Derek Ryan
Album: Country Soul
Label: Sharpe
Tracks: 14
Website: http://www.derekryanmusic.com

I have to be honest, I don't get many press releases that include the phrase, 'x has already gained 3 top 10 hits in the UK' so reading that in connection with an album called "Country Soul" by Derek Ryan certainly got my attention.

Apparently Derek used to be in a band called D-Side, a band that enjoyed a period of popularity with a certain population, but like his audience he has grown and in terms of his music that growth has taken him back to his Irish country and folk roots and on some songs there appears to be more than a nod to the more rhythmic styles of Cajun and zydeco.

As you might imagine with a title like "Country Soul" those two elements feature quite extensively, but it is an album that has a real balance to it, for which I'm prepared to forgive the overly saccharine ballad, "Leave A Light On For Me", probably the only song that looks back to his D-Side days.

There were times when Ryan reminded me of a male Laura Marlin, a disturbing image that I'll move you on from right away, with an acoustic pop sound that can find a real edge. That is contrasted by songs like "Better Times A Coming" which is a simple good time song with a good live vibe to it.

You may have already heard, "100 Numbers" the first single to escape the album and it's one that really reflects the lighter more commercial elements of the album, though if you listen to the lyrics, it's not the catchy happy song it would appear to be, however if you had to sum up the album in just one song, it would have to be, "To Be A Man".

It will be interesting to see if Ryan can bring his audience with him as he matures into his music, but having listened to "Country Soul" a few times now I'd say he was in with a fighting chance and with just a little bit of the right exposure, could easily start finding himself with a new audience to boot.

Neil King