPERA HOUSE
Grand Opera House, Belfast
20th, 21st & 22nd March 2008
with special guests Rodney Crowell,
Beth Nielsen Chapman, Brendan Murphy
& Kimmie Rhodes
Any concert by one of our best singer/songwriters and performers, Kieran Goss, is not to be missed, but when his line-up of special guests includes such American luminaries as Rodney Crowell, Beth Nielsen Chapman and Kimmie Rhodes plus local artist, Brendan Murphy, it just doesn’t get any better!
The sheer quality of this bill may have generated high expectations, but on the opening night of its three-night residency at the Opera House, I doubt that even songwriters of the calibre of those on stage could come up with words to truly describe just how special this piece of ‘songwriter’s heaven’ actually was.
This acoustic-driven evening was perfectly hosted in his cool, comic and charming style by Goss, flanked on either side by his superb musical sidekicks, Gareth Hughes on double bass and Ann Kinsella on vocals; the trio acting as house band for all performers with the relaxed and informal approach being a successful factor of the show.
I was heartened to see so many of our talented singer/songwriters in the audience for, if anyone had wished to improve their craft, there was not one bad song amongst the two dozen performed at this ‘singer/songwriter masterclass’.
As each guest took it in turn to perform with Goss for their allocated three-song set, their offerings sat comfortably in the show, as most were, like his, seemingly simple and gently melodic.
If I was forced to suggest highlights (an impossible task), I would go for the sweet and distinctive vocals of Rhodes in her parental wish for a child, Love And Happiness For You; Murphy’s matured style in Why Should I Be Lonely; finger-pickin’ Crowell’s I Know Love Is All I Need; Chapman’s vocal clarity during her extremely personal, Sand And Water; Goss with Reasons To Leave; and the ensemble finale version of the McPeake family classic, Will You Go, Lassie, Go.
Full marks to both Goss and, especially, promoter David Hull for this unique show... if only it could become an annual event, the possibilities for guests are endless.
Damien Murray, BELFAST TELEGRAPH
The Mayobridge man was in fine fettle singing and playing guitar with all the confidence of an artist who knows exactly where he’s going... Kieran ranged through a whole lot of his new songs such as Clear Day, You’re The Reason Why and a lovely Jamaica, I’m In Love… There was a lot of audience participation, verifying the popularity of Kieran Goss and his engaging stage presence...
Louis McConnell, BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Kieran is one of the most gifted performers around today. He has an amazing ability to reach out to his audience and connect with them in a very special way. This guy is the real deal, and that’s what makes him the star he is.
DON WILLIAMS
Probably the finest entertainer in the land.
THE IRISH NEWS
The sense of fun is tremendous, the playing first rate and the songs are sheer quality. The encores were genuine, but only because the man is too.
THE IRISH TIMES
Kieran Goss clearly demonstrated just why he is regarded as one of Ireland’s finest songwriters and most polished entertainers... (he) moved effortlessly through an irresistible concoction of upbeat, optimistic compositions, sensitive love songs and an hilarious laid-back banter... Goss held his listeners absolutely spellbound.
THE CORK EXAMINER
Reviews: German Press
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DER LANGE WEG VON BELFAST NACH ULM
ULM – Wenn sich am Tag der Arbeit fast hundert Menschen im Roxy treffen, dann muss dort etwas Besonderes sein. Keine Veranstaltung, die dem Feiertag entspricht, aber eine Demonstration. Eine, die jeden berührt, der an ihr teilnehmen kann: Kieran Goss. Er demonstriert, allein auf der kleinen Bühne nur mit Gitarre und einem Mikrofon, wie man die Herzen der Zuhörer erreicht.
Bezeichnend ist der Titel seiner Tour und des aktuellen Albums: Red-Letter Day, was so viel bedeutet, wie ein ganz persönlicher Feiertag, den man sich im Kalender rot anstreicht. Der kleine Nordire, der erst in den letzten Jahren bekannt wurde, schreibt einfach tolle Lieder, jedes mit wunderschönem Text. Wenn er singt, weiß man wieder, wie eindringlich sanfte Musik sein kann.
Von Jura zur Musik
Fast jeder Song schmeichelt sich unaufdringlich ins Ohr. Man hat das seltene Gefühl, sich selbst und seine sentimentalen Gedanken wieder zu finden. Kieran Goss ist einer, der auszog, sich selbst ein Leben in Zufriedenheit zu bereiten. Der sympathische Musiker studiert in Belfast Jura und arbeiter über zwei Jahre als Anwalt. Die Wirren der 80er-Jahre vertrieben ihn aus Nordirland. In den Vereinigten Staaten jobbte er als professioneller Musiker.
Zurück in Europa, entscheidet er, dass er nicht wieder in die Anwalts-kanzlei zurückkehrt, sondern allein mit seinem musikalischen Talent sein Geld verdient. Zwei Jahre singt der Ire in den Straßen Kölns und erlernt so nebenbei ein ausgezeichnetes Deutsch. Das ermöglicht auch dem Konzertbesucher, die Lieder und Geschichten, die aufrichtigen Bekenntnisse des Song-schreibers zu verstehen. Nach der Pause etwa gibt Kieran Goss etwas Liebenswertes zum Besten: Soeben habe er ein nettes Gespräch mit einer Besucherin gehabt. Auf seine Frage, warum sie gerade in sein Konzert komme, antwortete sie, dass sie über ihn gelesen habe, er sei Der Tipp des Tages. Er ist sichtlich stolz und verspricht, sich auch weiterhin anzustrengen.
Ein Mann mit Humor
Trotz allem Zauber, der seinen Liedern innewohnt, lebt Kieran seinen Humor aus. Man spürt, dass dieser Mann seinen Weg gefunden hat, sein Leben lebt und dieses nur all zu gern mit den Zuhörern teilen möchte. Das Spaß ist enorm, der Auftritt erstklassig. Liegt es nun am Tag der Arbeit oder an den ersten schönes Sonnen-stunden des Jahres?
HOLGER GEBHARDT
WESTDEUTSCHE ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG
Ebertbad, Oberhausen, 21st January 2010
Download a review of Kieran’s show at Ebertbad, Oberhausen, by clicking here.
SCHWÄBISCHE ZEITUNG
Forum, Bad Saulgau, 16th January 2010
Download a review of Kieran’s show at Bad Saulgau’s Forum by clicking here.
KÖLNER STADT-ANZEIGER
Harmonie, Bonn, 14th January 2010
Download a review of Kieran’s show at Harmonie, Bonn, by clicking here.
KIELER NACHRICHTEN
Savoy Kino, Bordesholm, 8th January 2010
Download a review of Kieran’s show at Savoy Kino, Bordesholm, by clicking here.
