Musically infectious and lyrically poignant, Ordinary Man is a breath of fresh air. The first thing that strikes you about the latest critically acclaimed album from Massive Attack s Melankolic label is that the deadpan singer sounds uncannily Irish. Which is because he is. Phelim Byrne, whose dad was a well known Irish musician in the showband era of the sixties, grew up surrounded by the art of good story-telling, and fuelled by his father s constant anecdotes, he set sail for the UK with a career in music in mind.
Day One came into being when Phelim met Donnie Hardwidge, a college graduate six years his senior. Initially just drinking partners, it wasn t long before the pair both experimenting with sounds and beats in their respective Bristol studios started writing songs together. Songs that are both moving and funny: tales illuminating everyday situations, with a sharp eye for the absurdities of modern life. Refreshing songs that sound like nothing else around at the minute. As assured as the young Maria McKee, Byrne writes lyrics containing a seasoned wisdom that suggests a man well beyond his twenty-one years.
Multi-instrumentalist Donnie began playing classical piano at the age of six. His unquestionable ear for melody provides the ideal companion for Phelim s bittersweet rhymes. Donnie infuses Ordinary Man with lazy, dazy hip-hop beats in the style of early De La Soul, and incorporates elements of folk, jazz and even country.
A couple of singles ( Waiting For A Break EP and the defiantly joyous I m Doing Fine ) later and the band were being touted as a tip-for-the-top in all corners of the press. A string of live dates were warmly received, and the release of Ordinary Man, an album with enough depth, diversity and downright catchy tunes to suggest a lengthy and fruitful career ahead, have established Day One as force to be reckoned with. A new single is released this fortnight. Watch them fly.
Day One s Ordinary Man is in the shops now. In Your Life , the new single, follows shortly.