Lacks a Connection, but Pleasant
I wasn't initially sure why this album was made available for review now. "In the Spotlight" was released three years ago as a result of the artist getting a grant from the Northern Irish Arts Council. All well and good, so I suppose the best thing to do with this LP was to treat it as a time capsule from 2008. One of the more anonymous years, really, or one of those that should be buried and forgotten (Kid Rock sampling Lynyrd Skynyrd, anyone?)
So how to start? 'Sailor' is a brisk and bluesy stroll which evoked echoes of everything as diverse as Rory Gallagher to California Love in it's vocal delivery. Pianos are added to track two with gives 'A Greater Point of View' a jaunty quality to it.
The problem is there isn't anything particularly exciting. All the songs seem to come across as a vanity project as opposed to something that means something outside the singer's friends and followers. A little change, a new instrument, a new element added, like the harmonica on 'December Comes' which skiffs it's way to the end, but seems a bit empty.
The title track is a bit richer than the previous offerings with Cox sounding a little Phil Collins-esque (no, that's not a bad thing) but is ultimately forgettable, segueing into 'Morning' which is far more pedestrian, and might be the standout, the equivalent of walking through a motorway traffic jam in the height of summer. It's chilled and smooth, without ever creeping into lounge territory. That acoustic relaxation is bought back for the instrumental 'Don't Cry' later on and instead of trying to be Dylan, it can't hurt for Cox if he further used his ability to paint a cold-blooded story rather than a hot headed one.
'Fire and Ice' is a seductive track and alongside the chilled bits would be what I would download if I was buying songs from this album. It seems to finish with the lean into a loved one and passionately draws the curtain, leaving you to picture your own night in. It's a shame that few other songs on this resonate as strongly.
I can certainly imagine Donal Cox being one of those artists that is highly touted closer to his home of County Louth, but it's apparent that outside of that, the lack of a change-up or connection with a listener will mean he suffers outside of his circle. It's foot-tappingly pleasant enough, but lacks the warmth or common touch that someone like David Gray provided so effortlessly.