New releases are often flagged as being ‘highly anticipated’ or ‘long-awaited’, but it’s true that this is one W&H have been looking forward to for quite a while.
A potent alliance between talented singer/songwriter David Hope and two very able musical lieutenants in Eoin Jordan and David Murphy, THE HENCHMEN are a Cork/Clare alliance of some repute. They first came to W&H’s attention at the annual Kilkenny Rhythm & Roots Festival last May and since then have been working up a live set crammed with classic tracks in waiting.
The title of their debut EP ‘Hell or High Water’ seems apt in the sense that the record’s gestation period lasted almost a year, but – with sympathetic production from the acclaimed Declan Sinnott (Moving Hearts/ Christy Moore) helping to shape its destiny – it’s been more than worth the wait.
There are three tracks and all of them are strong contenders. ‘Hell or High Water’ itself is a song of emotional defiance framed by ringing chords, chiming bouzouki and subtle railroad rhythms. It’s the perfect backdrop for David Hope’s gutsy, charismatic vocal delivery and when you add his vivid lyrics (“it’s been hurricane season in my heart and my soul/ I’ve tried to batten down the hatches, but it’s already taken its toll”) to a suitably yearning chorus you’re onto something very good indeed.
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It by no means dwarfs the EP’s two additional tracks, however. Second tune ‘Cut Me Down’ is an equally heartfelt and moving plea for last-gasp redemption, while the deceptively bouncy ‘Cloak & Daggers’ is a song of smoke and mirrors and warns of the dangers of following false prophets. Its cautionary lyric speaks of nefarious sleight of hand going on “out of mind and out of sight” and you’ll be hard put to hear a better song about Ireland (or any other country’s) political intrigue right now.
David Hope & the Henchmen, then, are one of the very best Roots-related outfits operating at present. They seamlessly blend Folk and Roots inflections with grittily intelligent lyrics and enviably catchy choruses which simply cry out for airplay. They’ve finally got all that down on record and they’ve pulled it off in style. Game on.
David Hope & The Henchmen on Facebook
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