Glen Hansard
Between Two Shores
[Columbia]
The third solo outing from our favourite homegrown troubadour runs the expected gamut of affairs of the heart.
The album’s wistful and earnest folk songs largely accomplish acceptable sentimentality over po-faced mawkishness.
At times more soulful and freewheeling than anticipated, The Frames frontman’s passionate vocals are a common thread between horn-infused Van Morrison imitations and pared-back acoustic numbers.
Musically and thematically, Between Two Shores is somewhat unmoored.
Nonetheless, in consolidating distinction from previous projects, this stalwart of the domestic scene confirms that he’s right where he wants to be.
Words – Killian Barry
