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Planes
- Select
This is the sound of pain being expertly tapped, one of those occasions
where you admire the songwriting while you're feeling its chill. All
you need is an over-the-shoulder refrain ("and it's a sad thing,
and it's a beautiful thing"), an upbeat guitar and a voice with
a breathless McAloon-like desire to get the feeling across to anyone
who's prepared to listen all the way through. On this and his mini-album
"Understand", emigre Dubliner Ken Sweeney is clearly on the
trail of Miracle Legion's classic "Gigantic Transatlantic Trunk
Call" (on "Me and Mr Ray"), the standard against which
all sad songs ought to be measured. He may well get there.
David Cavanagh
- Hot Press
Ken Sweeney certainly couldn't be accused of being the potential Jim
Steinman of the Setanta roster, Brian's "Understand" being
one of the years quietest and most effective debuts and "Planes",
while upping the ante as regards production values, continues to hint
and suggest rather than shout the obvious. "Planes Stacking Up"
takes a wonderful image and stretches it to embrace an awestruck sense
of helplessness and wonder, "Knowing" laps at the ears like
a moonlit lake on a balmy summer's night (Hello? - Ed) and "The
World Ended With You" is touching and honest. Brian are getting
there very slowly...but they're getting there.
George Byrne
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