Louise Killeen
Album: Brilliant Tease
Label: Copperplate
Tracks: 10
Website: www.louisekilleen.com

"Brilliant Tease" is the new album by Irish singer/songwriter Louise Killeen. Louise is well-known in Ireland, having appeared regularly on RTE's "You're A Star " programme. She has also won two national songwriting competitions and her talent is obvious from the songs on this album.

She pulls no punches in her lyrics. In the opening song "Ease Up On Me" she deals candidly with her sexuality which "Created such a scandal that my parents couldn't handle " in her "One track town " where "Johnny's out of luck, I've started checking out his sister".

The majority of the songs are catchy, radio-friendly numbers. The lyrics are witty and interesting. "Charming Hands" for example, contains the immortal line " If you'll risk it for a biscuit, so will I ". "Easy Talk" has a reggae-ish backbeat and a catchy infectious chorus . The backing band play tastefully and understatedly, with some nice organ ,acoustic and electric guitar work.

Not all the songs are up-tempo. "Everywhere Out There" is a slow ballad which builds slowly to a string -enhanced ending and "Not Yours" is an emotional break-up song, with obviously heartfelt lyrics. The album closes with a humorous vignette about life at the local pub "KVT Song (Killeen's Village Tavern)".

It is clear that Louise Killeen is a talented songwriter who is not afraid to take risks with her lyrics. This is an extremely listenable album. If I had to make one minor criticism, I would say that the musical setting for her songs is, perhaps, a little too polite and restrained.

Peter Cowley