Ruairi and the Owls are back with the new EP, Man About A Dog.
Derry based Ruairi and the Owls have gone from strength to strength in the past year from the track ‘Vapour’ featuring on the Northwest 200 and ‘Beneveinagh’ being aired on BBC Radio 1, it’s been a pretty fast ride. The band is Ruairi Connolly of Furlo fame, and consists of a mash up of local folks such as Conor Crampsie (Dyingbreed), Mike Hamill (Chase Atlantis), and Jamie O’ Hara (Think Fast Killer).
Now back with the new Man About A Dog EP, the band clearly hasn’t been distracted by the highs that they have experienced in recent months. I’ve been looking forward to this EP and as I put it on it echoes quite a “The Riptide Movement” feel to it as you press play. The opening track; “Thaw” begins with a beautiful folk feel building into a guitar filled pop/rock treat. The catchy chorus is an immediate toe tapper which you can’t help but smile to.
Second track ‘Memory Stick’ is another catchy ear-worm of a song, with gorgeous support vocals, fantastic guitars with clever lyrics blending in greatly in the flow of the whole EP. ‘Egg & Spoon’ is the melodic 3rd track with a faint reminiscent feel of “The Reindeer Section” which is a skill in itself. Beautifully supported with piano this is my favourite track. Wonderfully flowing from verse to verse. It is track like this that make you know this is a band to watch…
Closing the EP is Contagious.’ On immediate hearing I could see this being the soundtrack to a bittersweet independent film, it would not surprise me to walk into QFT one day and hear this. Perfectly flowing and gently sweet, it is the perfect end to the EP. The last two tracks are short with a quirky abrupt ending with makes it stand out.
◀ STANDOUT ⁞ Thaw ▶
◀ SOUNDS LIKE ⁞ The Reindeer Section | Ben Howard ▶
