Charming But Crazy
Far from the dreary self-reflection of other singer/songwriters, Eugene McGuinness's frantic careenings are a breath of fresh air, 'The Early Learnings of Eugene McGuinness' unlearn everything that you've learnt about music, whisking you around 8 disorientating pop tunes at breakneck speed.
The crazed spiralling keyboard melody of 'Monsters Under The Bed' has an almost reggae shimmy to it while the spaced out vocal harmonies charm and will have you humming along in no time. 'Vampire Casino' isn't the kind of shady name that you'd expect for a song that includes lines of children's rhymes (Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star) but that's the kind of bemusing twist that you begin to expect from Eugene McGuinness as this inspiring and soaring album sparkles along with stunning charisma.
Instrumental bliss reaches its peak during, 'Vela', a slow and sumptuous number with aching melodies playing out over an ebbing rhythm section, while closer, 'A Girl For Whom My Eyes Shine For But My Shoes Run For' is as epic as its massive title with earthy male vocal harmonies and a sweet guitar riff, however it doesn't match the quirky delight that opener, 'High Score' offers with lyrics like, "A ladder falls just as I walk under, a black cat dies" demonstrating Eugene's unique, playful approach to songwriting, this tune rather like a female folk version of Regina Spektor.