Having collaborated with Daniel Lanois on the recording of Bob Dylan’s Oh Mercy album, Malcolm Burn creates on 24 Hours a similarly-layered soundscape, against which Dublin singer (formerly AM) O’Grady can showcase her sublime voice and classy songs.
With Irish musicians Wayne Sheehy (drums) and Paul Kelly (fiddle) in tow, O’Grady and Burn have delivered a second album with a reassuring live-in-studio presence. ‘Car Crash’ has the immediacy of the Indigo Girls, while ‘Touching The Sun’ and the percussive ‘Who Are They?’ will evoke thoughts of the aforementioned Oh Mercy, the latter arguably O’Grady’s finest ever vocal performance, with hints of Eleanor McEvoy in the melody. ‘Alice’ is a jauntier effort, and ‘Stingers And Moans’ has sultry undertones and a gently restrained arrangement. ‘Kerry Her Love And Her Maid’ is pure after hours stuff, complete with smoky sax and evocative vocal from O’Grady. ‘Stand’ drips with atmosphere, and the swagger of early Drifters.
O’Grady has an instinct for creating a unique mood with every song, and joining forces with Burn was as inspired as her bewitching way with literate lyrics and exultant melodies.