Juhn Echo

UHN ECHO took to the stage with only half their regular numbers. It doesn’t take them too long to prove that NIAMH REGAN on acoustic guitar and vocals and ULTAN O’BRIEN on fiddle are enough to conquer their lovely set. “Sally Brown” opens the set and is a marker of things to come. REGAN’s vocals are at times both sweet and powerful and could rival ADELE’s on the latter’s quieter tracks. JUHN ECHO don’t rely in this or attempt to write Adele-like songs, instead focusing more on a traditional Irish sound, with O’BRIEN’S fantastic fiddle playing a key part.

Second track “Reality Check” is a fantastic piece; largely played with the hauntingly beautiful Iceland thumb harp. It’s intriguing yet understated and perfectly accentuates, again, REGAN’s fantastic vocals. “Away” on the other hand shows that she doesn’t lack anything in the guitar playing field either. Indeed, it shows that O’BRIEN can sing too adding neat backing vocals to the mix. O’BRIEN takes the lead for his own fiddle track next in a self-composed piece that is “in celebration of the art of homemaking”. It really shows that he has talent in not only playing, which he does fantastically, but also composing. “Said to Me” is another nice, soulful example of REGAN’s vocal talents and it really shows where JUHN ECHO locate themselves. They play with one foot in the past without it ever being possible to say they are rooted there. It’s sweet and engaging to open and close but is also complemented by an upbeat, folky middle section which imbues it with energy.

“The Rain” is next up with its poignant ‘I walk with the winter’ opening line on a cold March day. It shows that they are good song-writers, with the lyrics showing great emotional insight and heart. The same can be seen on solo effort “Dusty Heart”, played after O’BRIEN again shows off his fiddle-playing (I hesitate to call it ‘fiddling’). The lines of “You made a fool of me, but please come back again” and “I’ve asked so much but nothing has arrived” are as heart breaking as they are relatable. Closer, currently entitled “D minor” though that will likely change, again demonstrates all JUHN ECHO have going for them. The lyrics and vocals are top notch to which the fiddle is the perfect foil. It will be interesting to hear them again with their other two members in tow.

Review by SEAN NOONE 24/03/2013 - U&I

UHN ECHO took to the stage with only half their regular numbers. It doesn’t take them too long to prove that NIAMH REGAN on acoustic guitar and vocals and ULTAN O’BRIEN on fiddle are enough to conquer their lovely set. “Sally Brown” opens the set and is a marker of things to come. REGAN’s vocals are at times both sweet and powerful and could rival ADELE’s on the latter’s quieter tracks. JUHN ECHO don’t rely in this or attempt to write Adele-like songs, instead focusing more on a traditional Irish sound, with O’BRIEN’S fantastic fiddle playing a key part.

Second track “Reality Check” is a fantastic piece; largely played with the hauntingly beautiful Iceland thumb harp. It’s intriguing yet understated and perfectly accentuates, again, REGAN’s fantastic vocals. “Away” on the other hand shows that she doesn’t lack anything in the guitar playing field either. Indeed, it shows that O’BRIEN can sing too adding neat backing vocals to the mix. O’BRIEN takes the lead for his own fiddle track next in a self-composed piece that is “in celebration of the art of homemaking”. It really shows that he has talent in not only playing, which he does fantastically, but also composing. “Said to Me” is another nice, soulful example of REGAN’s vocal talents and it really shows where JUHN ECHO locate themselves. They play with one foot in the past without it ever being possible to say they are rooted there. It’s sweet and engaging to open and close but is also complemented by an upbeat, folky middle section which imbues it with energy.

“The Rain” is next up with its poignant ‘I walk with the winter’ opening line on a cold March day. It shows that they are good song-writers, with the lyrics showing great emotional insight and heart. The same can be seen on solo effort “Dusty Heart”, played after O’BRIEN again shows off his fiddle-playing (I hesitate to call it ‘fiddling’). The lines of “You made a fool of me, but please come back again” and “I’ve asked so much but nothing has arrived” are as heart breaking as they are relatable. Closer, currently entitled “D minor” though that will likely change, again demonstrates all JUHN ECHO have going for them. The lyrics and vocals are top notch to which the fiddle is the perfect foil. It will be interesting to hear them again with their other two members in tow.

Review by SEAN NOONE 24/03/2013 - U&I