In the late 80’s and early ‘90’s Barry Walsh was lead singer and songwriter with Powerpop quartet The Fireflys. Along with releasing a number of critically acclaimed singles, The Fireflys were known for their exuberant and barnstorming live sets. This allowed them to burn brightly, albeit briefly, in Pop’s rich firmament before plummeting back to earth, (or to be geographically precise) their beloved native Cavan.
In the intervening years, Barry has had the good fortune to be involved in countless musical delights on the other side of the music business fence. Still, he was never too far away at any stage from a reasonably well-tuned guitar, a well-thumbed thesaurus and a welt of jumbled melodies fighting in his head to get out. What has ensued is a bunch of finely crafted and lyrically astute songs tumbling with melody, ringing guitars and the odd keyboard doodle. All were recorded and mixed in his son Oisin’s studio in Trim, Co Meath, which also serves as the home studio of Oisin and his brother Cian’s outfit Spearside.
“Rescue Me” is Barry’s first single release with a debut album also in the pipeline.
Sonically, it’s a breezy scorcher of a song, thundering in with Revolveresque buzzsaw riffs, slashing guitars, nimble bass and blocks of cascading harmonies. After that, well it’s more of the same with bubblegum “la la la’s“ setting up a pleading chorus, a middle eight wedged between dueling Stones Sticky Fingered style riffage and a sinewy, seductive psychedelic solo flirting with zippy, trippy keys. From there to the end, Motown falsettos’ breeze by before being overtaken by a Ben Hur like charge to the finish that spares neither horse nor chariot. The stuttering rapid-fire conclusion is a fitting end. Breathe and relax, you are back in the room.
And now for the existential “what’s it all about Alfie?” bit. Is our floundering protagonist waiting to be rescued from some desert island, humdrum mediocrity, obscurity, or simply himself? Who is waiting on the shore, with lifebuoy in hand – or not, to save the day? Well, that’s the real story. But you knew that.
“Rescue Me” was mastered by Grammy Award winner Sean Magee in Abbey Road Studios (Beatles, Stones, Ramones) and will be released on May 24th on Rufus Records.
