Search - Tom McShane :: Departures

Departures is the second full length release from Irish songwriter Tom McShane, and his U.S. debut. As an introduction to his music, Departures bears comparison to the great debuts of Eliot Smith, Smog and Will Oldham. Shimmering trumpet and guitar lines perfectly frame Tom s fragile voice and emotionally raw and honest lyrics, while sheets of moog and cymbal-washes blanket the music in a strange, warm embrace. Truly an underground sensation, Tom s first release Songs Are Sad (packaged digitally with this release) was shared among the music and artistic community long before Tom saw fit to self release it, at which time it garnered critical acclaim. National critcs called the set stuff of genius (OhYeah), Like reading someone s heartbroken diary (NI Music) , Epochal (Hot Press) and A unique talent (Belfast Telegraph) The record also impressed Tom s peers: Electro-pop outfit Oppenheimer approached Tom about covering his song Don t Call Me . The song currently appears on Oppenheimer s eponymous U.S. debut with venerable indie label Bar None records. Opener Guide is a subtly unfolding introduction to Tom s songwriting: wistful and emotionally charged. Using warm trumpet and transecting guitar lines to bring an Eliot Smith-esque feeling of longing to the tune. Scene At The Citadel s weighty title perfectly reflects the confusion inherent in Tom s eloquent lyrics, leading to the achingly uplifting chorus, sounding like a long lost Bill Callahan B-Side. Lullaby has an otherworldly feel, again reminiscent of early SMOG, but Tom s wonderfully overstated accent and intonation keeps the music firmly rooted to it s place of origin: the wind blown, sea-salt stretches of the Northern Irish coast, as does the pastoral and minimalist A Personal Narrative of a Life At Sea . Fall of Burning Leaves changes gear and brings a full band flavor to Tom s unique brand of balladeering, along with Sparklehorse-esque squelching but, as with every track in this set, his steady voice and gripping storytelling is never overshadowed.