Marc O’Reilly’s roots may lie in Waterford and France, but his sound rests somewhere between the American-influenced folk blues of Peter Green and contemporaries such as Ray LaMontagne and Gomez. My Friend Marx is the debut album from the freshest Irish voice of 2011.
Following stints in different alt/rock bands, Marc began to make his mark in 2010 as a solo performer, playing at last summer’s Electric Picnic festival and supporting fellow Irish songwriters including David Kitt.
He also began the creative and recording process that has led to My Friend Marx’s imminent release on new Irish indie label, Salt & Shake Records. The themes that run throughout the album range from the intimate to the universal.
The turbulence of the last few years in both the songwriter’s life and globally is reflected in Marc’s lyrics as he moves from social commentary (‘Narrow Street’) to the folly of middle eastern war (‘Lord of War’) and back to the despair of failed relationships (F.O.O.). On the flipside, however, are humorous looks at family life (‘Family Reunion’), a knack for some old fashioned storytelling (‘Tell Old Joe’) and spirituality (‘Hail’).
Musically, Marc reveals himself as an excellent guitarist with fantastic fretwork peppered throughout the album. The songs vary from gentle and touching odes to more orchestral affairs, unafraid to push the boundaries of the genre where necessary without losing the essence of a songwriter with his feet firmly in the roots of classic folk blues.
