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Last year ace Offaly act My Brother Woody brought out the quirkily titled ‘It's A Long Way From That Sort Of Thing You Were Raised’ thus confirming Ireland's reputation as a land full of artists with a penchant for elongated home truths as album titles. It all began way back in the nineties when the Hitchers (whose minor splash 'Strachan' got a tiny thumbs up from the ginger Celt himself) decided to release a record called ‘It's All Fun & Games 'Til Someone Loses An Eye’. So nobody should be surprised to read that Michael Knight's (whose debut ‘Youth Is Wasted On The Young’ still sends hugger's pop absorbing nerves into spasms of delight) forthcoming smash is to be saddled with the following mouthful ‘I'm Not Entirely Clear How I Ended Up Like This’. Of course it all makes sense when you sit down and examine Richard Murphy the creative force behind the band. A quick breeze through the photo montage on his myspace page reveals someone struck with a fashion sensibility that can only be described as ‘disco gringo’. Besides the devilment there is a keen talent at work, Murphy comes complete with a gift for rotating harmonies and an ability to colour them with glossy orchestral manoeuvres that never appear superficial. ‘I'm Not Entirely Clear How I Ended Up Like This’ may be a step away from the pop freeflow of his debut but the new found maturity is equally as entrancing. Along with the cunning pop songs there are flashes of baroque and even moments of spaghetti westernism. ‘Dumbshow’ is the operatic opener, sans lyrics it ebbs and flows with Murphy joined along the way by a trio of sirens, some double bass, a string or 2 and a floppy fringe full of inspiration. Like so many of Michael Knight's compositions it is both uplifting and melancholic at the same time with an ever changing list of dynamics ensuring that not even the most hopelessly attention deficient individual will find time to be bored. ‘I'm Not Entirely Clear How I Ended Up Like This’ is due out in April on yesboyicecream records, cone get it. KD

Michael Knight - Dumbshow

Watch The Video To Leaving Town

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Michael Knight
Year: 2008