Album Review: Ro Yourell, Commencer

Irish music fans will be familiar with Ro Yourell from his work as one of the featured vocalists with Delorentos – an acclaimed indie outfit who just fell short of major success internationally. Commencer is his debut solo release, and – as it turns out – it's a long way from the freewheeling alt-rock of the Delorentos mothership.

Detailing life as seen through the more traditional – some might say older – prisms of family, religion and society, Commencer is reflective of the myriad changes Yourell has experienced since the heyday of Delorentos. Now a self-declared “forty-something shapeshifter”, the singer has ditched the pop-centric melodies favoured by the band and taken a more minimalist approach to his sound and style.

The story-telling on Commencer is assured. Each song offers a barebones narrative of aspects of life in the modern age. Clean and straightforward musically, the album relies heavily on the combination of Yourell’s hypnotic guitar-work and his wide vocal range, moving smoothly from a mellow tenor to impressive falsetto throughout the eleven tracks.

Highlights include the cinematic slow-burner ‘Dance With You' and ‘How My Heart Beats', an uplifting rocker about budding romance. Elsewhere, earworm ballad ‘Don’t Let Me’ and guitar anthem ‘Freedom’ further showcase Yourell’s impressive songwriting abilities. This is not an album that screams for attention – but it may prove to be all the more enduring for that.