Onemac Project has just released their debut album “The Hermit Speaks”, a stunning, eclectic collection of 14 songs, to widespread global acclaim.
The early reviews include a full track-by-track review from Brazil where the writer calls the album “a MASTERPIECE” and suggests that, ‘it will be on all possible “Best of 2023” lists at the end of the year .’ High praise indeed!
From the U.K. , “Ultimately, it’s clear that ‘The Hermit Speaks’ is not just an album: rather, a holistic emotional experience, one that showcases Onemac Project’s high artistic stature ”.
From France , “ The Hermit Speaks” is an album that combines talent, passion and creativity, offering a rich and varied musical experience. This musical project is a real gem to discover and savour for all music lovers looking for something new and innovative .”
One of the features of Onemac Project is their attitude to writing and recording, as they say, “we just roll the dice, and see where it takes us ”. They don’t conform to a specific genre or style which makes them difficult to define. From the opening Indy-sounding “Dancing Violin” dealing with mental health and self-belief, the album takes the listener on a journey with multiple twists and turns.
“A Million Ways To Kill a Love” looks set to be an instant classic with a finger-clicking blues feel and ‘Fever’ vibe, set against a rich walking bass underpinning James O’Connor’s vocal. “Dance of The Dead”, is a dark atmospheric anti-war song with O’Connor and Erik Sjøholm sharing the vocals as two opposing soldiers wait for the inevitable end.
“It’s just a web of lies
Turning our minds
Into weapons of war
I wonder when I’ll join
The dance of the dead”
“Snow in Miami”, is a cleverly crafted song about climate change, with a touch of humour. It rocks out with a great brass intro followed by a super catch chorus, funky guitars and a bass line to savour. It’s the kind of track that makes you want to play it again and again. As if to underline the variety of Onemac Project, this track has a slight feel of Steely Dan.
“I’ll See You Down The Road” is storytelling at its best. Inspired by the letter Leonard Cohen to his long-time friend and muse, Marianne Ihlen, just days before her death, the song draws you in and connects in a very personal way.
“There are so many things I never said
I don ’ t know why
You know I always loved you
And I never liked goodbye
Soon just an empty hallway
Where we once tippy-toed
I ’ ll follow you I hope and pray
I ’ ll see you down the road”
After all the twists and turns, “Final Kiss” deals with the death of a loved one. It’s a deeply moving song based on MacMahon’s friend who lost his partner after a long battle with cancer. The production is sparse and respectful while O’Connor’s stunning guitar work underlies Sjøholm’s fragile vocal with more than a hint of Damien Rice.
“And we said goodbye
With that final kiss
When your eyes softly closed
For the last time”
The final track sees OMP merge two very different songs that illustrate how comfortably they move between genres and styles. “Cutting Room Floor (Part One)” with vocals by O’Connor, draws an analogy between a movie and a real-life relationship and how some ‘scenes’ can be so easily discarded. One of the highlights is Ukraine singer Lillia Kysil vocalising on part of the track just before it merges into Part Two where MacMahon takes the spoken word lead vocal over a relentless thumping bass which continues into the final song, “Dance With Me”, with Nile Rogers style guitars and a Daft Punk party feel. This time the lead vocal is taken by Kysil who also continues vocalising to bring to an end a debut album with many memorable songs and the kind of variety that make Onemac Project hard to label. Maybe its best not to label them, just listen and enjoy.
In summary, perhaps OMP describe the album in the lyrics of “The Artist” where they sing,
“The words and music tell a tale
Of love and life and those who fail
The joys of birth and loss of death
Of lives well lived and final breath
He writes the rhythm of the world
In which he lives”
This album deals with so many topics and emotions. OMP don’t shy away from the tough topics and in this debut, they deliver a work that will stand the test of time.
Eleven of the songs were written by Michael MacMahon and James O’Connor, with a further three in collaboration with Erik Sjøholm.
ABOUT ONEMAC PROJECT
The OMP duo of James O’Connor and Michael MacMahon has been having a busy eighteen months with some significant releases to their credit including “Irish For a Day”, which is fast becoming a big favourite among the expat community in the USA. Despite keeping a low profile, Onemac Project has more than 530,000+ Spotify streams and almost 8,000 monthly Spotify listeners.
O’Connor has four albums to his name, two singer/songwriter solo albums and two as the lead voice of The Lost Messiahs, who performed at this year’s Electric Picnic. MacMahon works in the background writing and producing and has several current and past collaborations with artists in the USA, Sweden, Germany and Australia.
“The Hermit Speaks” is available to download or stream on all platforms now.
