Known in Irish music circles as one of the finest producers and accompanists in the business, multi-instrumentalist Garry O Briain has played on over 100 albums, but tends to shun the spotlight himself.
He’s made just one solo recording to date, 1998’s Fís (Carolan’s Dream), an instrumental CD devoted to lesser-known compositions by 17th-century harper Turlough O’Carolan. Consequently, the appearance of a solo album of his own original songs comes as rather a surprise ... but an extremely pleasant one.
As a singer/songwriter, O Briain inhabits the same uncategorisable territory occupied by Randy Newman, evoking James Taylor one moment and Cole Porter the next – with all the latter’s flair for a witty lyric, particularly on the jazzily nostalgic ‘Heads You Win (Tails I Lose)’ and ‘A Day Too Soon’. The title track ‘Cat Won’t Fly’ is lovely too. Joining him here are such luminaries as Máirtín O’Connor, Nollaig Casey, Jimmy Faulkner and James Blennerhassett, among others. An understated gem.