Music
Press
Wexford/Cork resident Joey Ryan makes a swift return to the singer/songwriter circuit with his third release “Dusk”. This is the third album in as many years from the Irish blues singer and highlights his impressive songwriting progress and development as a vocalist.
Highlights from the eleven-track album include the foot stomping “Devil on my Trail”, and the heartfelt “Take a Chance”. Clodagh Kearney provides backing vocals on two tracks including the intimate “Black Lion Cross” and slow burning “Lost”, which closes the album.
Ryan’s love of the blues permeate throughout the recording and a cover of legendary American blues musician Blind Willie Johnson’s “In My Time Of Dyin’” is a perfectly apt addition to the record.
In terms of the recording, the simple stripped back setup is quite effective; nonchalant slide guitar and hints of flute and violin add subtle texture to the record; however, it is Ryan’s simple yet effective guitar playing and intimate vocals that make “Dusk” such a good record. His ability to effortlessly draw the listener in with his deep drawling vocals could see this hardworking musician make inroads in the music industry.
Review by Stephen Walsh
5/6
- Music Review Unsigned
''Joey Ryan is a maturing Irish blues singer-songwriter with a smoky voice and fine guitar style.
His album Dusk opens with 'On our way', an uptempo track that will shake the dust off anybody's hard travelled boots.
The melancholic 'Devil on my trail' keeps up the pace, with Ryan's winning vocal scoring on the emotive front and some fiery guitar riffs adding drama to a handsome track.
'Take a chance' opts for a more sedate approach and allows Ryan's evocotive guitar to shine through.
It's a basic folky-blues track, played with the kind of passionate conviction that would fit snugly into Springsteens catalogue. Ryan is one to watch for sure.'' - Hotpress
Discography
Hope in Razorbeams (Demo) 2008
Fracture EP (2009)
Dusk (2010)
Photos
Bio
Just about to release his new album, Dusk, Joey Ryan has produced his finest work yet.
Melancholic, dark and yet uplifting music that is played with passion and conviction that brings the listener on a journey, beginning at the first haunting notes of ‘On our way’, to the desolation of the title track, finally bringing us far, far away with the closer, ‘Lost’.
‘Dusk’ is an album a year and a half in the making, an album that is the product of never ending dates, genre exploration and slowly building up a reputation amongst the roots live circuit.
It is a collection of songs full of seedy characters, different times and places that are familiar to us all. It draws influence from Waits to Phelps, and Dylan to the attitude of Metallica,
Drawing influences from the blues artists of old, rock, jazz and country, Dusk is Joey Ryan at his finest- raw and real.
His guitar playing is something special, with every note played with emotion and conviction, blending mournful melodies with beautiful passages and sequences.
Playing finger style guitar with such delicate accuracy, he plays with feeling on every note that comes out of his guitar.
Live his shows are full of energy and emotion, with him being known to improvise freely on songs night after night, changing them around to keep everything fresh and challenging.
Having spent the last year playing with some of the finest in his field, such as Jack L, Jeff Lang, Clive Barnes, Tucan, Thomas Leeb, Hayseed Dixie, Kelly Joe Phelps, Corrine West and Mark Geary, the next year will see Joey on the road promoting Dusk, starting with a 15 date tour lined up for November.
Recently after being one of the headliners of the Blackstairs Blues festival and completed a tour in London, 2011 is looking to be a busy and great year.
Hotpress have already said ‘Ryan is one to watch for sure’, with a raving review of Dusk by Jackie Hayden.
So keep watching...
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