Music
Press
The Irish Times***
“New name, fresh approach, adventurous songwriter: that’s Wexford’s The Man Whom (aka Ian Doyle) for you. Songs such as I Know Your Face and The Man Who Knew Too Much display Doyle’s nifty craftsman- like process, while Call All the People and Autopilot highlight a working knowledge of the kind of music and musings that have gained him comparisons to Villagers and Neil Young. Out of the blue, then – another new, good Irish singer-songwriter”. - The Irish times
News of the World on Sunday ****
This debut album from Wexford man Ian Doyle takes the joyousness of Sufjan Stephens and the unusual phrasing of Villagers, filtering those elements into an eventful listen. - News of the World
The Sunday Times ****
A slick production with accomplished musicians, elaborate scores and scrupulous string arrangements. Call all the People has the heartfelt passion of an anthem, including melodic bursts of melancholia, while Sing Till There’s No Songs Left, I know your Face, and Over and Under, the current single, strike all the right chords. - The Sunday Times 2011
Hotpress 4.5/5
Sing Till There’s No Songs Left’ features emotive harmonies, uplifting brass, and swagger in spades. ‘Over And Under’ brims with good vibes, while ‘Leavin This Town’, with its unsettling melancholy, is a handsome tune with a lyrical edge that makes it relevant to these forlorn times. The string-tinged and choral ‘Easier To Run’ is almost illegally heart-breaking, while the restrained ‘Call All The People’ climbs with uncanny power, with Doyle taking it to higher and higher levels of elation. ‘Puppeteers’ is a long-held favourite of mine and ‘Til It’s Gone’ wraps it all up so you want to start all over again. The Greatest Event has enough charm and inventiveness to fill your head and nourish your soul. Eat it. - Hotpress, 2011
Discography
Album
The Greatest Event (Bindlestiff Recordings - 2011)
Singles
Call All the People (Bindlestiff Recordings - 2011)
Over and Under (Bindlestiff Recordings - 2012)
Sing till there's no songs left (Bindlestiff Recordings - 2012)
Photos
Bio
The Man Whom is the moniker for Wexford-based singer songwriter, producer/composer and multi-instrumentalist Ian Doyle. The Greatest Event is his debut Album. With the help of musicians and friends, Brian Hassett (bass), Christian Best (drums), Doyle and his band retreated to the seclusion of a house in Kilrane Village (Ireland) and worked intensely to record the majority of the album. The piano parts were subsequently recorded in the local arts centre.
Further contributions to Doyle’s album include polished string arrangements by composer Peter Fahey and performed by the Mamisa Quartet, peddle steel guitar by Clive Barnes and additional production, keys, guitar, and general strange musical toys by Brian Crosby.
The album was mixed at Exchequer Studios, Dublin with producer and mixing engineer Phil Hayes.
Influences include
Andrew Bird, Arcade Fire, Beck, Bert Jansch, Bon Iver, Bright Eyes, Conor Oberst, Dave Graham, Fleet Foxes, Grahan Coxon, Grandaddy, Grizzly Bear, Iron And Wine, J. Tillman, John Martyn, Jose Gonzalez, Nic Jones, Nick Drake, Patrick Watson, Portishead, Radiohead, Ray LaMontagne, Sigur Ros, Sparklehorse, St.Vincent, Sufjan Stevens, Tom Waits, Devendra Banhart, Eels, Elbow, Niel Young.
Links
