David Hopkins

There Are Debts Reekus Records***

A long, long time ago, an awful Irish band called Lir were tipped for great things. What happened to them, however, was typical: they imploded, and the members went their separate ways. David Hopkins, Lir's former keyboard player and songwriter, can take comfort in the fact that, as the years have zipped by, his songwriting has improved immeasurably. In fact, there seems to be nothing to link the Hopkins of There Are Debtswith Lir's fussy prog-rock – save, perhaps, the determination of a creative thinker to get better at his art. There are several shining examples of nigh-on perfect songcraft here, notably God You're Letting Me Down, In the Country, Dublinand Shape of Things. While a couple ( Stay Here, Angels in the Satellites) nod almost too reverentially to U2 balladry, there is enough individuality at play (the short, impactful Igloo) to respect and admire. See davidhopkins.net

Download tracks: Dublin, Igloo