Brand New Star

Listening to his debut album, Brand New Star, it's tempting to think of Kieran Goss as an Irish James Taylor. The soothing mildness of his crystal-clear tenor and easygoing folk arrangements are more than a little reminiscent of Taylor. There is very little that is noticeably Irish about either his voice, which only occasionally betrays traces of a brogue, or his music. The flute opening for "Driving Home to You" and the nearly a cappella "Things Ain't What They Used to Be" are the only songs that show any traditional Irish influence. Considering that Goss plays six and 12-string acoustic guitars, it is surprising that a large percentage of the album is driven by Eddie Friel's piano, with "Just Around the Corner," "Three Part Harmony," "Salt to the Wounds," and "Lean on You" dominated by piano. Goss's guitar work and Friel's playing is supplemented tastefully by harmonica, bass, a little bit of electric guitar, and some beautiful harmonies by Cormac Goss, Karen Hamill, and India McKeller. These elements are mated with Goss' comforting lyrics to produce an agreeably mellow debut album by a promising new artist. ~ Evan Cater|